CW: Suicidal thoughts. Happy Pride Month, everybody! I don’t know about you, but I’m proud to still be alive. My name is Fe, and I’m nonbinary. I use this term because it’s the most well-known, but really my gender is pretty complicated. Genderqueer or bigender are probably most accurate to my identity; although, honestly, sometimes […]
CW: Suicidal thoughts. I’m just going to say it…life is hard, and sometimes I want to die. Sometimes I feel a rush of unbearable sadness take over me. It turns out I’m not alone. To get through some statistics quickly — from 2000 to 2018, there was a 36% increase in suicide rates, according to […]
It can be hard to know how to support your friends when they’re struggling. Even if you can relate to what they’re going through with a similar experience, it can still be a challenge to support them. If a friend is going through something relatably difficult, think about what you would’ve needed to hear at […]
My phone feels oddly heavy in my hand as I scroll through dozens of notifications. This isn’t any ordinary afternoon – this is the first afternoon in 30 days that I have had access to my normal phone and social media. For the past month, I embarked on a phone cleanse. So what exactly do […]
Immigration is one of the most paramount and notable issues in America today. As a child of immigration, I’m all too familiar with how overlooked individual immigrants, their children, and their families really are, even when granted asylum like my father, my brother, and myself. My story starts as a six-year-old fleeing Haiti, forced to […]
CW: Alcoholism/Abuse A year ago, my life felt harder than it ever had before. Having a therapist at the time to talk it over with made it easier for me to recognize what I needed. I was taking on too many responsibilities while running on empty. I was always “mature for my age”, but I […]
It’s that time of year again, folks! We’re looking for bloggers to join the 2022 Spring/Summer You Matter Blogger Council. The deadline to apply has been extended! The new deadline is Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022. You Matter has always been a space for youth, by youth, to share stories and make your voices heard. If you’re […]
CW: Discussion of mental health conditions such as OCD, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders and more. As we go about our everyday lives, we often overlook the way that language shapes the narratives around us. Not only does speaking about mental health directly contribute to attitudes around it, but there are also words and phrases incorporated […]
No, we’re not how we are because “it’s trendy.” Queer people have always been around, but it’s evident that people feel more comfortable with their queerness than ever. In fact, 1 in 6 Gen Z adults identify as a part of the LGBTQ+ Community, with that number very likely to grow. Sure, terms like “gay,” […]
While summer is usually thought of as the time of year where students can take a break from their typical stress and responsibilities, the warm weather and vacation time doesn’t always bring beach days and rest. For many students, the switch from a regular school routine to the summer months can take a toll on […]