Mental health awareness equals suicide prevention

Welcome to My village has no elders. I am Fronten’a Woodson, and I am so glad you found me.  

Here you will find a range of topics on mental health and setting boundaries. You may notice that there is a heavy focus on the mental health of black women. I advocate for everyone to invest in their mental health. And know that everyone will benefit from setting strong, healthy boundaries.  

My focus on black women’s mental health is not in any way meant to alienate any other race of women, or of any other people in general. Black women have been carrying an immeasurable amount of traumas from our childhood that we are terrified to set down.  

Black women have been taught for generations that being strong is the only acceptable way to present ourselves. And this toxic message has caused damage so extreme that even other races believe that strong and black women are interchangeable.  

This message has caused immense damage to my mental health. Damage that took me years to unpack. Because of this toxic message that was embedded into me so deeply it can be traced back to my ancestry. That while I was pregnant with my third child,  I a planned a suicide. And some years later, I attempted suicide.   

I have struggled with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation since middle school. I didn’t have anyone to help me to understand that what I was feeling was something that I could get treatment for. That I could get better and stay better.

I strongly feel that everyone can benefit from therapy. But I have been placing my focus on African American women.  

Black women are often forced to be in multiple roles, with multiple people, at multiple times. And we tend to have a lot of unpacked childhood trauma that we need to heal from.  

Carrying this around for generations has left black women with some deep and very toxic roots attached to our mental health, and what it means to seek help.

Stigma causes so many black women to suffer in silence, so I have dedicated my life to my mission of sharing my story with depression and anxiety to bring awareness, and destroy the stigma that keeps so many black women suffering alone.

Talking about our mental health and sharing our experiences not only contributes to tearing down that stigma, but it is very healing for you. And might possibly even be healing for someone who needed to hear your story so that they know they can be healed as well. 

I also firmly believe that peace can be found in every space where boundaries exist.  Setting boundaries to find peace was something made a huge difference in my mental health.

Please have a look around and tell us how we can help you set boundaries in your life, or set better boundaries in all of your interpersonal relationships so you can achieve and maintain peace.  

The more we talk about mental health the more awareness we raise. And when we use mental health awareness to destroy the stigma surrounding mental health, that's when we can start saving  lives. 

Be mindful of how you allow others to handle you. And forgive yourself for how you’ve handled you.  

Please consider becoming a part of my village. I think you’ll like it here.  

You are brave for asking for help when you need it. Seeking help for your mental health is not shameful. It does not mean that you lack faith, or that you do not believe in God's ability to heal. 

You did not ask to struggle with your mental health. And nothing you did caused this to happen. 

Depression does not discriminate. Depression, just, is. 

You can get better, you can stay better, and I promise there is light at the end of this darkness. 

Please do not give up. 

You are loved. You are needed. I am here. 

Mental health awareness equals suicide prevention. The more focus we place on the mental health of black women the more generational habits we can break. Come along on a journey with me to remove depression and invite in wellness. 

Please consider becoming a part of my village. I think you'll like it here.