Kayla Schwalger: How Samoan culture became my mental health medicine

Growing up between two worlds, Kayla Schwalger felt disconnected from her Samoan heritage while trying to succeed in New Zealand - a struggle many second-generation Pacific Islanders know well. Moving to Samoa at 14 helped, but it also brought challenges including undiagnosed Borderline Personality Disorder in a culture where mental health often wasn't discussed.Today, this Pacific mental health advocate co-runs Tapasā with her mother, reconnecting Pacific youth to their culture. Through programs honouring ancestral wisdom, Kayla shows how grounding yourself in identity provides strength when life gets difficult.We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text or a voicemail by clicking here. If you need support, here are helpful links, phone numbers and resources: https://ember.org.nz/resources/in-a-crisis/