BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Emma Benoit looked like any other kid growing up but was hiding something that nearly cost her everything.
“I grew up middle class family, spunky, charismatic kid, but I always struggled with my mental health,” Benoit said.
Emma first developed anxiety in elementary school. As she grew, so did her struggles and she didn’t know how to cope.
“No one really knew that I felt that way or struggled that way because of my fear of rejection, my fear of being judged, of the stigma,” Benoit said.
Those fears made Emma isolate herself from friends and family and even quit cheerleading by the time she got to high school. Before she knew it, her depression and anxiety became too much.
Turning point
“Struggling with those thoughts in silence and not having the awareness or knowledge of what to do when those thoughts come to you, I became a victim of those thoughts and ultimately attempted suicide,” Benoit said.
But Emma survived and says that moment changed everything.
“I realized that in the moment that it wasn’t about not want to be alive, but it was about wanting my reality to look and feel different,” Benoit said.
That realization allowed her to hold on and fight for her recovery, not just physically but mentally and emotionally too. She says the first step was speaking up.
“Silence didn’t keep me safe; it only made my struggles feel ten times bigger than they actually were and opening up that conversation about your emotions and mental health and the way you’re processing reality is the solution,” Benoit said.
Sharing her story
Now she’s sharing that solution with other teenagers. Emma screens her documentary, My Ascension, at schools across the country, sharing her story and pushing for more mental health resources for students.
“It’s been so rewarding getting the chance to share my story in such an open and safe way. I’m really grateful for opportunities I get to travel across the country to share my story with students and it really is opening up this new perspective that I hope we can get to as a society that says mental health doesn’t discriminate,” Benoit said.
Emma says she’s on a mission to make sure other kids know they don’t have to suffer in silence.
“Hopefully we can continue to spread it and progress with our mental health programs in schools in terms of educating students and helping them feel safe and get the help they need and that there is hope and help out there,” Benoit said.
To learn more about Emma and her impact, visit her website.
If you or anyone you know is struggling, you can dial 988 to get connected with a mental health professional 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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