SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Depression was a battle for Miss South Dakota 2021, Kaitlin O’Neill as a teen.
O’Neill created the program BLOOM as a means to stop the stigma behind mental health and help open the conversation about it. BLOOM stands for “Balancing your personal and work life”, Listening to your body”, “having an Outlet for expression”, having a positive Outlook”, and “Meditation” or “Movement”.
The current Miss South Dakota recently spoke at the University of South Dakota School of Health Sciences about her program. O’Neill advises people to set time for themselves, get sleep, find time to get active or for meditation, and stop comparing themselves to others.
She says according to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), 50% of all lifetime mental illnesses begin at the age of 14. O’Neill built her Social Impact Initiative around balancing mental, physical, and emotional health.
