Connection Brings Hope, Part Five: Where I Am Today

A six-part blog on my journey through life with a mental illness and how my peers,
plus mental health professionals, gave me a new outlook on life.

By Dionna Riccio

Where am I today? I honestly never imagined  I would be able to write this blog sentiment for the my friend ABBY grant peer project today. I never imagined making it this far in life, but here I am, and pretty thankful and grateful that I get to share my story. 

I am now twenty-four years old, about to be twenty-five in a couple of months. This month, I am officially seven months free of any suicide attempts. I didn’t think there would ever be a time when I would be able to go this long without attempting, but here I am. 

I attend Southern New Hampshire University online in my third term, getting my bachelors in Psychology with a concentration in Mental Health Counseling. I’ve been a volunteer Crisis Counselor on the Crisis Text line since late Spring, Volunteering there gives me hope to want to live my life and to  make a difference in others' lives during a crisis and mental health issues, etc. in people who need help. I love to try to help others, I look forward to it every day. I am also working part-time as a barista at a local coffee shop.

I still struggle with my mental health daily but the thing is that now I have the tools and resources to manage it daily and I can get back on track if I’m struggling so I don’t resort to attempting again. I have a great support system whom I can rely on if needed. Today, I am forever grateful.