Personal Stories

For years, I carried the fear that bars us from living openly and freely, constantly worried and dreaming of being exposed, judged.

I have come to understand that mental health is just as important as physical health — and untreated mental illness can be as life-threatening as any serious physical condition.

A friend once told me, you are never weak when you seek help. Speak up about the issues you are facing and find strength in vulnerability.

"This was the darkest, most trying moment in my life. However, I had to go through the pain for my purpose to be revealed."

"I needed to be able to relate to someone who looked like me and was experiencing mental health issues like I was. I needed to see that there was hope and that with the right treatment, support and additional resources, that I could have a life worth living."

To me, recovery means validating my own feelings, trusting in my experiences and admitting that it was not my fault.

Mental illness does not discriminate. Parents should know that if their child has a mental illness, it is not because they weren't providing or creating a healthy environment for their child.

If we come together, despite all the hate, we can spread love and save so many lives. It’s sometimes just as simple as a smile. Be a listening ear, strike up a conversation with someone, volunteer your time and resources—nothing is too small.