Within the last week of writing this entry I had the chance to spend a good part of an afternoon advocating for mental health at my state capitol. I have done this before, and every time it feels very empowering and meaningful. Today, I want to share a few things I have learned that has helped to make my advocacy feel more impactful.
First, sharing your personal story is huge. You do not have to go into a lot of details, and it is important to keep it short, but a story typically is going to resonate more with people than facts or numbers. Next, while some stories can be heartbreaking, it is important to try to put a positive spin on it. People are usually not motivated by what is wrong. People are motivated by things that have worked or helped other people. Possible solutions are also encouraging here.
After sharing your story and highlighting possible solutions or helpful ideas, it is important to have an ask. What do you want? What would you like to see? After all, a main reason for advocating is to ask for changes or improvements. Another helpful tip is that if you feel like it, offer yourself as a contact or resource if additional questions or information is requested.
Overall, advocacy it not a one size fits all approach. Every person can advocate differently, and the tips I have mentioned here are a few that I have found to make sense and work for me. They are not hard and fast rules, but I hope that you will at least find some of them helpful.
How about you? Are you an advocate for mental health? If so, how do you advocate? Do you use the same tactics I have mentioned here? Do you use other strategies? If you feel so inclined, feel free to leave your ideas in the comments section.