with supplemental quotes.

• mental illness is not something to be ashamed of. if you ever have one, don't stigmatize yourself. being ill doesn't make you crazy, it just means you need help for a while. if it's someone else, don't judge them, don't label them, and don't hold yourself responsible for their actions. and never give up hope, because sometimes hope that things will get better will be all you have.

"Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all." - Bill Clinton (dear goodness, did i really just quote bill clinton?)

• never be afraid to ask for help. it's okay to not be able to handle everything on your own.

"The healthy, the strong individual, is the one who asks for help when he needs it. Whether he has an abscess on his knee or in his soul." - Rona Barrett

• don't let anyone else tell you want to believe. you're allowed to make your own decisions and form your own beliefs, and nobody - not your parents, not your religious leaders, not your friends, not your government - has the right to take that from you.

"[N]o man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities." - if you don't know where i got this, go to fifth grade, do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars.