Irwin steps out of her comfort zone with Life Skills project
Sadness and depression are two symptoms that accompany mental illness. A growing concern in America, 4-H has added a timely and meaningful Life Skills project on mental health to its list of options, and Anna Irwin took on that challenge and has learned a lot in the process.
Every year dozens of Holmes County youth invest their time, talents and finances in choosing, developing and finishing their Life Skills projects.
Youth throughout the county find something that interests them, whether it is sewing, cooking, photography, hunting, gardening, birding or any one of countless options. Usually Life Skills projects are chosen because the youth find joy in what they are doing.
Anna Irwin’s 2018 Life Skills project wasn’t enjoyable. It was challenging. It was sometimes painful. But after Irwin came out the other side of her state-qualifying project titled “Your Thoughts Matter,” she found herself having grown immensely from the experience.
What she found was compassion.
Irwin, a senior at West Holmes High School and a member of the Nashville Jolly Farmers, opted to delve into the world of mental illness for her Life Skills project, and in doing so, she waded through the pain and confusion that can accompany those suffering from mental illness. While it wasn’t a true joy, she said she is excited that she has learned a life lesson that could benefit her for the rest of her life.
“I like trying new things, and when I saw the title ‘Your Thoughts Matter,’ it really got to me,” Irwin said of her project. “It’s a good thing for 4-H to move into because I think a lot of people only see 4-H as being working with animals, and we have never had anything about mental health, so it is a nice thing to offer 4-H kids.”
Irwin recognizes that this project will have a much more far-reaching effect on her life than other types of 4-H projects she has done in the past. She now sees this as a message that she can share with the world around her, a message that can help other people realize that mental illness is not something to be made fun of or to ridicule or even fear.
“I want people to realize that mental illness isn’t a choice, but it happens in life to regular people,” Irwin said.
Based on facts from www.mentalhealth.gov, the numbers on mental illness in America are staggering. One in five American adults experience a mental-health issue. One in 10 young people experience a period of major depression. One in 25 Americans live with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression.
Even very young children may show early warning signs of mental-health concerns. These mental-health problems are often clinically diagnosable and can be a product of the interaction of biological, psychological and social factors.
While most people simply either don’t want to talk about mental illness or try to avoid its existence, it is a growing problem in the nation, but Irwin has found that people can make a difference for those suffering from mental-health issues.
Friends and loved ones can make a big difference. Only 44 percent of adults with diagnosable mental-health problems and less than 20 percent of children and adolescents receive needed treatment. Friends and family can be important influences to help someone get the treatment and services they need by reaching out and letting them know they are willing to help.
Through her Life Skills project Irwin learned that the more you know, the more you are able to help others cope with mental illness.
“Part of it is educating yourself and being willing to share facts about mental health, especially if you hear something that isn’t true,” Irwin said. “When I hear someone talking bad about people with mental health, I try to correct them and tell them that it isn’t nice. It’s just about treating them with respect, just as you would anyone else. I think there is a misconception out there about mental illness, and through this project I have gained some better understanding about the disease and the role we can play in making them feel more accepted and better about themselves.”
The other thing Irwin has taken from her experience is the art of being kind and positive to everyone. She said she has always been a positive person, but this project really drove home the idea that being uplifting to others can make a difference in their lives. She said it also is going to make her a better person.
“I like to try to give people positive messages. Being positive helps you be a better person and build better relationships,” Irwin said. “It helps you be more successful in life.”
While each of the various 4-H Life Skills projects is very worthwhile in teaching youth how to follow instructions, work hard and follow through to meet their goals, this is one 4-H project that has branched out beyond the typical Life Skills realm and created an opportunity to have an impact on the world of mental health.