Andres
on
Talking about mental health is challenging, especially when you grow up in a community where it feels like no one talks about it at all. In Hispanic families, there’s often an unspoken rule to keep struggles to yourself, push through, and not show “weakness.” I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard, “échale ganas” […]
Sammantha
on
I was going through my things while preparing for an imminent move when I found a binder. It was full of worksheets and papers from my time in an in-patient mental health facility over 3 years ago. That binder held papers, notes, and my schedule for those 21 or so days. It told me what […]
Noa G
on
CW: Mentions of suicidal ideation. As a crisis counselor for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, I supported a diverse range of individuals facing challenging and distressing situations. Help-seekers with suicidal ideation (the desire to die by suicide) that reached out to the hotline expressed something called ‘suicidal ambivalence’. Though many of these individuals had […]
Ilana
on
CW: Mentions of suicidal ideation and self-harm. “I’m sorry for wasting your time–” “I don’t mean to be a burden–” “I’m not sure if this counts as a crisis–” As a Crisis Text Counselor, I receive messages like this almost every shift. Often, they seem to come from the people who need these services the […]
Brynne
on
What does gratitude mean to you? Does it mean saying thank you? Does it mean giving a gift? Or maybe, it means cooking a special meal for someone you love. Well, the great thing about gratitude is that it can mean all of the above! November is National Gratitude Month, and this comes just in […]
Ashley B
on
Burnout is a silent epidemic in today’s fast-paced world. The constant demands of work, social obligations, and personal responsibilities can leave us drained, detached, and overwhelmed. But there’s hope – by making small, intentional changes, we can combat burnout and restore a sense of balance and vitality to our lives. As I continue navigating my […]
Katherine
on
Since middle school, I’ve fantasized about applying to colleges, even though I had no career plans that required a degree. The whole process seemed mesmerizing to me, but at the time, I couldn’t understand why seniors stressed over their applications and essays. After five challenging years, I am now a senior applying to three colleges, […]
Lily
on
Hi friends! I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “self-care” a million times, but you may not have heard some original ideas on how to practice it. Self-care is generally seen as a few basic things: going for a walk, eating healthy, going to sleep at a good time, but really, self-care is so much more […]
CJ
on
CW: Mentions of self-harm, depression, and disordered eating. I was diagnosed with depression and started therapy only a year ago. Before that, I had no real understanding of how to manage my mental health, relying on unhealthy coping mechanisms like self-harm, isolation, and disordered eating. Despite everything, I remained highly self-aware. I recognized that my […]
Angie
on
‘It will pass. There are plenty of fish in the sea’ they said to me, as my heart was cleaving into two pieces. In that moment, I knew with complete certainty that this pain would not pass as painlessly as many made me believe. Many, like myself, have experienced the significant loss of a relationship, […]