Read stories of mental health struggles and recovery from Project UROK supporters and learn about incredible awareness raising and stigma fighting work from mental health advocates.
I fell into a deep depression. It got so bad when I was 18 that I began contemplating suicide. I wish I could say that was the moment I turned my life around, but it wasn’t, a couple months later weighing only 38kg, hair falling out from all the chemo meds, I was admitted to the hospital. As I lay in my hospital bed, the moment that completely changed my life was when my doctor told me things weren’t looking good, and that I could die.
Read MoreDo you know what it’s like to live your life never feeling normal? I do. I remember when I was young, no older than 6 or 7 years, and I threw up in the middle of the street while talking to a neighbor; a relative of mine hollered, “WHY CAN’T YOU BE NORMAL LIKE OTHER KIDS?” As I sat crying, wondering what exactly I could do to fix myself. I was a sickly child and no doctor or specialist could determine what was wrong), I began to feel less than adequate.
Read MoreHow did I get Here? Someone recently presented me with the question; “How did you get to where you are today? What made you realize you had to make a change?”Let me just say it wasn’t easy, but I will make my best attempt at answering those questions and sharing my journey.
Read MoreWhen you live with depression for a long time, there is no part of you that your depression doesn’t touch. Like, there is no aspect of your life it leaves alone. It can affect your friendships, your romance, your family, your grades, your work, your money, your hobbies, your passion, your sleep, your weight, your hygiene, your other illnesses if you happen to have any, and so much more. It’s everywhere, and it gets in everything. It runs through every hallway of your life and puts its hands all over everything it shouldn’t.
Read MoreIn 2012, I received a wake-up call as I sped on a Los Angeles highway wanting to die. A few days later, I walked into USC’s Student Counseling building, the same service I thought I didn’t need a few months before.I was such an emotional wreck that I had not one, but two school counselors staring at me as if I was minutes from my demise.
Read MoreTamu Lewis is the Co-Founder of the Lee Thompson Young Foundation. She started the foundation with her mother, Dr. Velma Love, in honor of her brother, actor Lee Thompson Young, who died by suicide after struggling with bipolar disorder. The foundation seeks to end stigma associated with mental health through education, support, and resources. We asked her why her work is so important and how she approaches self-care. She says, "mental health impacts everyone and we need to be more aware of mental health challenges and resources in order to help ourselves and others."
Read MoreI am the Founder, President, and CEO of Comunilife, Inc. My job is to work with our board, staff, and community to develop culturally appropriate programs that help homeless and at-risk Hispanic New Yorkers access the services they need to live independently and reach their individual potential. In addition to providing direct services, a large part of my job is to advocate on behalf of our clients. This can include working to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and educating our community on the benefits of early intervention.
Read MoreI wouldn't be alive if I didn't tell someone I needed help. I would have done that much sooner if my depression and anxiety issues were normalized. I founded Depressed While Black to be an online platform where we can share stories that remind us we are not alone. Our mental health is often bombarded with messages that people of color are less deserving of psychological care. Minority mental health reclaims our minds and embraces our complex and vulnerable humanity. Taking medication doesn't make you less of a spiritual person.
Read MoreI do not engage in full-time mental health work. but I do use my platform to regularly discuss mental health. I've written about my own challenges with depression for major publications and I host chats about mental health on Twitter. I try to be as open as possible about my past issues with depression so that others will feel safe to share their stories and seek the help they need. Many people have reached out to me on social media, which makes me feel very proud that my transparency makes a difference.
Read MoreI found Letters to Strangers when I was 14. Two years prior, I'd sunk deep into depression and bipolar disorder and attempted suicide. After that experience, I couldn't bear the thought of anyone feeling so lonely and lost. I believe in the power of human connection; that writing is humanity distilled into ink; that one letter - one human connection - can save a life. So when I heard of people at VidCon exchanging letters with strangers for fun, I transformed that into an in-school experience where peers could support each other with anonymous letters meant to share their own stories, thoughts, and provide solace in the comfort of respectful anonymity.
Read MoreMinority mental health matters to me because in my community, it is still so taboo to discuss it. My dad was from India and my mom is African American. I was raised in an all African American community, and people did not talk about mental health. Even now, it seems that many are still afraid to face these issues head-on. What so many don't understand is that help is there and it is possible to lead a successful life. There are so many levels of mental health and I want to do my part to raise awareness.
Read MoreMinority mental health matters for a myriad of different reasons. Minorities and people of color carry the weight of our collective trauma. No matter how we dissect it, we're still trying to make sense of some heavy historical pains. As people of color, we don't receive adequate and ongoing mental health support. During my time serving as a community-based therapist, I witnessed everything. I stood helplessly over incubators looking at newborn babies addicted to heroin. I cried with mother's as their children were shipped off to juvenile detention centers. I was also faced with de-escalating multiple violent domestic disputes.
Read MoreMental illness doesn't discriminate yet we have a really hard time talking openly about it in communities of color. I think there's a misconception that self-care is a luxury that other people can afford but we, as people of color, should be "strong" enough to shake off any issues we face.
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