ASHA Storytellers
Bekah Miles
Speak out; You are not alone.
Psychology major Bekah Miles’ bold Facebook post about depression reached millions, raising awareness around the world.
Being diagnosed with depression was the last thing Bekah wanted to hear. She was in the middle of her undergraduate degree when it became hard to cope with life. Depression had been something she struggled with since early adolescence, but those feelings she experienced became her “normal.” When she heard the diagnosis, she began her journey to uncover who she really was underneath the façade of someone who held it all together. After lots of thought and fear of judgement, she decided to take a leap of faith and open up about her depression over social media via a picture of her fresh tattoo paired with a powerful message. Her only wish was to reach one person struggling like she was, but she soon found out that her words resonated with millions across the world, assuring people that they were not alone in their personal battle.
Mental health conditions are a leading impediment to the health and wellbeing of high school and college students. Left untreated, mental illness – including anxiety, depression and eating disorders, can lead to school failure, family conflicts, substance abuse, violence, juvenile & criminal justice involvement, and even suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among those 15-24 years old. Treatment is effective. Yet, because of the shame and stigma surrounding these issues, mental health is not discussed and too many students are suffering in silence. Bekah wants to change that – she wants to share her story to end the stigma surrounding mental illness, and encourage students to seek the help and support they need to recover and thrive. Bekah is the winner of ASHA International’s 2016 Hope Bringer Award.