“I’ve got to be so strong for him.” - Jonathan Davis

My name is Jonathan Davis and I am the care coordinator/dragonfly coordinator for Baptist Behavioral Health.

Growing up, my father was a functioning alcoholic. He was a go-getter, burning at both ends all the time. To mask the trauma he experienced growing up, he relied on alcohol. As a result, my relationship with him wasn’t what it could have been. The alcohol and mental health together did a lot of damage to him that led to multiple mental disorders. He was in and out of numerous in-patient facilities, constantly trying new medication as nothing seemed to work. I remember thinking to myself, “I’ve got to be so strong for him,” all the while I was breaking down myself.

I remember having a conversation with my now ex-wife where I was thinking that I wasn’t loved and discovering information that led to a divorce being the outcome. This caused me to go into a very aggressive downward spiral with my mental health. My dad always taught us that when you’re going through things, you have to fight them and not tell anyone. Otherwise, you’d end up in the loony bin. That was devastating to me because I couldn’t share my dark thoughts, the feeling that I didn’t want to live anymore, with anyone in fear of what might happen if I do.

What brought my mental health to a place where I could feel sustained was knowing that I had value. There was a purpose for my life, and that’s what I feel helped me ultimately with my mental health, knowing my identity. 

When my father passed away, I realized that I have to help folks like me and my dad. Fast forward several years and I met Dr. Terry Andrews with Baptist Behavioral Health. She came to me and told me there was a position that was opening up, a care coordinator/dragon coordinator with Sheryl and Todd. I had seen Sheryl speak a year before, and I remember going up to her, as nervous as I was, to tell her she was amazing and to thank her for sharing her son’s story. 

Ever since then, so many doors have been opened. I feel like my whole life, I’ve been chasing people, asking them “What is it that I’m good at?” I realized I know what my passion is, people that are struggling with mental illness. I remember knowing what I wanted to do and that I just had to get with the right people. There will always be doors open when purpose and passion align with each other.

The best advice I could give to someone that is struggling, is suicidal, or knows someone suicidal, is to text LIFE to 741741.