Healing Through Connection: Brittany Snow and Jasper Guest on Mental Health and the Power of Storytelling
The Importance of Sharing Your Story
Mental health is a topic that demands openness, honesty, and connection. Actress Brittany Snow and creative entrepreneur Jasper Guest have embraced this philosophy with their initiative September Letters, a mental health awareness and letter-writing platform that allows people to share their personal journeys. They opened up on the subject to Maria Menounos on her podcast.
“I think also what I’ve learned about myself is that there are ways to feel good about myself and create things that have nothing to do with other people,” Brittany shared. “I can do something by myself, and that alone time, while sometimes scary, is also when I feel the strongest.”
This sentiment forms the foundation of September Letters. Writing has long been recognized as a therapeutic tool, helping people process emotions and experiences. By sharing stories, individuals realize they are not alone, creating a cycle of support and healing.
A Full-Circle Moment
For Brittany, the inspiration for September Letters stemmed from her own experience. As a teenager, she stumbled upon an article written by a woman who had overcome her mental health struggles. That story resonated so deeply with her that she carried it in her back pocket for months as a source of hope. Years later, Brittany wrote about her own mental health journey in People magazine. One day, a young woman approached her—carrying Brittany’s article in her pocket for the same reason.
“We both cried and freaked out,” Brittany recalled. “It was this full-circle moment where I realized I was just trying to do for someone else what that woman had done for me.”
This experience solidified her desire to create a space where people could openly share their mental health struggles and triumphs, fostering a sense of belonging and resilience.
The Healing Power of Community
Jasper, who has faced her own health challenges, understands the value of connection. “As a human, I think in your lifetime you should try to help at least one person,” she said. “I had a lot of hearing problems as a kid, losing my hearing and getting it back. It made me feel different, but it also taught me empathy.”
Both Brittany and Jasper emphasize that mental health is a universal experience—one that requires compassion and understanding. Through September Letters, they hope to break stigmas and create an ongoing conversation that makes it easier for people to reach out for help.
Coping Strategies for Mental Health
During the conversation, Brittany highlighted the importance of having a “toolbox” of coping strategies. One of her key methods is hypnotherapy. “A lot of the things I tell myself are just stories,” she explained. “Hypnotherapy helps me reframe those narratives, breaking the cycle of negative thinking.”
Jasper, on the other hand, finds balance through spiritual and metaphysical practices, such as astrology and energy healing. “If you’re going to believe in anything, believe that there’s a reason for what you’re going through. It makes the struggles feel more purposeful.”
Both agree that finding personal rituals—whether it’s journaling, meditation, or even taking a break from overwhelming news cycles—can be instrumental in managing mental health.
Navigating Mental Health in a Pandemic
Launching September Letters in the midst of a global pandemic was not intentional, but it proved to be a timely resource for many. “The thing that surprises me the most is the amount of honesty and vulnerability people share in their letters,” Brittany noted. “Even during such a tough time, people are finding ways to offer hope to one another.”
The initiative has become a safe space where individuals can express their emotions and find solace in knowing that others are experiencing similar struggles.
Final Thoughts
Mental health conversations are evolving, but stigmas still exist. Brittany and Jasper believe that initiatives like September Letters play a critical role in normalizing these discussions.
“At the end of the day, we are all dealing with mental health in some capacity,” Jasper said. “The more we talk about it, the less isolated people feel.”
For those struggling, Brittany offered a powerful reminder: “Your courage is what defines you. If you have the strength to make it through the hardest nights, you have the strength to make it through anything.”
To read or submit your own September Letter, visit SeptemberLetters.com.
For more conversations on mental health and personal growth, tune in to Heal Squad with Maria Menounos.
