Why I love Postsecret

Last night, I had the opportunity to see Frank Warren of Postsecret speak at the University of Kentucky. Check out the website, but for those of you who don't know, Postsecret is a community art project where people create a postcard with a secret, and mail it to Frank. The website is updated every Sunday, and as of a month ago, Frank has put out four books of secrets. Because they keep coming. I love Postsecret for two reasons. The first is therapeutic. When I recognise myself in someone else's secret, whether it be a secret or a fear they've never voiced aloud, I feel strangely relieved. Content. I am not the only one!!! There is a feeling of community and understanding; revealing myself without ever actually revealing myself. I know, I'm a dork, but I'm not the only one!

The second reason is Postsecret's affiliation with Hopeline, which is a national suicide prevention hotline and an information resource for suicide and depression. Countless lives have been saved by Hopeline, and without the monetary support received by Postsecret fans Hopeline probably would have gone under due to lack of funding. Because, unfortunately, there is not exactly a lot of money in saving people's lives. Look at firefighters, police officers, even ER doctors. They don't bring home even 1/16th of the cash that a pro-athlete or a ditzy Hollywood 'star' does. And what good influence do the big money earners have on society? You know, besides not wearing underwear and paying visits to rehab five times before the age of 21? Classy, right?

But I digress. About 30 minutes into Frank's talk last night, he mentioned that (statistically) in the time that he had been speaking, one person had been the victim of homicide. Two people had been the victims of themselves. Suicide occurring at twice the rate of homicide. Depressing. But you can see how this might happen. Depression, anxiety, bipolar, etc- untreated mental illnesses are fatal. Certainly more and people are seeking treatment as the stigma of mental illness are starting to lift. But then comes the vicious cycle:

• I feel like shit
• The shitty feeling is not going away
• I admit my problem, so I seek medication
• The shitty feeling lifts!!!
• I'm happy!!!
• Why did I ever seek these medications, I feel fine!
• I'm not taking any more medications, I don't need them!
• Medications stopped
• Hmmm, I feel like shit.
• Shittier.........
• Shittier..............
• And worse................
• I need help
• Medications obviously don't work, since I tried them and am feeling shitty again.
• There is no help for me

Without intervention, suicide is often the next bullet (no pun intended). If there's no friend or family member to step in (or if they are willing, but uncertain on a course of action), this person's only hope is either a personal awakening or a third, safe party to intervene. This is why Hopeline is necessary. So, support Postsecret, support Hopeline, and by extension, support life! (And dirty little secrets!) :)