MISSION: open discussion on mental health & directly fight the stigma by sharing our own real experiences
Adolescence is a critical period for social, emotional, & physical development. ONE in FIVE teens have, or will have a serious mental illness. Rather than setting aside this issue, let’s work together to EMBRACE positive activities, SPREAD messages of hope, & FIGHT against the stigma attached to mental illness. Follow the campaign actively on our Facebook page. #WELLBEING4ALL Email your stories to contact@teenztalk.org |
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Kiara – from Berkeley, CA – explains, "I relieve stress by moving. Whenever I feel so paralyzed by my sadness or my depression, I take a step out of the house... Usually it ends up that I keep running and running, and everything is cleared from my head. It's kind of like a form of meditation; I really value that." #WELLBEING4ALL
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Ajay – from New York – shares his experience with his own learning difference. He says, "At the end of the day, everybody works at a different pace. But, in reality it doesn't matter because there's no set pace for the path to success. It's what you should think of as a learning difference rather than a learning disability... One of the differences that many of us have between each other is the way we work and the pace we work at. That shouldn't make me feel inferior to anybody else by any means because like I said, there is no straight path to success and the path to success does not require a set pace."
Watch Ajay's full video on the left to hear more! #WELLBEING4ALL |
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"My family relied on me to carry out all the different responsibilities in the household. I had to translate, coordinate my brother's play dates, read the bank statements... sometimes I would have panic attacks when I didn't know what to do. I thought it was normal to feel anxious every day. I eventually got help, & I feel like I've grown a lot. From tackling these challenges, I've become a stronger person." -Athena C. from Berkeley, California #WELLBEING4ALL
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Ximena L. – from Saltillo, Mexico – shares her stress-relieving strategies. She relaxes & finds peace through exercise, reading, & breathing in the fresh air outdoors. #WELLBEING4ALL
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When Tong – from Beijing, China – discovered his true identity as a feminist, he emerged out of isolation & found HAPPINESS in recognizing who he is, as well as bonding with others who are similar to him. "I'm not alone anymore." #WELLBEING4ALL
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Liz – from California – OPENS UP about her experiences with mental health. Her final message: “You’re not alone in this. I realized that I’m not unusual to have anxiety. I’m not unusual to have an eating disorder. I’m not unusual to have depression… Every single teenager is going through something right now, & once you realize that, you’re problem doesn’t become smaller; it just becomes relative. Just keep going. Your story is valuable & you’re worth it.”
WATCH her full interview to hear her story. #WELLBEING4ALL |
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Ajay – from New York – SHARES his story about battling depression. He talks about the GRADUAL PROCESS of breaking away from his depressive state - from feeling lonely & not having any friends to where he is TODAY as a much more social person, surrounded by many. "It took a couple years for me to come out of the shadows…Now I'm the most social person I can be.” #WELLBEING4ALL
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Hear Katerina – from Skopje, Macedonia – speak about OVERCOMING her social anxiety. She talks about years of isolation, before realizing that she suffers from social anxiety. After so many years of feeling let down, she found relief in knowing that she was not alone with this disorder. Knowing that others have been able to overcome their social anxiety, she became motivated to push herself beyond her natural tendencies. She rehearsed simple dialogue & moved forward despite her racing heart rate - determined to achieve her goal. "This was the most FREEDOM I've had in my entire life." #WELLBEING4ALL
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Beamlak – from Ethiopia – shares a few strategies he uses to RELIEVE stress. He emphasizes drawing, reading, and observing nature. Watch his full video response here to learn more! #WELLBEING4ALL
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