Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Jul 18, 2020 | #BIPOCMentalHealth, #MyStoryMYSUPERPOWER, MentalHealthMatters
As an eight-year-old Latina girl growing up in New York, Dior wrote in her dairy – “My life is over. My mother says no my life is not over. Well, I think so. The end.” Her parent’s divorce, domestic violence, threat of eviction and bullying at school filled her with despair. But her grandmother’s love sustained and inspired her to excel at school and become an activist. Today, Dior is a Latina Feminist Mental Health Activist advocating for equitable mental health care for all. She is the creator of the People of Color and Mental Illness Photo Project, a response to the invisibility of Black Indigenous People of Color in the media representation of mental illness. She is also the editor of The Color of My Mind, a photo essay book based on the photo project. She tours the country giving keynotes, hosting workshops, and speaking on panels. Her work and insight have been covered in media outlets such as The New York Times, Forbes, Newsweek, and NBC News Latino. Dior is the recipient of numerous awards including, The White House Champion of Change for Disability Advocacy Across Generations under the Obama administration. Watch Dior’s inspiring...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | May 25, 2020 | Mental health & wellness, Mental Health Awareness Month, My Story MY SUPERPOWER
“It’s only natural to go to the doctor if you cut yourself. It’s only natural to put your arm in a cast if you broke your arm. Or take antibiotics if you get bronchitis. But I wasn’t raised in a family where you’d get help if you were struggling mentally.” Says Nike executive and parent Dave Schechter, “it’s time to share our struggles and seek help.” #MyStoryMySuperpower #MentalHealthMatters...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Nov 3, 2019 |
Thank you to everyone who attended the Celebration of Hope on October 24th. It was an inspiring night filled with stories of courage, hope and resilience. We raised just over $40,000 to support our mission to normalize conversations about mental health and inspire hope and healing, one story at a time. We are most grateful to each and every one of our donors for their valuable support. If you were not able to attend the event, please consider making a gift and join our Circle of Hope. To donate, please click here … We welcome gifts of any size and sincerely appreciate your generous support. Enjoy the video and pictures… [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/embed?listType=playlist&list=PLtxSrSEfyXJkbvWUsoOSX36BBrK75yT3f&layout=gallery[/embedyt] Event Photos...
Tags: by Phillis Benson | Oct 4, 2019 |
We are still on cloud 9 after the incredible Grit & Grace Conference! Thank you to all who attended and to all who bravely shared their stories. We once again thank our generous sponsors for making this event possible. And thanks to all our hardworking volunteers who gave their precious time to come together to create a community of connection, hope and healing. Together, we are normalizing conversations about mental health and inspiring hope and healing, one story at a time. We can’t wait to see you all at the 2020 Grit & Grace Conference! Thank you for your feedback! Here are a few we would like to share: “Thank you so much. Being at Grit & Grace on Friday was powerful – I laughed so hard and felt such compassion and such connection with the women in the room. I’m at a loss for words to truly describe what I experienced and how important your message is for staff and for those in our service.” “This conference was incredible! I can’t believe how at home I felt here! Thank you for creating such a special environment!” “This conference was very much needed in my life especially at a time like this to help me move forward with my family and self-awareness.” “This conference is amazing! This is my second and I hope to attend others. The speakers were amazing!” “The presentations by Gayathri Ramprasad, Ebony Clarker and Melody Moezzi were particularly outstanding! I also appreciate the theme of health in the face of mental illness.” Enjoy the videos & pictures from the Grit & Grace Conference! [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/embed?listType=playlist&list=PLtxSrSEfyXJltEWhCRKDuVYHPCs7knlam&layout=gallery[/embedyt]...
Tags: by Phillis Benson | Jun 18, 2019 |
Thanks to everyone who attended our My Story My Superpower Storytelling Show on May 29th. What an inspiring event! It was an evening of laughter, tears and breaking down stereotypes. We are so grateful for our amazing storytellers who shared their mental health journey. Sharing stories about mental health is hard, and at times, uncomfortable. Molly even asked the crowd if her story made them uncomfortable. She shared that there has never been any positive change without people feeling a little uncomfortable. Dave’s story of how his family has managed his young daughter’s anxiety was moving. Each day may bring its own challenges but we must reflect that we all have things to be thankful for. He shared a quote, taken from the Berlin Wall that is now tattooed on his arm and provides him strength day to day. “Right now, someone is dreaming of living your life.” Mental health affects us all. Sharing stories is the best way we know to give hope. With your support we are able to shine a light on mental health and end the stigma, one story at a time. Please consider making a gift today to support ASHA International. Your contribution will allow us to bring our message of hope and well being to more people at school, in the workplace and in our community. Please click here to Give the Gift of Hope today! Here is feedback from people who attended the event: “The program last night was amazing. My daughter kept turning to me saying “that’s me!”. She just started seeing an anxiety...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Apr 5, 2019 |
Thanks to our youth storytellers Bekah, Yamini, Molly and Hanna for sharing their mental health stories in six high schools this year, and giving hope to 1,200 students. Together, they are shining a light on mental health and ending stigma, one story at a time. Read more… Thanks to Genevieve Reaume and her team at KATU for featuring our Let’s Talk About Mental Health Program as part of their Kind is Better Campaign. And, our deepest gratitude to the 94 students who sent us hand-written thank you notes like the one above. You inspire us in our mission! If you are interested in scheduling our Let’s Talk About Mental Health Program in your high school, college or university, to start a conversation about mental health and wellbeing, please...
