Be The Light: Advocating for Better Mental Health
“Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” (Brene Brown) I am not a stranger to the dark, in fact, I lived in it for years. After being diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder in 2015, it took years of therapy, education, self-discovery, and support to tell this story of redemption. I explored the depths of my mind and found a light within. Now it is my mission to be the light: to educate, advocate, and empower.
Mental illness is more common than heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. According to Better Tennessee, 20% of Tennesseans experience mental illness. With Tennessee’s population today, that is more than 1.3 million individuals across the state. As Miss America, I will speak my story of resilience, empower individuals to take their health into their own hands, and help them see the light.
Mental illness is more common than heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. According to Better Tennessee, 20% of Tennesseans experience mental illness. With Tennessee’s population today, that is more than 1.3 million individuals across the state. As Miss America, I will speak my story of resilience, empower individuals to take their health into their own hands, and help them see the light.
10 on 10/10: Celebrating World Mental Health Day
#IAmTheLight Campaign
38 Miss America local title holders joined the #IAmTheLight Campaign. The purpose of the campaign was to spread a message of hope and compassion to those struggling with mental health concerns during Mental Illness Awareness Week.
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Behind Happy Faces
Advance the Conversation
Challenge yourself to start a conversation on mental health with your friends or family. Download the table topic cards to get started.
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Journal to Happiness
In 2018, I started to dig deep into the philanthropic aspect of my social impact and that is when I got the idea of collecting journals for the Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital. I was so excited to take the journals my friends, family, and community helped me collect. It was right at 52 journals. Journaling is proven to aid in the healing of mood disorders. Knowing that patients would fill the journal with drawings, thoughts, feelings, and emotions made my heart so happy. It is so special to play a role in someone’s healing.
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Art Therapy at Austin Peay State University
National Alliance on Mental Illness: Mental Health for All Walk
National Hazing Prevention Week
While serving as president of the College Panhellenic Council at Austin Peay State University, I made it my mission to educate my campus on the dangers and psychological effects of hazing. With the College Panhellenic Council I planned the Hazing Prevention Week for our community.
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