Hosted by Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu of Grad School Femtoring, I had the pleasure of discussing with her about the challenges of bipolar disorder as a graduate student. Topics include my personal journey with bipolar II disorder, ways in which to support and raise awareness, stigma of mental health in the AANHPI community, complexities and considerations of disclosure, and advice for newly diagnosed individuals in addition to mental health resources.
After a screening of the documentary My Ascension, I had the honor of joining a panel with suicide survivor Emma Benoit, director and DBSA Board Member Greg Dicharry, DBSA Social Media Coordinator Karen Fragoso, and DBSA Teen Support Group Advisor and therapist Nina Hotkowski. We shared stories, perspectives, and resources on mental health for youth and loved ones.
DBSA Young Adult Council members and I shared personal experiences with managing a new diagnosis including practical tips to consider for those diagnosed and loved ones supporting them. We also discussed how diagnosis can be used as a tool for empowering your own wellness journey.
DBSA Young Adult Council members and I reflected on our letters that we wrote to our younger selves in previous podcast episodes. We shared our own journeys to wellness while discussing topics and themes reflected across our episodes including suffering in silence and self-advocacy. I also reflected on the role of gender and race in my early experiences with bipolar disorder, prompting a further discussion on systemic barriers that we all faced.
