09 Jul Finding a Reason to Stay (mental health resource)
When I first came across Ben West’s account and saw one of his videos I was in tears. Tears of sadness, compassion, but also of awe. How can someone transform their grief into an initiative so profound and beautiful is beyond inspiring. It’s humbling. It spreads love, hope, kindness. In a world with so much contraction, these are the actions that expand our hearts as a collective.
Ben lost his little brother to suicide years ago. Saying that what he chose to do with that is remarkable is an understatement. He built a website where anybody can write an anonymous letter giving a reason to stay to someone who may be struggling with finding one. A letter that can help them see how they are enough, and worth it, and how they make this world a better place just by being in it. Anybody who is in need can find a letter to read there. A letter that can hopefully help them choose to stay.
At this time, strangers have written an average of 25,000 letters a day. That’s more than four million letters since the website was created. In more than 200 countries and more than 20 languages.
It’s no secret that as pet behavior and health professionals we struggle with compassion fatigue, depression and mental health. Perhaps, more often than not we struggle finding a reason to stay. This resource can help us find one, and to give one to others in times of need. We were never meant to do it alone. We are meant to do it together.
The internet can be such a dark place, where bullying and hurt quickly infects thousands. Where humans can show their worst traits. It’s up to us to make a difference and use it for good. Ben did that, and to me, he is an example of how pain can be planted, watered and tended with love to help it grow into something meaningful and beautiful. And how the internet can be use to connect us all, to do good, to change the world.
I’m adding Ben’s website here and in my social media bio link so anybody who would like to write a letter or read one can easily find it. And if you would like to check Ben’s account and some of his videos you can find it HERE. We all have the potential to make a difference bigger than we think we can.
Write/find a reason to stay here: https://reasonstostay.org/