Raising Mental Health Awareness One Local Library at a Time
By Sonja Wasden
Sonja Wasden is an author and keynote speaker, here at a recent book signing.
On a cold December day in 2015 paramedics rushed me to the hospital where my husband was CEO after my suicide attempt. They saved my life. I laid in my hospital bed in the ICU grappling with my suicide attempt and forced to sit in my vulnerability.
A nurse taking my blood pressure informed me, “Being a believing Christian, you just escaped damnation.”
The next day a leading psychiatrist there told my husband to never bring me back to that hospital again, but if necessary take me to hospital where people didn’t know us. I hid my mental illness for over 20 years because of the same stigma and shame I felt that day.
This experience lit a fire inside of me. I decided to stop hiding my illness from friends and published, An Impossible Life, the raw, unedited story of my struggle of living with a mental illness.
My desire was to break stigmas and start conversations around mental health. As part of my advocacy, I’ve been donating copies of my story to libraries in all 50 states. Libraries are the heart of the communities, so I decided that they were a great place to share my message of hope.
Sonja Wasden (right), and her daughter, Rachel Siddoway, at the Cleveland Public Library for a book event.
The CDC reported that 40% of Americans are struggling with their mental health and 11% percent said they had seriously considered suicide amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, more than ever, it’s time to start candid and open conversations around mental health.
Sonja Wasden’s latest book.
My wish is that no one will ever have to hide their mental health challenges. If we move toward a more open conversation, we may finally get there.
Sonja Wasden is an author and keynote speaker based in Iowa. https://animpossiblelife.com/
““My wish is that no one will ever have to hide their mental health challenges.”—Sonja Wasden, author, keynote speaker, mental health advocate. #PowerToChangeStories”