Post by Logan on Feb 8, 2016 4:43:19 GMT -6
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri state Rep. Genise Montecillo said nothing publicly for more than six months about the June day she tried to kill herself.
Montecillo wanted to keep that a secret, like the emotional abuse and neglect she said she suffered as a child and the depression she deals with as a result.
But she stood on the second day of the 2016 legislative session and implored her colleagues to research mental illness, a move she hopes will help others.
"Those of us that suffer with some of these illnesses, we do it in silence because we're afraid to tell everybody," the St. Louis Democrat said, her voice projected through a microphone to more than 150 lawmakers, as well as visitors and reporters. "We're afraid that people will think we're weak, or we're not capable of doing our jobs."
Read more: www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/after-suicide-attempt-missouri-lawmaker-speaks-out/article_6331a6b7-36ec-5b86-b543-a345b325a8c0.html
Montecillo wanted to keep that a secret, like the emotional abuse and neglect she said she suffered as a child and the depression she deals with as a result.
But she stood on the second day of the 2016 legislative session and implored her colleagues to research mental illness, a move she hopes will help others.
"Those of us that suffer with some of these illnesses, we do it in silence because we're afraid to tell everybody," the St. Louis Democrat said, her voice projected through a microphone to more than 150 lawmakers, as well as visitors and reporters. "We're afraid that people will think we're weak, or we're not capable of doing our jobs."
Read more: www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/after-suicide-attempt-missouri-lawmaker-speaks-out/article_6331a6b7-36ec-5b86-b543-a345b325a8c0.html