Letter from the Founder: June – Gun Violence & Mental Health Awareness Month

Dear Friends and Supporters,

As the founder of the M. Ariel Love Foundation, I could not let this month pass without addressing two deeply personal and pressing matters: gun violence and mental health.

Why? Because guns are the number one weapon used in domestic violence homicides, and because this horrifying statistic has tragically touched my life, my daughter lost her life to such violence. This isn’t just data for me. It is my reality. And lately, I’ve been struggling to move forward while fighting for my peace of mind.

This is no easy journey. So, when I speak to you, I don’t talk as a bystander or someone who merely sympathizes. I speak to you as a survivor, someone who carries the invisible wounds of grief and trauma every day.

This brings me to the urgency of self-care and mental well-being. We often hear the phrase, “a mind is a terrible thing to waste”, but I want to remind you that depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses will gladly fill any space you leave unguarded. This is why, at the M. Ariel Love Foundation, we advocate for mental health services and provide them to those impacted by domestic abuse. Healing the mind is just as critical as healing the body.

Here are some facts worth knowing:

• 61% of women killed by guns in the U.S. are victims of domestic violence.

• In Texas, over 65% of domestic violence homicides involved a firearm.

• 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner.

• Domestic violence is not limited to intimate partners. It includes family abuse, child abuse, elder abuse, and violence within the household.

• The sudden and violent loss of a loved one, especially due to domestic violence, puts survivors at a much higher risk for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and suicide.

• People with untreated mental health conditions are more likely to experience chronic health problems, and studies show that mental illness can reduce life expectancy by up to 10-25 years.

• Negative and toxic environments, including unsupportive family or friend circles, can severely exacerbate existing mental health issues and even provoke dangerous emotional outcomes.

  
  

So, I urge you—check your circle. Assess your environment. Monitor what you consume, be it music, media, or conversation. If it’s not feeding your spirit or your healing, it might be draining your strength. Holding on to negative energy while trying to survive is a dangerous mix.

This month, and every month, I ask that you be conscious, careful, and kind to yourself and others. You never know who’s fighting to stay afloat while smiling through silent pain.

And if you're the one fighting, know that you are not alone.

With love,

Quin Levy-Flemings

Founder, M. Ariel Love Foundation

In loving memory of Maylaysia Ariel Levy