Mother turns her grief into a lifeline for others » Yale Climate Connections
Transcript:
Sami Aaron of Kansas City, Missouri, wants to make sure that environmental activists who take care of the planet also take care of themselves.
In 2003, she lost her son Kevin to suicide.
Aaron: “He actually wrote in one of his journals … ‘I know all about sustainability, but I don’t know how to sustain myself.’”
After her tragic loss, Aaron wanted to ensure that other activists have resources and support to prioritize their own mental and emotional well-being.
So she founded The Resilient Activist, a nonprofit that hosts in-person and online events.
Aaron: “We’ve got workshops that help activists reevaluate when they are close to overwhelm and burnout, and we have monthly climate cafés … where people can share what’s on their hearts.”
She says it’s important for activists to make time for self-care, because too often they put their own needs on the back burner.
Aaron: “There’s this sense that I don’t need to take time or energy to get help because there’s too much to do.”
But she says it’s critical to talk about your feelings with people who understand and seek the help of a professional if you’re distressed.
Editor’s note: If you are in crisis, you deserve support. In the United States, you can call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. Some crisis lines use police intervention; if that is a concern, additional options are available at this link.
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media
