Let’s talk about something real: mental health—and the stigma that still surrounds it like a shadow.
As a Family Nurse Practitioner, professor, and owner of NOLA Care, I’ve seen firsthand the quiet suffering that happens when people feel they can’t speak up. I’ve had patients lower their voices when saying words like “anxiety” or “depression.” I’ve had students hesitate to ask for accommodations, afraid they’ll be seen as weak or incapable. I’ve had friends and family sit on symptoms for years because they were told to “just pray about it” or “shake it off.”
And I get it. For too long, especially in communities of color, mental health hasn’t been treated with the same urgency or legitimacy as physical health. We grew up hearing, “What happens in this house stays in this house.” We were told to be strong, to push through, to not complain.
But strength doesn’t mean silence. And resilience doesn’t mean neglecting your mind.
Mental health is health. Period.
At NOLA Care, we’re working hard to shift that narrative. Our clinic is a judgment-free zone. We believe in talking about therapy as easily as we talk about high blood pressure. We believe in screening for anxiety the same way we screen for diabetes. We believe your mental wellbeing deserves just as much attention, compassion, and care as any other part of your body.
As an educator, I make it a priority to show future nurses and nurse practitioners how vital this conversation is—how trauma, stress, and stigma show up in our patient interactions and our classrooms. We’re not just treating conditions. We’re treating people. And people deserve to feel seen, safe, and supported.
It’s time to:
- Normalize therapy.
- Check on your strong friends.
- Talk to your kids about emotions.
- Take your own advice.
It’s also time to stop assuming someone’s “fine” just because they’re functioning. High-functioning anxiety and depression are real—and often overlooked. You can be booked, busy, and breaking inside.
So whether you’re struggling yourself, supporting someone who is, or simply wanting to be part of the change—thank you. Let’s keep speaking up, showing up, and making space for healing.
Mental health matters. And we’re here to prove it—every day, one patient, one conversation, one act of compassion at a time.