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” […]
Charlotte
on
CW: Mentions of suicide. “Nǐ hǎo.” Those two words are the way to greet another person in Chinese. Given that “nǐ” means “you” and “hǎo” means “good,” the greeting for saying hello actually directly translates to “you good?” or “are you okay?” This underlying meaning reflects a cultural practice of acknowledging others and expressing concern […]
Ayaan
on
In today’s climate, it’s important to discuss how families can support their children, particularly when it comes to their mental health needs. Having a child who is experiencing significant challenges is difficult, and it often feels like nothing seems to help, no matter what you try. I can’t even imagine what my family went through […]
Charlotte
on
CW: Mentions of suicide. In the wake of my father’s suicide, when I was just 12 years old, I was engulfed in a storm of grief, guilt, and confusion. During a late-night internet deep dive, I stumbled upon a report by the John Hopkins Children’s Center that found that children of parents who die by […]
Natalia
on
CW: Mention of Bipolar Disorder, mentions of depression and mania. When I first asked my mother to see a therapist, I was 14. She looked at me with a bewildered look in her eye and proceeded to tell me “We’re Cuban, we don’t do therapy”. From that moment on, I was convinced that Hispanic people […]
Belle
on
As a kid, the holidays were always magic: bright lights, time with family, and a general aura of joy. I would wait all year for my favorite season, beaming with joy when the air started to turn cold. I loved the tradition, the predictability, and the consistency of my holiday plans. Never did it cross […]
Sammantha
on
CW: PTSD As we meet new people, we have many questions that may come up, whether it be what someone does for work, inquiries about their family, or where they were born. When we think about family, this can also include our pets. For many of us, our animals are truly part of our family. […]
Andrew S
on
CW: Suicide My Grandma and Grandpa have been two of the most important people in my life since the moment I was born. For just over 19 years, I never had to imagine life without either of them, until last November, when my Grandpa passed away. This was a gut-wrenching few months for my family […]
Savannah
on
By the age of 10, I had already moved eight times. Since then, I’ve moved six more. The first few times, I remember being frustrated at having to shove my favorite toys into boxes and the U-Haul truck pulling in and out of my driveway. As I got older, I adopted an angsty attitude toward […]
Nathalie
on
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 […]