"Growing up, ever since my early years, I knew that my mother had some type of mental issues. As time went on, it had become so stressful but, at the same time, the norm, that I didn't know what to do, so I didn't care to know. If I received education about what my mom was experiencing earlier on it would have made me look at things differently and try to figure out how to help her myself. I didn't learn until I was an adult that my mom had a lifelong chronic mental disorder.
I firmly believe mental health services would have helped my mom and helped me figure out how to support her. As African Americans, I think it's backwards that we don't talk about mental health issues or admit to challenges until something bad has happened."
Family Voices United member, Ramond, shares his thoughts on mental health supports and how to better support children, youth, and families.
