Outrace the Stigma

“Advocating for mental health awareness holds a deeply personal meaning for me. My sister, who radiated joy and positivity every day, was quietly battling mental health struggles that no one quite understood until she was gone. Her loss was a heart breaking reminder of the stigma and lack of understanding that keep so many people from reaching out for help. She is the reason why I am committed to raising awareness – to break the silence, to encourage open conversations, and to ensure no one feels like they have to hide their pain from the world. In honoring my sister’s memory, I hope to inspire, change, and save lives, because no one should have to fight their battles alone.”

“I think that advocating for mental health is vital to our community and especially for college students who are facing so many changes in their life and their body. College is a time of change and growth as well as sometimes loneliness and fear, and it can be very overwhelming. I faced this in my first year and struggled with understanding the own mental health. I felt lost and confused and was having a hard time finding the right support. I was able to get help and work on processing and addressing my emotions which is so important. However not everyone can get the help they need or they don’t have a good support system on their side. I want to be able to break the stigma and get people talking about mental health. It is so important to eliminate stereotypes and make people feel comfortable opening up and expressing themselves.”