I need some positivity right now. Where can I find stories of other people like me living well with a mental health condition?

Facing a mental health challenge can be tough, but you are not alone. 1 in 6 young people live with a mental health condition in the United States each year. Sometimes it feels good to hear about others with similar mental health concerns and learn about how they cope. This article will help you find stories of people like you who found help, hope, and healing on their mental health journeys. 

NAMI Blog 

Many people with different kinds of mental health challenges have shared their stories on the NAMI Blog. You can use the search bar or category list to find stories of people who have similar identities, diagnoses, and/or experiences to you. Here are a few NAMI Blog posts to give you an example:  

NAMI YouTube Videos 

Visit NAMI’s YouTube channel to see videos of people sharing their experiences with mental health and recovery. Here are some you might want to check out:  

NAMI Personal Stories 

The NAMI Personal Stories webpage includes written stories of people living with a mental health condition or supporting a loved one with Serious Mental Illness (SMI). Here are a few examples:  

NAMI Podcasts 

NAMI’s CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. and NAMI’s Chief Medical Officer Ken Duckworth, M.D., each host a podcast to showcase the mental health community’s experiences and offer information and support for navigating a mental health condition.   

  • Hope Starts with Us - NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. brings important mental health topics to light, one conversation at a time. This podcast contains a mix of informational content and personal stories.   
  • You Are Not Alone: Voices of Recovery - Based on the personal stories shared in the USA Today national bestseller “You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health,” by NAMI Chief Medical Officer Ken Duckworth, M.D., this series draws from among more than 100 interviews to showcase real people sharing authentic stories of their mental health journeys.  

More Places to Find Personal Stories: 

  • Anxiety & Depression Association of America has a dedicated section for personal stories on their website. You can filter the stories to read about people with similar mental health concerns, experiences, and identities. 
  • Asian Mental Health Collective has a My Asian Mental Health page where you can read personal stories from members of different Asian communities.  
  • Child Mind Institute’s “You Got This” YouTube playlist contains videos of teens, celebrities, and influencers talking about young peoples’ mental health and sharing messages of empowerment.  
  • Depression Looks Like Me highlights the stories of LGBTQ+ people who fight mental health stigma by sharing their experiences with depression and mental health recovery.  
  • Latinx Therapy offers a webpage with recommendations for podcast and YouTube videos of Latinx people talking about their mental health. Both Spanish and English recommendations are included.  
  • Steve Fund #StrengthinSharing webpage highlights the stories of young men of color talking about their experiences with mental health and recovery.  
  • This is My Brave is a platform where different people use art and creativity to tell their stories and break down mental health stigma.  
  • WeRNative has a “My Impact” webpage where Native youth share about making an impact in their community. They also talk about mental health, cultural, and/or personal challenges they have faced.  

Hours of operation Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. EST 

Call: 800-950-NAMI (6264) 

Text: 62640 

Webchat: www.nami.org/help  

Email: helpline@nami.org

Still need help? Contact Us Contact Us