Letter From The Heart

Two weeks ago, it was Mental Health Awareness Week, a poignant reminder of the importance of recognising and addressing mental health issues. I wrote this letter back then but I decided to share it this week instead. Mental health is not confined to a single week; it is a year-round priority, just as expressions of love should not be limited to Valentine's Day. Despite our advancements in many areas, it’s disheartening that so many still struggle with mental health, often in silence due to the lack of support and awareness around this critical issue.

Many of us have faced mental health challenges at various stages of our lives—whether as children, in school, the workplace, or through personal health battles. For some, these challenges are surmountable without significant disruption, but for others who lack support or resilience, the impact can be profound. I, too, have faced such struggles at different stages of my life from being bullied as a child to battling 18 years of incurable cancer to losing my childhood friend. With the support of my family and a personal determined effort to strengthen myself, I gratefully rose above these challenges. These experiences, as difficult as they were, have shaped me into the person I am today. As Rumi wisely said, “The wound is the place where the light enters.”

The stigma surrounding mental health often prevents us from seeking help or expressing our struggles. This stigma is particularly strong among men, who are pressured by societal expectations of “toxic masculinity” to appear strong and invulnerable. Did you know that over 1.3% of deaths in 2019 were the result of suicide, with almost two-thirds of those being men? Ironically, those who are struggling the most often hide their pain behind a fa?ade of laughter and sociability. Men are raised to be strong, defenders, providers, and protectors, making it even harder for them to show vulnerability.

Society sometimes makes us feel inadequate or unworthy of our goals, projecting their fears onto us and hindering our confidence and contentment. This societal pressure is exacerbated by social media, which often presents a false picture of perfection, and by insensitive trolling that lacks empathy and compassion. The truth is we can never know what someone is going through.

In 2016, I lost a dear friend to suicide. He had been struggling with depression, but none of us realized the severity of his pain. Just weeks before his death, we were laughing and talking on the phone, unaware of the darkness he was facing. His emotional maturity and infectious smile masked his inner turmoil, and his loss was a profound shock and a devastating blow.

Recognising the importance of this issue and my personal experiences, I have launched the "Love Abundance" initiative at MARK / GIUSTI to raise awareness about mental health. It’s crucial never to assume how someone else is feeling; we can never truly know the battles they are fighting. Empathy, compassion, and mindfulness in our interactions can make a significant difference. The words we choose can either uplift someone or push them further down. Be kind. Share love and light.

Here are some personal pieces of advice that have helped me, and I hope they help you too if you are going through difficult times:

1. Give time some more time: All difficult situations pass eventually. You will emerge stronger and look back at these challenges with pride.
2. Don't be too hard on yourself: You don't hold the answers to everything, and no one expects you to solve every situation.
3. Dedicate time for at least one small thing that gives you joy. It is like food for the soul.
4. What people think of you is none of your business: It exists only in their minds. Just because they think a certain way, it doesn’t make it true.
5. You are stronger than you think. Be patient and this too shall pass.
6. You are loved and not alone: Don’t feel ashamed to speak up and ask for help.
7. Self-love is important: Not the selfish kind, but taking care of yourself, giving yourself time to heal, grow, and become stronger. Always remember, you are enough !
8. Forgive Forgive Forgive : Forgiveness is healing. Forgive what was , to enjoy what is.
9. Practice daily gratitude: Remember that life can always be better, but it can also be worse. You have what someone else is praying to get.
10. Spread love, light, and kindness wherever you go and with abundance ! It always comes back to you.

If you are struggling with mental health, please know that you are not alone. Reach out to a friend, confide in a loved one, or seek anonymous help. Your well-being matters, and you are worthy of support and happiness.

Spread love, light, and kindness (with abundance).

Mark Farhat Giusti