Struggling with mental illness is a day-to-day fight that taxes countless people all over the world. And while it is common, the stigma around discussing mental illness, in its varied forms, remains. That’s why authors, actors, and celebrities are coming forward to share their experiences at part of the #HoldOnToTheLight campaign. Because at its best, fandom takes care of each other.
Need some words of wisdom?
There is a collection of over 70 essays so far (with 100 total being the goal), from the likes of Cat Rambo, Delilah S. Dawson, Myke Cole, Laura Anne Gilman, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Sherwood Smith, and more. Inspired by the Supernatural fandom’s charity effort AKF—#AlwaysKeepFighting—these essays are here to help destroy the stigmas surrounding mental illness and make certain that everyone suffering understands that they are not alone.
Here is a list of the essays completed thus far, and a link to their Facebook group. You can also search the hashtag #HoldOnToTheLight on Twitter. The group also recommends volunteering or donating to organizations that promote mental wellness, including: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Hope for the Warriors (PTSD), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Canadian Mental Health Association, MIND (UK), SANE (UK), BeyondBlue (Australia), To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
