You're an activist like us, so you know how exhausting this work can be. Burnout is real and many of us are straight up tired. 

A lot of folks come to this work because we deeply feel this country's injustices. Traumatic experiences that bring us to this fight can also compound the difficulties of fighting it -- of summoning the energy to go up against a broken system -- and being reminded of our traumas and scars on the daily. And we get up every single day to do it all over again. 

So I just want to validate those feelings. We're all here because we find meaning in struggling for a better world. But that doesn't mean the struggle doesn't take a hit on our mental health sometimes. 

Today for Mental Health Action Day, we're sharing some of the mental health resources we provide to our staff, in the hopes that you find some comfort and compassion in the struggle you may be experiencing. We're compiling resources on our website, so activists like you and I can have one place to go when we need it. Screenshot it, bookmark it, share the link with your friends. Here are a few things you'll find: 

We're also joining more than 1000 organizations on the first ever Mental Health Action Day in making a commitment to bridge the gap between mental health awareness and action. This community needs sustainable mental health solutions -- because each and every one of us is needed in this fight for the long-term.

Lastly, people living with mental illnesses are often mischaracterized as being a threat to others, when in fact, they are at higher risk of becoming a victim of gun violence themselves. Our country's mental health crisis goes hand in hand with our country's gun violence crisis. We are committed to addressing the root causes of gun violence. To repair our country's mental health, we must start within our own communities. 

In solidarity,
Elena Perez
Mid-Atlantic Regional Organizing Director
March For Our Lives