Shining a Light on Mental Health

Taylor Harrington 3/10/2021 11:17am ET

It is rare that mental health is spoken about on reality TV even though the reality is that now more than ever, so many of us are battling our own demons.

On last night’s episode of Bravo Tv Network‘s The Real Housewives of Dallas, star Kary Brittingham‘s daughter Olivia opened up to her mom about the very real mental struggles she had been dealing with. Shining a light on her own tribulations, Olivia found the courage to reach out to her mom, something I’m not so sure a lot of young people feel safe doing. The first step in healing yourself is speaking your truth and setting free all the negative energy around you, and communication is key in making that happen.

Having struggled with her own depression and anxiety to the point of contemplating ending her life, another one of the Dallas women, Stephanie Hollman, was able to sit down with Olivia and connect through their shared experiences. Olivia was taught breathing techniques and it was such a beautiful moment when she says she recognizes that something had to change, and we applaud her bravery in speaking out not only to her mom and Stephanie but to do that in front of such a large audience is something that will help more people than Olivia will ever be aware of.

Even though the demons of depression and anxiety are fierce, there is always someone waiting and happy to listen and help. Often times I will relate my own depression to being at the top floor of a burning building, where my only option is to go down with the building, or jump and hope that there is something soft to brace my fall. JUMP anyway. The ones that love you, sometimes people you don’t even know yet, will be there waiting to catch you.

Bravo, Bravo for sharing Olivia’s story.

From the National Institute of Mental Health:

“If you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns about their mental health, there are ways to get help. Use these resources to find help for you, a friend, or a family member.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255); En Español 1-888-628-9454
The Lifeline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Lifeline connects callers to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network. These centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have hearing loss can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889.

Crisis Text Line
Text “HELLO” to 741741
The Crisis Text hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the U.S. The Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, connecting them with a crisis counselor who can provide support and information.”