Street Fighter

I am a Street Fighter. 

For one of my classes I was required to do a "civic action project." Essentially, I needed to track down a civic action group and find a way to get involved. The natural choice for me was to choose an organization close to my heart --  To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA).

TWLOHA is an organization based in the United States that raises awareness, support, and funding for mental health initiatives. If you're friends with me, you've probably heard me talk about it once or twice (or all the time...). It opens the conversation surrounding mental health in an attempt to reduce the stigma surrounding the issue. I first heard about it long before I even really knew what it was. I remember in high school, some of my friends walked around the school with permanent markers on World Suicide Prevention Day asking people if they wanted to write "Love" on their arms in support of anyone suffering from depression. Without fully understanding the implications of this, I agreed and walked around for the rest of that day showing my support for the movement I barely understood.

Since that one day many years ago, TWLOHA has become an important support in my own life. My first year at university opened my eyes to the depression I have been living with since my preteen years, and it has been a combination of my physical communities -- both at home, and at university -- and the online community through TWLOHA that has helped me come to terms with my struggle without feeling like an inadequate human being.

The best thing about TWLOHA for me, is that it has taught me that honesty about my own mental illness does not need to be nearly as traumatic as I always thought it would be. I have learned how to openly talk about my ongoing battle without fear of judgment. Surprisingly, people are actually quite understanding. Imagine that! Beyond that, TWLOHA has opened my eyes to just how many people there are globally who deal with mental health struggles. While I was aware of the impact of depression, suicide, addiction, etc. on my life and the lives of the people near me, I was somewhat oblivious to the fact that if affects everyone.


It is difficult to really describe all that TWLOHA has done for me. It is difficult to describe how I have seen it working in the lives of others. But it is important. It is important enough to me that I have permanently written "Love" on my arm because I don't want to temporarily show support. I want to be a permanent advocate for people going through struggles.

So here I am. I don't know everything, but I know more than I did. I am grateful for this experience because it has forced me to be more conscientiously involved than I have been. It has forced me to learn more about the organization, the movement, and the underlying issue.

This upcoming Saturday is the TWLOHA "Run for It 5k." I'm not a great runner, so realistically I am definitely not going to run the whole thing, but I am going to run as much of it as I can. I have purchased a shirt (that you can find here) as a way to financially support this, but I encourage you to donate to the cause if you feel that this organization is worthwhile (DONATE HERE). Do some research first. I support educated donating -- I don't want people to donate simply out of a feeling of obligation. So do what feels right to you. But if you feel so inclined, you could participate in the run too.