45: Pinoy Mental Health Stories - Lei

Hey Bessie, send us a text message!Warning: This project contains mature and sensitive themes such as depression and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.Handog namin sa inyo ang pang-buena mano sa aming  Pinoy Mental Health Stories. Ito ay bilang pagkilala sa need nating mga Filipinos to normalize conversations about mental health. In this series, listen to regular Pinoys share their battles, heartaches, or triumphs along their mental health journeys. Layunin natin to empower Filipinos struggling with mental health issues to speak up in an effort to de-stigmatize this traditionally taboo topic. Hopefully this series will encourage Pinoys to ask for help when they need it. Ito ang kwento ni LEI. Iniwan sa Pinas ng kanyang mga magulang para makipagsapalaran at mangibang-bayan sa US. Naunsiyami ang balak na pagsama ni Lei  sa Amerika dahil sa 9-11 at paghihipiit sa immigration. While away from her parents, nakaranas si Lei ng physical, emotional, at mental abuse. High school na when she finally joined her family in the US. By then, her emotional and mental health wounds already ran deep. Adjusting to a new culture and high school life in the States did not help much, neither did somebody very close to her who was a clinical psychologist. It got so bad that Lei entertained thoughts of self-harm and was even admitted to a facility to recover. Today, Lei is Founder and President of a non-profit foundation TraumaSpeaks based in Los Angeles, CA with a purpose of raising awareness about mental health. TraumaSpeaks website.TraumaSpeaks podcast.Support the showThe Balut Kiki Project is an international award-winning podcast being the only Philippine winner so far at the Asia Podcast Festival Awards held in Singapore.Follow/subscribe and, review and rate us on Spotify, ApplePodcasts, Podchaser.  Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram . Advertise with us - Email: [email protected].  *Our podcast does not offer professional medical, sexual, or mental health advice. Our show aims to entertain and express truths about our personal experiences in dealing with issues we discuss. If  you are undergoing depression or having suicidal thoughts, please go to these links: NCMH (PH) or Find a Helpline (worldwide). It's okay to ask for help.