Sister U Matter!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental illness is very real and affects many more people than you may think. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, research shows that mental illnesses are common in the United States, affecting tens of millions of people each year. Estimates suggest that only half of people with mental illnesses receive treatment.

There is such a stigma related to mental illness especially in minority communities. This stigma keeps people from getting the help they need for fear of being judged and/or rejected by their families and friends and there is a common misperception that being diagnosed with a mental illness is a sign of weakness. I have actually heard people being treated for a mental illness state that they will not take their medications because they don’t want others to think that they are crazy. My question: If you were diagnosed with any other ailment that affects your physical body, would you take the prescribed medication to treat it? The same applies to our mental health.

Did you know that….

• One in six U.S. adults lives with a mental illness (44.7 million in 2016) (www.nimh.nih.gov)

• Approximately 1 in 5 youth aged 13–18 (21.4%) experiences a severe mental disorder at some point during their life. For children aged 8–15, the estimate is 13%. (www.nami.org)

• According to the World Health Organization, mental illness results in more disability in developed countries than any other group of illnesses, including cancer and heart disease. (https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealthsurveillance/fact_sheet.html)

• 70% of youth in juvenile justice systems have at least one mental health condition and at least 20% live with a serious mental illness. (www.nami.org)

• More than 90% of children who die by suicide have a mental health condition. (www.nami.org)

For more information regarding mental health awareness, click the following links:

Sister, join in this movement, get informed and help cure the stigma related to mental illness. Spread the word…Sister U Matter!®    

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Don’t wait to do what you know you are purposed to do. Take a step, even if it is a very small one.  Start today. Start right now. That step could be even as simple as starting to discover what your purpose may be. Our life span here on Earth is so short and unpredictable. We truly can be well and living one moment and the very next moment, not well and/or not even living.

I am encouraging you in this way because I have witnessed (I’m sure you have too) and so many others are experiencing the sudden loss of a loved one. In many cases, the loved one was still so full of expectancy regarding all of the things they would accomplish with the rest of their lives and sometimes with a second chance at life. But suddenly and catching their loved ones by surprise, they leave this world still full of all of the purpose, hopes and dreams that they had come to cherish and anticipate.

Don’t wait. Live your purpose. Tomorrow is not promised. (To be really honest about it, the rest of today is not even promised.) Trust me--there will never be a perfect time. There will never be perfect conditions. There will always be something that seems out of sync but don’t let that stop you from moving forward towards achieving your purpose, your hopes and your dreams.

Spread the word…Sister U Matter!®

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You Are...

Nurturing

Outstanding and Original

Perfectly you

Quite essential

Reasonable

Strong

You are absolutely you. You are one of a kind; a masterpiece!

 Embrace you. Love you. Forgive you. Appreciate You.

Remember…Sister U Matter!®

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The Christian community just celebrated Resurrection Sunday also commonly referred to as Easter Sunday. It’s an annual celebration of the risen Christ which demonstrates, among other things, His almighty power even over death.

That got me to thinking…Are there some areas in my life that need to be resurrected? You know the things in my life that have been declared dead, expired, gone, lifeless or even lost. Things like big dreams, grand plans, outlandish heart’s desires, etc. What about you? Do you have any of those?

Well, I encourage us today to take inventory of those “lost”/“expired” things and determine which of those things need to be resurrected. (Warning: Be careful with this assessment because some dead things in your life need to stay dead. Trust me on this one!) Just because it looks too big or nothing seems to be happening on the surface doesn’t mean it won’t work or it can’t work. Those things are not impossible; difficult maybe but not impossible.

Spread the word…Sister U Matter!®

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As we celebrate Good Friday, I want to remind you that even the bad, the not-so-good and the ugly experiences in our lives can cause good in our lives. We have to be willing to go through those unpleasant and very hurtful and trying times in our lives knowing that those times will also be for our benefit. However, we have to choose to focus on the what’s to come after the going through and not so much on the experience that we are going through.

You see, we can celebrate the message of Good Friday on every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. All of our days should be considered good because we know that better is coming.

Sisters, remember that regardless of where you have been, where you are now or where you are headed, it will all work for your good. Happy Good Friday!

Spread the word…Sister U Matter!®

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