Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Jun 14, 2020 | Mental Health Matters, Speak up. Seek Help., You are not alone
Over the last two days, I was heartbroken to hear about the loss of two young lives to suicide – ‘This Is Us’ writer Jas Waters, 39, and Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, 34. Every 40 seconds, we lose someone to suicide around the world. If you or someone you know is going through a difficult time, please reach out to someone you trust – a friend, family member or a mental health professional. And ask for help. Please know that no matter what your struggles are, you are not alone. There is Hope. Get help. You are precious. The world needs you. You can watch more than 150 Stories of Hope & Resilience. If you are in the U.S. please call National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 #MentalHealthMatters #YouAreNotAlone...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Jun 5, 2020 | Mental Health Matters, My Story MY SUPERPOWER, Youth mental health
At 12, Yamini and her family moved from India to the U.S. and the transition was very difficult. Her struggles to fit in combined with her mother’s battle with breast cancer pushed her into a vicious cycle of self-harm, bulimia, and depression. After attempting to take her life at the age of 13 Yamini realized that things had to change. Watch Yamini share her story of her journey to wellness and healing....
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 | May 18, 2020 | Bipolar Disorder, Mental health & wellness, My Story MY SUPERPOWER
Nearly 30 percent of American medical students are depressed, and one in 10 have thought about suicide. And it’s actually even worse for practicing physicians. There’s widespread job dissatisfaction, high rates of depression, and doctors have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession in the United Sates. ASHA Storyteller Diane Kaufman, MD is a poet, artist, and Child Psychiatrist. She is also a suicide survivor, and has Bipolar II Disorder. Diane wants to share her story to break the silence & end the stigma surrounding mental illness. And remind us all that hope is real, and change is...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | May 14, 2020 | Depression, PTSD, Resilience, Youth mental health
The COVID-19 pandemic is having a severe impact on my mental health. I am unable to go to school and finish off my senior year the way I had dreamed of for the last four years. I am unable to leave the house unless I am working or need “essential goods”. Staying at home has been extremely overwhelming to the point where I’ve needed to leave home for the sake of my own mental health. I’ve learned to put my mental health first. I realized that being stuck at home all day with people that were not supportive or understanding of my situation whatsoever was detrimental to my mental health. I was so angry and anxious all the time, and when I realized when the root of the problem was, I was able to pinpoint it and fix it. While I can’t go out with my friends, we are definitely staying in contact over Face Time and text. It is very important to me to check in with my friends to make sure that they are okay and doing well during this time as well. I also really enjoy keeping in contact with my school whether that be my principal, teachers, administrators, school counselors, etc. It makes me very happy when I see an email or a message from someone I really look up to at my school because it is a constant reminder that they have not forgotten about me. Here are 3 tips I want to share with you as we navigate through these difficult times: Hope you find them helpful. Try something new: pick up a...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | May 14, 2020 | Bipolar Disorder, Mental health & wellness, Resilience
Can a person be not okay and okay at the same time? I want the answer to be “yes” and I do believe this is possible. I want it to be because I am not feeling okay. The coronavirus pandemic is a reality. Here’s a glimpse into my mind’s confusion. It starts like this: I am a child psychiatrist and I am supposed to feel and be okay. This is what my “tyranny of should” tells me. I mean if I don’t feel okay how can I be of help to someone who feels the same or even worse? My inner critic tells me that I should be coping par excellence and not be grappling with anxiety, fear, and sorrow. Or if I do, only a little, not for too long, and it must not interfere with my life. My inner judge also tells me compared with the world’s sorrow and families who are burying their loved ones in the hundreds of thousands, what do I have to feel sad or bad about? Don’t you feel ashamed of yourself? Stop the insipid wallowing. Who do you think you are? What if your colleagues knew you felt this way? Better keep those thoughts and emotions hidden. Be silent. Show only strength. Be a role model of resilience. I’m a mother and isn’t it my job to be strong for my daughter? As a grandmother aren’t I supposed to bring happiness and not a hint of sadness when I arrive for my 6 feet away and face mask visit? As a sister what good does it do to share my worry?...
