Matt would be 37 years old today. While we’ve had to live five years without Matt and learned how to live and find some happiness in spite of our grief, there’s not a day that goes by that we don’t hurt from missing him. We are grateful for the 32 years of wonderful memories we shared with Matt that make us smile and warm our aching hearts, but we miss him so much.
“To love and be loved is to feel the sunshine from both sides.” – David Viscott. I love this quote, it reminds me of Matt who was so generous with his love.
Every year on Matt’s birthday, I re-post the resource page, Help for Serious Mental Illness. There’s information on research and ideas for how to help someone with serious mental health issues.
Mental illness is not rare in our society. One in five Americans suffer from it, and in spite of that, go on to lead successful lives.
Below are famous people who are dealing with mental health issues. We see them looking happy, but like all of us, they can feel many things at once. We can be happy while holding back anxiety, we can laugh while feeling grief, we can socialize while feeling depressed. You never really know what someone else is going through.
Michael Phelps said, “Once we can really take care of our mental health as we do our physical health, then I feel like the opportunities will be endless of what we can really do.”
Below are just a few of the many faces of mental illness.
If you know of anything that should be added to this list, please email me with the information so we can make this list the go-to resource guide built by people with lived experience.
If you or your family member is struggling with a serious mental health issue, I am so sorry. I wish, with all my heart, that something in my research resonates and helps you find a way to recover or at least a way to live and thrive with this illness.
And yes, I used the word recover. In spite of what the mental health professionals told us, people can and do recover from serious mental health illnesses and others find ways to live with their illness while living fully productive lives.
If this is something of interest to you, I hope it’s helpful. If this does not affect you, first, thank your lucky stars, then share it with others who may not be so fortunate.
Is there someone who inspires you with their kindness? Nominate them for the Matt Kurtz Kindness Award of $250.
Do you have an act-of-kindness project you want to do but need help funding it? Submit your idea for the Matt Kurtz Kindness Grant of $500 and let us help you spread kindness.
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Dear Jackie. I only recently subscribed to your website, and I am so moved by your posts and good work in the mental health field. My husband and I are involved with another voice that also contributes to reaching out to young people who are struggling. It is called, Active Minds, and we have been a supporter for many years. Are you familiar with this group?
My heart goes out to you and your family on what would have been Matt’s birthday.
thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing about Active Minds. I looked into them and love what they do, it’s sad that they also lost a son/brother to mental illness but the sister, Alison Malmon, has clearly been amazing at trying to prevent this from happening to other families. I will definitely add Active Minds to our resource list and so appreciate you taking the time to write us. Thank you.