The ascent of a mental health advocate : Edna Freeman
The growth of a mental health influencer : Edna Freeman? Edna Freeman is an American mental health advocate and mother who has overcome childhood trauma in her own life and is passionate about ensuring today’s children don’t need to suffer without early intervention. Edna uses her story of overcoming traumatic childhood abuse to show others that they are not alone and that there is no shame in asking for help.
Hello Edna, what prompted you to become a mental health/child abuse advocate? Being a victim myself. I struggled with life, and I wish I had help when I was younger. I grew up with difficulty making friends and keeping relationships. I also kept attracting the wrong people into my life. Abused people tend to get into abusive relationships over and over again. My goal is to help those people to get help as soon as possible. As for mental illness, the earlier the diagnosis, the better, so people and family can also do their part to help. Early intervention is the key.
Is it ever too early or too late in someone’s life to confront and overcome trauma with therapy? There is not too early to confront it, but the older you get it gets harder to treat it. But it is never to late to get help. I got help later in life, and I am very thankful that I did, even though I wish I got help earlier.
Edna Freeman is a Brazilian survivor of abuse during childhood and adolescence, and currently uses her personal experience to help children and adults who are experiencing this type of situation. She is a mother of two and currently lives in San Francisco, United States, with her family. It is incredible to see the amount of dedication she has to help those who are going through all these problems and need someone who knows how to deal with each particular case. Edna is currently working on setting up her own organization that will help treat children and adolescents who have suffered abuse and trauma.
The Brazilian’s husband works as a DJ once a month and this helped her to meet several famous people, both Brazilians and foreigners, besides having contact with someone who works bringing famous Brazilians to the United States. Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Jorge Aragão, Jarvis Cocker, Sherilyn Fenn, Brent Spiner, Matt Ross, Delroy Lindo, Gaz and Nick Cave are some of these famous Brazilians and foreigners. Edna has also done several works in advertising, but her biggest highlight is as a poster girl at Sutter Health hospital and with her face is printed on buses, billboards and subway stations.
“When I went to the casting, they thought I was Asian. Then I said ‘no, Latin’. Days later, they chose me. I had no idea that I would be chosen. I was amazed and, at the same time, happy, without believing. It was wonderful, “he admitted. The work was done at Mission Dolores Park, famous for hosting good artistic performances, and which was partially closed on the day of the recording and the photo shoot. In a short time, there it was printed on billboards, buses and subway stations, among other tourist spots in SanFran, as the city is affectionately called.