My Blog on Mental Health
First, a bit about me:
My name is Al Levin and I'm an assistant principal in a public elementary school. I’ve been in education for nearly twenty years. I’m married and have four young children between the ages of eleven and five. My wonderful wife is an educator, as well, but resigned from her teaching position when we had the twins.
I am also in a Co-Active coaching certificate program through the Coaches Training Institute. The coaching work has allowed me to support the staff I work with in the public schools, as well as others who are seeking support in reaching their goals or working past challenging times in their lives.
I also happen to be a person who has recovered from a major depressive disorder, an illness that was quite debilitating for nearly six months of my life. Through this experience, I have become very passionate about learning more about mental health and supporting others with a mental illness, particularly men with depression.
As for my blog, I’m very excited to be blogging on topics for which I am incredibly passionate:
- Men and Depression
- Suicide Prevention & Awareness
- Stigma Around Mental Illness (and, particularly depression)
- Our Current, Broken Mental Health System
The goal of my blog is to bring awareness to the general public around these topics. I hope that through this awareness I can help to bring a better understanding of depression (particularly with men), perhaps save even just one life, diminish the stigma around mental health even in some minute way, and somehow positively impact a mental health system that seems often times to be of little or no support to the most vulnerable people who need it.
In addition to my blog, I speak publicly for NAMI, sharing my story and presenting on ways to help end the stigma of mental health. I have been interviewing men with depression for a podcast that I hope to begin to publish during the summer of 2017. You'll also be able to find me on twitter @allevin18.
I hope that you'll check out my blog. I encourage comments and thoughts to any of my posts. Thank you!
I believe that love trumps everything in the past present and future! Random acts of kindness !!
7 年YES! Thank you first of all for coming forward as a man who is willing to explain what MDD looks like. 2nd Thank you for being honest and direct when saying are system is broken!! It most certainly is! I have MDD as well it has been chronic after a few tragedies happened 6 yrs ago, sense then I am told I am in recovery, and my job now is to bridge the gap between the professionals and the people who live with Severe Persistent Mental Illness, this has NOT been easy, because of my passion that people can recover I won't give up, I belive we are fighting the same fight, I appreciate that! Something needs to change, and people are not listening. Thanks for sharing I will be looking forward to hearing more, and thanks for speaking out. sincerely Bree
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7 年So proud of you for writing about this and sharing. It's an honor to know you-- miss our bingo and pizza time! :)