We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Deborah Harris a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Deborah, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hopes that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
I am a survivor of numerous suicide attempts. I survived most of my life while living with suicidal ideations. I am an overcomer of many challenges, abuses, hurts, and battles which are the causes of my current diagnosis. Cultivating my own ability to make informed, independent choices is what has helped me persist beyond a diagnosis of mental illness. With God’s help, I have developed a network of people who believe in my mission of sharing my experience, strength, and hope.
Total transparency of my own skeletons minus the shame, has opened up the doors for me to assist other individuals to talk about what it means to have a mental illness in a group setting and this is called “System Advocacy”. I also advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves and this is called, “Individual Advocacy”.
Ever since I experienced an unexpected crisis in 2014, I have been on a mission to reduce the number of suicide and opioid deaths in the Hampton Roads Region by addressing some of the major causes that could lead to suicide or death by overdose.
Managing a Prevention organization, practicing self-care, listening to my body, asking for help, and and helping to enhance the lives of those individuals who have lost hope is what has helped me to overcome adversity, and persist despite my own personal challenges related to my mental health.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Deb, as I am affectionately known by my family and friends. I am a prominent figure in the community where I live and serve. I am dedicated to serving others through various avenues of support and advocacy. When my office was nestled in the heart of Portsmouth, VIrginia I have become a beacon of hope for many, guiding them towards pathways to recovery and mental wellness.
Drawing from my extensive experience as a cosmetology instructior and stylist spanning over thirty years I transitioned seamlessly into my role as a three-time published author and the visionary behind numerous impactful initiatives. Notably, I am the driving force behind Your Wellness Inc., an organization committed to suicide and opioid death prevention, as well as mental health resources.
In addition to being a non-profit founder, I am the founder and owner of Just Peers LLC, a virtual peer drop-in and training center designed for foster a safe space for individuals and caregivers to develpp coping skills and find the support for their own needs.
Family holds a special place in my heart as evidenced by my enduring relationship with my spouse. I take pride in being a mother of three adult sons and three adult bonus children, along with my role as grandmother to a large loving extended family.
My journey has been shaped by personal struggles and a deep understanding of the stigma’s surrounding mental illness along with the flaws within the behavioral health and criminal justice systems, especially concerning people of color. My commitment to holistic healing and taking a strengths-based approach to healing the whole person is what empowers me.
I advocate for marginalized individuals, striving to uplife and empower them towards productivity and well-being. Through my community outreach, awareness events, weekly innovative self-care sessions and through our prevention bootcamps, I will remain steadfast in my mission to guide others towards sanity and resilience, while mirroring my own journey of triumph over adversity.
I have developed an unwavering, selfless support for those grappling with mental illness, substance use disorders, socio-economic challenges, and barriers to quality health care. I challenge anyone who believe in my mission to join me on this journey of enhancing the lives of those who have lost hope, for community wellness and support.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Reflecting back, I believe that the three main qualities or areas of expertise that were most impactful in my journey to sustained and quality recovery was, resilence, (the ability to bounce back from adversity), recognizing my stressors and avoiding them as best as possible, and last, but definitely not least, my relationship with God and knowing that He is the source of all my strength and I call call He anytime.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The number one obstacle or challenge that I and many other minority community-based non-profit founders that our organization collaborates with face is, “an unjust funding system”. Trillions of dollars are being dumped into the accounts of the game changers and money handlers who say, “they are passionate about quality behavior health care for everyone” but yet, we are still exhausting our personal accounts, to cover the expenses of our programs due to their unfair regulations, policies, procedures, unjust stigma’s, especially in the clinical settings, the media, and at “closed round table discussions”. These practices make it hard for the minority to get the exposure, support, recognition, and adequate funding necessary to produce effective outcomes in their programs needed to care for the affected populations who are suffering the most during this time of economic unrest. It’s true what they say, “No Money, No Mission”. It is evident and is of public record which organizations get funded, year after, year, after year. Botton line! If you want to keep a community down, do whatever it takes to keep their leaders and advocates down. If you want to silence their voice, silence the voice of those who care.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yourwellnessinc.org
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-harris-4896ab1b7
- Other: [email protected]
[email protected]
