In my role as a community leader and small business owner, there’s a part that’s not talked about much. It’s like a secret struggle that people face without anyone knowing. We all have tough days and difficult circumstances, but for some, these events stick with them like heavy chains, making it hard for them to feel okay. Dealing with life becomes an insurmountable task.
Behind the busy storefront of my business, there are hidden stories of hard times. There are people in our community, possibly ones who come to my fly shop and might have been through really tough times, using fly fishing as a way to cope. Not everyone finds a healthy way to deal with the pain that they carry. Within our community, one out of every five women likely has faced sexual molestation. One in four children, whose parents are part of our community, bears the weight of brutal beatings from those meant to provide solace and protection. It’s possible that one in eight witnesses the tumultuous battleground of physical fights between the pillars of their own foundation—their parents.
In the face of these alarming numbers, a question echoes through my awareness: Why is mental health not taken seriously? The answer, I realize, is shrouded in the pervasive stigma surrounding mental illness, a stigma I unknowingly perpetuated in the daily operations of my small business. Engaged with the rhythm of transactions and the ebb and flow of commerce, I failed to notice the silent struggles within my community. In a world quick to label vulnerability as weakness, many may be suffering in silence, believing the misconception that one should simply “snap out of it.” This erroneous belief perpetuates the cycle of ignorance and dismissiveness, leaving those grappling with mental health challenges to carry the weight of their struggles alone.
It took two suicides within my own business to finally shatter my complacency, to realize the crisis that is often untold, the struggles that are happening before me. These tragedies were the wake-up call I needed, a stark reminder that asking questions and coming alongside those experiencing trauma is not just an option but an urgent necessity.
In our community, El Paso County, more people take their own lives than in other places in our state, and suicides increased by 11% in 2022.
Shockingly, 75% of these cases were non-military. Unfortunately, this is not a new problem; we have grappled with this issue for a decade, and it is beyond time to prioritize the hidden struggle and come alongside our community in their tough times and bad days.
That’s why I am running for El Paso County Commissioner District 3. We need strong leadership and a voice for those who have not learned to tell their stories. We need to bring the community together to address this issue. We key partners and caregivers who are working hard on these issues but we are making small gains and tend to operate in silos. We must put a strong effort in as leaders because it’s affecting the lives of people in our community every day.
As a member of County Commission, I intend to help our city create the Best Life for Every Neighborhood.
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