Mental Health is on the Ballot

This election cycle has been stressful. Add in a global pandemic, historic unemployment, and the challenges around trying to figure out school, work, and a social life during this time it can be enough that we all want to retreat.

A recent survey from the American Psychological Association and Harris Poll found that 68% of Americans cite the election as a significant source of stress in their life (compared to 52% in a similar poll in 2016), and levels of stress were consistent across party affiliations. Stress and other mental health issues around the election — and beyond — are common for everyone. But we rarely talk about it.

But we should. Regardless of where we fall on party lines, most of us will be affected by a mental illness. In fact, 50% of all Americans will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime.

I’ve dedicated my life’s work to mental health and to helping to break the stigma around it. Mental health is an essential part of our lives that is not talked about or given the respect it deserves on the national level. It is not a niche issue. It is not a Democrat or Republican issue. It is an American issue. And one that needs to be treated as such.

Some might wonder — with everything else on the line why focus on mental health? Well I say, you can’t not focus on it. Mental health runs through every facet of our lives: the economy, education, and healthcare.

According to Mental Health America, the U.S. has lost $193.2 billion in wages due to serious mental illnesses. Not having access to mental health care is causing us to lose out on taxable income that should be funneled into our communities and our economy. You can’t talk about a strong economy without a strong mental health support system.

Our students and young adults also need us to keep mental health at the top of our priorities. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young adults. Funding for early intervention services, mental health screening, and for resources can literally be life-changing for young adults.

Not caring about elections and their consequences is a privilege that no one should have. The type of world we leave behind is shaped and scarred by our actions on election day and the days leading up to it.

I’m a mom before I am anything else. I worry everyday about my daughters and what life is going to look like for them in the future. I lost my brother, their uncle, to suicide during my freshman year at college. He felt alone and he could have used more resources, more support, more funding to get through his hard times.

I don’t want my kids to grow up in a world where, if they struggle with a mental illness like their uncle did, they won’t be able to access mental health resources. I work every day with my team at Active Minds to make sure that students and young adults never have to worry about that– but it can’t just be up to nonprofits. We need support from local, state, and federal government agencies to ensure that there are safety nets and programs for them and for their peers.

I hope you will join me in voting to make sure that mental health is a priority — for the next generation, our country, and ourselves. I know we can make our country the inclusive, kind, and helpful we all want it to be.