My Story of Healing - Aaron Stark

In this story of healing vlog, I sit down with Ted Talker, Aaron Stark. He was once at the point of wanting to commit a senseless act of violence in an attempt to prove he was what others thought of him after years of mental and physical abuse as a child. He was saved by the simple act of love and inclusion of his best friend and his family. His story is inspiring and I am so thankful that he offered to share it with us!

Now, he's helping others with his outreach campaign on facebook, You Are Not Alone. He's saved countless lives and help thwart several targeted acts of violence through this effort. I can't wait for you to take a listen to our conversation.

To view our chat click the image above or follow this link: Aaron and Courtney's conversation.

Mental Health Resources

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, don’t suffer in silence! There are free and affordable resources to help you get through these times. Here are just a few options for you below:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-): Trained crisis workers are available to talk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your confidential, toll-free call goes to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network.

• SAMSHA National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP (4357): provides 24/7 confidential assistance in finding local resources in mental health and substance abuse disorders):

• National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) offers peer-to-peer support groups in most locations. This in-person group experience provides the opportunity for mutual support and positive impact. You can experience compassion and reinforcement from people who relate to your experiences.

• Some federal agencies offer resources for identifying practitioners and assistance in finding low-cost health services. These include:

• Health Resources and Services Administration works to improve access to health care. The website has information on finding affordable healthcare, including health centers that offer care on a sliding fee scale.

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has information on its website about benefits and eligibility for its programs and how to enroll.

• The National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus website also has lists of directories and organizations that can help in identifying a health practitioner.

• Mental Health and Addiction Insurance Help from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offer resources to help answer questions about insurance coverage for mental health care.

• Service members and Veterans have unique needs. https://www.mentalhealth.gov/get-help/veterans provides for their specific needs.