State of Mind: An Upcoming Look at Anxiety, Depression, and Suicide in Our Communities

Well hello, everyone! I hope your week is off to a great start!

My name is Bryce and I'm a new contributor here at the Much Love Foundation. I'd like to start off my first blog post with a little background about myself and how I got involved with the organization, then provide you an overview of some topics I'm hoping to discuss in more depth over the coming weeks.

I'm a geek, aspiring writer, linguistic enthusiast, and music lover from Portland, Oregon. I thoroughly enjoy experiencing new countries and cultures, as well as absorbing the beautiful scenery our world has to offer. Despite finding bliss in all of these aspects of my life, I am someone who has struggled through several long bouts of depression. Furthermore, anxiety has become a recurring factor I try to curb in my thoughts and attitude, whether it happens to be playing a small or large role on that specific day.

Although I haven't directly experienced the loss of a loved one from suicide, I have felt its effects indirectly through others and understand the impact it can have on those who carry this burden. I didn't have the pleasure of knowing Zach Moore before he chose to end his life, but the message behind Much Love (and what it may mean to those struggling out there) still resonates deeply with me. So, why have I chosen to reach out to you in this capacity?

Many of my family members and friends have opened up to me about their anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Because I've also shared similar feelings over the years, it's become increasingly important that I am an available emotional resource for those fighting these issues in their own contexts. Written words are generally how I best convey myself to the world, so when I was approached to write for this blog, I realized it was the perfect opportunity to reach out to other hurting individuals in a medium I understand. I can only hope that, as times goes on, the information and encouraging words in these posts help brighten the lives of those who feel distraught and alone.

One of the most important things to understand is that, of course, we are not alone.

Casting a light on communities that are affected by depression, anxiety, and suicide (in order to further the discussion locally and globally) is part of my initial goal here at Much Love. Thus, we will be taking a look at the state of mental health across these areas:

• minority groups
• homeless communities
• veterans
• in the workplace
• ...and hopefully more!

I would love to hear suggestions or feedback from our audience on what you'd like to see incorporated in these analyses. Also, if you have a story or small contribution related to this, and feel comfortable sharing, feel free to fill out the form below (with or without your name):

Thank you for reading this week, and keep an eye out for the next one!

Much Love,
Bryce