Sep 15

Sep 15 Millennial Spotlight: Mind Over Matter, Sis

An Interview with Jessica Wise

Let’s get real. This is a tough time. Especially for women. With the global pandemic raging on and civil rights movement placing women, once again, on the frontlines, sometimes we feel like we’re still expected to it all. That “all” means a lot more now. More essential workers, more protests, more tutoring and virtual schooling, and more time that we can’t get to ourselves. We sat down (virtually) with Chelsea Paulding, the reigning Miss West Georgia and founder of the new non-profit Sis, You Got This, to remind us of the importance of our mental health as women.

Tell us more about your nonprofit, and what you guys do.

Sis, You Got This started with a dream of mine. I’ve always had a passion for women's empowerment, physical fitness, mental stability, and living a healthy lifestyle overall. I wanted to provide a space for women to embrace their health journey and inform those who are seeking stability within their health journey. Those passions and dreams have led our goals to promote women’s health physically and mentally, embrace women’s empowerment, and enrich the female community through service and education. We post informative flyers, videos, host Instagram lives, and have interactive discussions about women’s health and empowerment.

Who is your target audience?

Our target audience is geared towards women of all ages, ethnicities, and sexual orientations. We do not discriminate against men and welcome them to learn more about women’s health as well. We are here to help and inform any and everybody!

Mental health is nothing new. We simply have the medical science now to identify and treat it. How do you think the millennial generation is leading the charge in highlighting the importance of mental health?

Millennials are doing an extraordinary job of making mental health a priority! We believe that is where one's mental health journey needs to start. Past generations have made mental health a stigma to where you are an outcast if you are experiencing mental instability, and it deters people from getting the proper help they may need. We think the millennial generation has normalized mental health in a positive light and promoted better practices such as taking time for self-care, not being afraid to talk to a counselor, or cutting out toxic relationships.

Millennials have seen 47% increase in depression diagnoses since 2013 (Source: BusinessInsider.com), primarily due to circumstances out of our control (money, burn out, stress, debt, etc.). How can we as a generation get a hold of this? Systems are clearly failing us, so it’s up to us.

A key tip to dealing with stress, especially as millennials, is to take care of all aspects of yourself. That consists of your physical and mental state as well as your environment. Take care of your body by eating well-balanced diets, exercise, and taking the necessary vitamins in order for your body to function properly and combat the world.

Take mental breaks. Avoid situations that bring high-level stress, meditate or pray, and cut out people who are not contributing to your overall well-being or health journey. As far as your environment, make that space a priority and only allow those who are positive or encouraging into your space, whether it’s your household or workplace. Without taking care of yourself in those aspects, the stress of a broken system will truly eat you alive. Reevaluate yourself and make it a goal to go against the odds, but remember your health comes first in order to continue to do so.

How would you suggest somebody begin taking better accountability of their mental health?

The first step is making your mental health a priority and being in touch with how it affects your day to day life. Also, being informed about mental health and knowing what you can do to make it better. Some great ways to start are with self-care. That can include doing things you enjoy, recognizing your feelings and accepting them rather than pushing them aside, and following mental health pages or listening to podcasts. If your mental state is leaning towards mental illness and you are ready to seek help, find a licensed mental health professional you trust and who your insurance will cover.

As a millennial, have you been able better educate the older generations on the importance of mental health? Do the Gen Xers and boomers you speak to seem open to being honest about generational curses?

I do believe that I have been able to better inform other generations about mental health due to my studies in social and behavioral health, techniques I've used to help my own mental state, and sharing resources on mental health. Other generations also seem to be more open now since taking care of your mental health is becoming more normalized. Some baby boomers are realizing there doesn’t have to be a stigma to go through mental trouble, and Gen Xers are learning that it is okay to be open about your feelings and receive help when needed.

How do you take accountability of your own mental health?

I take accountability for my mental health by doing what makes me feel happy and content. I'm the type of person who needs structure in my life and planning out my days help me to stay on track. If I don’t, I most likely will forget and be stressed out because I forgot and only have a short amount of time to get it done. Then it becomes a whole mess. Also, allowing time for things I enjoy like working out, pageantry, modeling, or spending time with my loved ones. It allows me to take a step back and just enjoy myself. I also notice the imbalance when I’m not doing those things, so I try to get back to what I consider a “normal” state through prayer or self evaluation.

Why do you think black women get overlooked or discounted when it comes to conversations on mental health?

Black women tend to get overlooked because of the societal expectation of black women to always be strong and fearless. In actuality, black women have the right to show emotion, not always be okay, and seek mental or emotional support. Black women are expected to stand up for not only themselves, but also black men, take care of the household, work, and have this superwomen persona. Yes, black women may be able to endure and do a lot but as a society we need to allow black women to be vulnerable, enact their emotions, not always be on the forefront, and access mental care without being penalized for not always being the strong black woman.

A lot of people assume mental health and self-care go hand in hand, but sometimes they’re interchangeable. I’m sure taking a B-12 shot doesn’t make anyone feel good, but it’s all a part of the process of taking care of oneself. What would you say are the differences?

Mental health is a broad spectrum, and self-care is a part of that spectrum. But mental health can also lead to mental illness. I think self-care is a preventative measure of mental illness and contributes to your overall mental stability. So I would say the major difference is that self-care is a technique versus mental health being an entity. And you need different techniques to help that entity.

How do you recommend setting boundaries at work in order to protect your mental health and self-care?

If work is a huge stressor in your life then boundaries are definitely needed. It could come from a co-worker, boss, or not being treated fairly. Set boundaries based on what is causing you stress in the workplace. If it is based on a co-worker being a jerk towards you then minimize interaction. Speak with your manager or boss to ensure that the behavior is stopped, or try talking to that co-worker and letting them know how you feel.

Stress from a boss can be hard, but sometimes having a conversation with them about how certain treatment is affecting your mental health can help. Or you can contact HR about the situation. Another great way to alleviate the stress of work is to leave work life at work. Do not bring it home if you can help it. Allow your home to be a safe space for you to relax and be stress free.

If a job overall just does not make you happy and you notice it is taking a major toll on your mental health, the best thing to do is leave. No job is worth deteriorating your mental state!

Want to learn more about Sis, You Got This?

IG: @sis_yougothis