Mental Health Stories

In Her Own Words

Stigma thrives in silence, and the lack of information breeds fear. We need to talk about what mental health challenges look like—humanize it.

Courtney’s Story
Deconstructing Stigma participant Jessica - person sits and laughs on red outdoor chair

Jessica

Participant Kasie - person wearing black and white vest in an outdoor photo

Kasie

A new diagnosis doesn’t mean you are a different person. You just have more information to thrive.
Participant Clare - person with long dark hair smiling in front of a blue sky

Clare

Deconstructing Stigma participant Andres - person in lab coat and scrubs sits on outdoor steps

Andrés

Participant Marquez - person wearing a yellow sweatshirt and a baseball hat

Marquez

Participant Sandy smiling while sitting on outdoor steps

Sandy

Participant Samina - person wearing jeans and a white coat sitting on sand at a beach

Samina

Participant Laura - person in dark shirt in front of framed art

Laura

I pushed family away. I didn’t want people to think I was weak due to societal expectations around being a man.
Mary sitting with

Mary

Participant Kim - person in white shirt with colorful sleeves in a room with books and a window with greenery

Kim

Participant Molly - person with brown wavy hair and glasses outside

Molly

Participant Stephen - person with dark facial hair smiling in front of a beige building

Stephen

Participant Chris smiling

Chris

Participant Kimberly - person in a sweater among trees

Kim

Deconstructing Stigma participant Judith - portrait of person with kerchief in hair, blue shirt

Judith

Participant Debby smiling

Debby

Participant Kaylee - person with long dark hair and glasses outside surrounded by pink flowers

Kaylee

Participant Thomas - person smiling playing a keyboard

Thomas

Participant Carol - person with short white hair wearing teal and smiling in front of a bright white background

Carol

Participant Joaquín - person with shoulder-length brown hair smiling in front of a large window

Joaquín

Participant Sandy - person with long wavy hair wearing a tank top

Sandy

Deconstructing Stigma participant Francesca - person with white hair and glasses in green shirt and gray sweater

Francesca

Participant Caitlin - person with short curly hair and glasses smiling

Caitlin

Participant Sawyer smiling

Sawyer

Participant Amy - person with dark brown hair smiling by a lamp

Amy