Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Apr 15, 2020 |
I’ve never considered myself to be an extroverted person. In large groups, my ‘social battery’ as I call it runs out before most people even arrive at the party. I prefer to listen to the stories and updates of my friends rather than share the events of my life, especially the not-so-spectacular sides of me and my mental health. This secrecy was born out of necessity. As the youngest of four boys, all of whom went on to be college football players and fraternity presidents with girls always at their sides, growing up in the closet as gay was difficult. I had to hold who I was close to me and hide it behind a wall of feigned athleticism and confidence. However, my lack of congruity with my persona and my identity eroded my mental health and my emotional well-being. From the age of fourteen to seventeen, I struggled with suicidal depression and anxiety that were sometimes too much to bear. Struggling with my identity and my mental health alone was incredibly difficult and painful, so I finally decided to reach out. It went against the grain of my upbringing and my private habits, but I decided to find a therapist. I spoke to my closest friends about my sexuality and my mental health. I quit the homophobic environments of the football and baseball teams. It never felt good in the moment, but little by little, I found myself feeling more hopeful and happy than I ever had. Now, as a senior in high school (maybe? I guess I’m graduated as of last week), I’ve made efforts...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Apr 3, 2020 |
Even as the COVID19 global pandemic has changed our lives and filled us with dread, I am deeply inspired by the resilience of human beings to rise together in solidarity to support each other. And, this gives me hope to wake up each day and do my best. A week ago, I received an email from a local nonprofit organization I serve on the Board at, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, inviting our community to sew masks for healthcare workers. Given the shortage and critical need for masks, I asked my girlfriend Kathy if she would join me in sewing masks. Kathy invited a few of her friends to join us and together, we made 54 masks which she dropped off. This week, the group has grown even larger and we hope to make and drop off 100 masks. Each of us have gifts that are much needed by our community in this hour of need. Perhaps it is mowing an elderly neighbor’s lawn or offering to pick up groceries or medications for them. Perhaps it is surprising a neighbor’s child with a caravan of cars honking to celebrate her birthday. Perhaps it is dropping off dinner at your friend’s door. The power of us is stronger than any...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Mar 26, 2020 |
by ASHA Storyteller Yamini Rajan On February 22nd, George Washington University’s Indian Student’s Association teamed up with the George Washington University’s South Asian community to raise money for mental health awareness. As an organization, we brainstormed long and hard over what charity we would like to choose for our biannual Charity Date Auction. When learning about ASHA International, everyone agreed that it was the perfect choice. Mental health issues are prevalent in the South Asian community but are often unspoken, leading to many youth growing up struggling and unaware of how to cope. We, as a group, had felt this very struggle and knew that we had to be a part of the solution. Date Auction comprised of members of our community signing up to walk the runway, bringing friends to bid on them. It was a night of laughter, fun, food, and photos. We are so proud of the event we put on and can’t wait to relive it soon. Together, we raised $ 700 to support ASHA International’s efforts to normalize conversations about mental health and inspire hope & healing, one story at a...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Mar 26, 2020 |
Our deepest gratitude to everyone at the Juan Young Trust for their generous grant to support our youth mental health program Let’s Talk About Mental Health. Together, we will continue to empower our youth to take charge of their mental health to promote well-being and prevent suicides. The mental health and well-being of our youth is the heart of our programs, and now, more than ever, we are dedicated to connecting with them and supporting them as they find themselves isolated and anxious. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, ASHA International will be transitioning from its in-person programs to virtual interactions until we can resume our normal programming. Please stay...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Mar 26, 2020 |
The fast-growing COVID-19 pandemic is impacting all our lives.We understand this is a difficult time for all of us, and it’s taking a toll on our health – mental and physical. We wanted to share some tools that can help you stay calm & centered. Hope you find them helpful as you get through these trying times. Meditate – There are some wonderful free apps that you can download on your phone or smartwatch. Take a few minutes to start, end or break up your day with meditation. Journal – Spend a few minutes journaling three things you are grateful for each day. It is a great way to increase positivity and happiness in your life. Exercise – Get outside! Go for a walk, run or bike ride. Or unroll your mat and do some yoga, stretching or Pilates. Even 15 minutes will change your mood and you’ll be surprised, after you start you may not want to stop. Enjoy healthy meals – gather your family and cook your favorite recipes and enjoy them together. Explore a new or overlooked hobby – Pick up a book, put together a puzzle, work in your garden, bake cookies. These can take your mind off everything happening right now and help center you. You could also pick up a new hobby through online videos or tutorials. Organize – Remember that junk drawer you always say you’re going to clean, take a few minutes and tackle that project. Think about how great it will be to check it off your list! Sleep – Make sure you are getting enough sleep each night. Go...
