Tags: by Phillis Benson | Oct 8, 2021 | #MyStoryMYSUPERPOWER, MentalHealthMatters, Youthmentalhealth
Every year, we look forward to celebrating the impact our donors, sponsors and storytellers have helped us have in our community and share our plans for the year ahead. We are so grateful to everyone who joined us at the virtual Celebration of Hope on October 7th – a night filled with inspiring stories of courage, hope and resilience. Thanks to all of you for helping us raise $39,600! We are only $400 away from meeting our goal of raising $40,000 to support our Let’s Talk About Mental Health program in schools. Your gift allows us to offer this program FREE to schools. There’s still time to make a difference in the lives of youth in our community. Donate online today at the link below. Together, we are creating communities of hope, empathy and inclusion where all children can learn and thrive. Thanks to our sponsor for their generous support! Enjoy the videos from the 2021 Celebration of Hope! [embedyt]...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Jun 14, 2020 | My Story MY SUPERPOWER, Resilience, Youth mental health
Over the last few years, we have had the privilege of mentoring youth storytellers Hanna Kane, Jaxon Buell, Hoda AbouEich & Eric Martz. Their stories have inspired and empowered thousands of youth and adults to take charge of their mental health and well-being. Their courage, resilience and activism will lead us into a better world of equity & inclusion. Please join us in congratulating the class of 2020, and wishing them the very best. Hanna Kane This fall I will be attending the Honors College at University of Washington with a plan to study constitutional law and American history. My goal is to become an attorney practicing constitutional law with a focus on social justice and big data. In college I am looking forward to connecting with the queer community, taking as varied classes as I can, and perhaps studying abroad in Ireland. Becoming an ASHA storyteller has allowed me to reclaim control of my story, sharing my struggles to empower others and myself in the process. It has taught me the power of both a single story and a community coming together to support healing and growth. I will always be a storyteller at heart, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had with the organization. Jaxon Buell This fall I will be a private in the Marine Corps with a M.O.S. of intelligence. My goal is to become a data analyst for one of the US intelligence agencies. During my time in the Marine Corps, I look forward to making new and lifelong friends and comrades, as well as being able to...
Tags: by Gayathri Ramprasad | Jun 6, 2020 | Mental health & wellness, My Story MY SUPERPOWER, Youth mental health
We are delighted to share that PBS News Hour Student Reporting Lab published the short film created by students at the Health & Science School about our Let’s Talk About Mental Health School Program. One in five youth in the United States struggles with a mental health condition that interferes with daily life. Of the 74.5 million children in the United States, an estimated 17.1 million have or have had a psychiatric disorder — more than the number of children with cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. Half of all psychiatric illness occurs before the age of 14, and 75 percent by the age of 24. Children and adolescents with mental health conditions are at risk for academic failure, substance abuse, clashes with the juvenile justice system and suicide — all of which come at a tremendous cost to them, their families, and the community. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15 to 24-year-olds. In spite of the magnitude of the problem, lack of awareness and entrenched stigma keep the majority of these young people from getting help. At ASHA International, we are determined to educate and empower youth to take charge of their mental health & well-being. The Let’s Talk About Mental Health program is a peer-to-peer mental health education program to engage students in a conversation about mental health to promote well-being and prevent...
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 25, 2020 |
by Genevieve Reaume | Tuesday, March 10th 2020 Westview senior and ASHA Storyteller, Hoda Aboueich, spearheaded the idea about a year ago. She is putting on the wellness week as a part of her senior project. It’s all inspired by her own struggles with depression, anxiety and suicidal ideations. “I kind of just had this idea and ran with it, and here we are today,” Aboueich said. “If I can turn my struggles into something positive for someone else, then I’ll do...
