Light from a LAMP

By Liz Pritchard 

—Albuquerque, NM

(WRITTEN FOR THE NEW MEXICO PRESS ASSOCIATION COLLEGE JOURNALISM WORKSHOP 2023)

Some words of wisdom that I received from a stranger online; you have never been this age before, so if you don’t fully comprehend what is going on in your head, that’s normal. There is a lot in this world that is perceived as normal. Purchasing your cat a mini house only for it to sit in a cardboard box is considered normal. Dressing your dogs as Barbie and Ken even though they’ve never seen the movie is normal. So why not normalize talking about mental health?

When I was 13 years old, I was diagnosed with severe mental depression and anxiety. At that age, I thought I was a rarity because no one in my community was vocal about their diagnoses. I was the outcast, and it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic began that I saw people begin to speak out about their mental health challenges. 

It’s no surprise that COVID-19 affected the nation in one way or another. When New Mexico began to lift its health restrictions, there was a general sense of excitement that life could return to the way it was, and in some ways it did. 

Going back to movie theaters and restaurants was a big deal, but after that initial joy dispersed, I felt those around me speak honestly about not being okay. 

In 2020, the New Mexico Department of Health released a report that showed one in six adults were diagnosed with depression. In 2021, the National Institute for Mental Health reported that an estimated one in five adults live with a mental illness. Chances are that you or someone next to you fall into one of these categories, and unfortunately, New Mexico does not have the resources to support everyone. 

At this point, it is obvious how flawed the healthcare system in the U.S. is. When it comes to mental health services, it’s difficult to find or receive help. Healthcare is not affordable for everyone, services may not be available in certain areas and providers can only take on a certain number of patients. Discrimination based on race, class or gender can make someone want to give up. 

I’ve been fortunate enough to have health insurance, but when I got in front of a healthcare professional, I realized very quickly that not all professionals provide the same level of care to every patient. 

For someone like me who has spent years searching for assistance, it’s devastating to be treated like I don’t matter. 

It is exhausting trying to exist in a world where everything feels like it was designed for me to fail. If you feel like you’re spiraling out of control, you are not alone and it’s a valid feeling that needs to be talked about. 

Even on my darkest days, I try to find a little light of hope. I want to be able to connect with others and share our experiences to find a solution to an issue that affects so many people. We are all human and part of being human is feeling, even if we don’t fully understand what those feelings are. 

I believe that every human being should have the opportunity to experience all that life has to offer. I know what it feels like to be alone and no one deserves to feel that way. 

We are all going through something. Whether it’s mental, physical, financial, or social, there is something about one of those topics that we can relate to. When we realize that, maybe it’ll be less scary to talk about the weird things our brains make us feel. Maybe we can find a new normal that helps us make sense of this strange existence. Maybe we can throw out the idea altogether and find peace in the absence of normality.  

I don’t have all the solutions, but I do know this; your mental health matters and I hope one day, we can exist in a world that reflects that. 

Liz Pritchard is a student at the University of New Mexico. Follow her journalism at lightfromalamp.com