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 Paul - person sits on couch playing guitar

Paul

Participant Amanda sitting on a large rock in a stream

Amanda

Living with mental health struggles is a challenge, but it’s a challenge that I learned I could overcome.
Participant Jodi - person with long auburn hair smiling outside on stairs while snow falls

Jodi

Participant Clare - person with long dark hair smiling in front of a blue sky

Clare

Participant Meredith - person with short blond hair wearing a teal shirt and a long necklace

Meredith

Participant Sima sitting and smiling

Sima

Participant Chris - person wearing burgundy shirt smiling outside

Chris

Participant Nieisha - person with dark curly hair smiling in front of the Boston skyline

Nieisha

Part of who I am is my mental health challenges, but that’s not solely who I am.
Participant Kelsey - person in glasses wearing a denim jacket and smiling

Kelsey

Participant Al - person with short white hair and a red shirt standing outside

Al

Participant Adati sitting in a chair smiling

Adati

Participant Lisa - person with short blond hair sitting in a chair

Lisa

Participant Pata - person with long grey hair smiling outside

Pata

Participant Caitlin - person with short curly hair and glasses smiling

Caitlin

Deconstructing Stigma participant Rick - person in sunglasses in dark room

Rick

Participant Rachel - person with long hair leaning against a red building

Rachel

Participant Natalia - person with long brown hair sitting on a large rock outside

Natalia

Participant David wearing a hat that says Hope

David

Participant Leslie - person with long dark hair smiling in a cushioned seat

Leslie

Deconstructing Stigma participant Jimena - Person in flowery shirt leans agains metal wall reading a book

Jimena

Participant Richard - person with short hair and glasses in a striped shirt smiling in front of a blue geometric wall

Richard

Participant Vanessa - person with hair tied back wearing glasses and smiling outside

Vanessa

Deconstructing Stigma participant Amanda - person in colorful shirt stands in front of colorful bulletin board

Amanda

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

Sandy

Deconstructing Stigma participant Lavih - Person stands outside in desert with boulder behind

Lavih