Lerato Solomon
You can connect with Lerato on LinkedIn and Instagram. find out more about her work via mentalmatterswithleratosolomon.co.za, and listen to her on Spotify.
"To be a girl or woman today is..." to be authentic, to accept who you are, appreciate your journey, be unapologetic, pursue your passion and empower your nation with the gifts and passions you possess.
Tell us about yourself. How did you become involved in your cause? What inspired you to begin #LivingForChange?
I am Lerato Solomon. I am not my depression. I have anxiety and depression. I still take medication for anxiety and depression. I still go to therapy. Mental health matters, mental health awareness and the fight against mental health stigma are close to my heart. This is my journey to mental health.
It took 10 years before I sought help. I survived four suicidal attempts and suffered in silence almost all my life. When I finally had the opportunity to get help, I couldn't look back. I knew and still recognize that there are so many people out there like me, suffering in silence at the hands of the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and it is for these reasons that I founded my organization and dedicated my life to normalizing conversations about mental health issues, mental illness, and suicide.
I inspire and empower the voiceless and hopeless by sharing my mental health journey through storytelling, sparking conversations and raising awareness. I encourage those who have a voice to use it. I encourage you to use it for those who no longer have one, and for those still searching for theirs. I encourage you to no longer be ashamed of what you have been through; but be proud that you made it on the other side of victory! Be proud that the things that tried to kill you, you slayed them! Hold your head up high and shine on! Stand tall and raise your voice.
What have you been doing to spread the word and/or to help your cause so far?
I founded my organization called Mental Matters with Lerato Solomon, promoting and creating platforms to speak freely, raise awareness and alleviate stigma surrounding mental health issues. I have a blog and podcast that focuses on all matters pertaining to Mental health. I sit in a panel of speakers for webinars, speaking on mental health and sharing my personal story. I have mental wellness/awareness & stigma merchandise as well [on the website].
What is the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome on this journey?
I have had to overcome my fears - opening myself up to the public, letting others into my world. I am an introverted person. I suffered a lot from impostor syndrome. Launching my organization and finally advocating for mental health was a great step. I did it scared, anxious - but I did it anyway. It was uncomfortable but it was for a good purpose.
Do you consider yourself a success? If not, when will you?
Success is when I wake, remember my purpose, act on the purpose, and go to bed knowing that someone was impacted positively. I have an understanding that sleeping on your purpose may be delaying another's breakthrough or healing. I cannot claim to be successful if I have not uplifted my community, family or even a stranger. Success involves living in my purpose, and purpose is not self-serving. I am a successful woman; I have survived a lot of trauma but I have also found healing. I am sharing my journey, more specifically my mental health journey, to inspire and motivate through storytelling and advocating for mental health, and this is because I believe I am born to serve and lead. To lead is to enable others, to empower them - and I am definitely on the right path. Success is a journey and not a destination.
What’s your end point?
There is never an end point - there can never be "too much awareness". For me, it is all about impact. Everyday, I aim to produce content, volunteer, and speak on mental health in the hopes of impacting one person or community at a time. I believe that we all have a story to tell and even if it is told to one person, it would have made a great impact. No life is too small or irrelevant for change and impact.
Describe yourself in ONE word. Changemaker
Complete this sentence: "I am #LivingForChange because..." everyone matters and my purpose is bigger than me.
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