Sarah Francis remembers reaching a point in high school when she realized the anxiety and thoughts she was experiencing were affecting nearly every part of her life.
At first, Francis said she did not fully understand mental health challenges and felt embarrassed to admit she was struggling. After months of trying to handle everything on her own, she eventually opened up to her parents and bishop and began seeing a therapist. She was later diagnosed with depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder and began taking medication.
“This is not normal and this is not what God wants me to live, He does not want me to live this life and so I realized I actually needed help,” Francis said.
As Francis became more comfortable talking about her mental health, she also began sharing her experiences with friends and family. She said people were often surprised because they viewed her as someone who was naturally happy and outgoing.
That openness eventually became an important part of how Francis advocates for others. By talking about her own experiences, she hopes to show people that mental health challenges can affect anyone, even those who may appear happy on the outside.
Her faith also played an important role in her healing. Francis described experiencing religious OCD, which caused intense feelings of guilt and anxiety surrounding her choices and faith. She’s a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although church initially became complicated for her, she said she gradually learned to view God as loving, merciful and understanding.
“Though we may feel like we are a broken vessel, we must remember that vessel is in the hands of the divine potter,” Francis said.
Francis said President Jeffrey R. Holland’s general conference message “Like a Broken Vessel” became especially meaningful to her and reminded her that experiencing mental health challenges does not separate someone from God’s love.
Today, Francis continues to experience what she described as “ebbs and flows” with her mental health, but she uses those experiences to connect with others. She advocates by speaking openly and reaching out when she notices someone struggling.
Francis encouraged those struggling with overwhelming emotion to recognize that they do not have to navigate their mental health challenges alone.
“If there’s a negative emotion that’s overtaking your life, that’s not your fault, and you can find peace and happiness again by seeking those who can help you,” Francis said.
For Francis, advocacy does not always require a large platform. Sometimes, it begins with simply being willing to talk about difficult experiences and reminding another person that they do not have to face them alone.