I’m a 22-year-old first-generation Chinese-American immigrant from Southern California, a huge matcha fan, and an absolute chaotic good on the alignment chart. Growing up, I had a secret: I have bipolar disorder, and I didn’t believe I deserved the air I breathed.

After surviving a series of suicide attempts, I found healing from an unexpected source: writing. In writing letters to strangers, I realized that I wasn’t alone – I never was alone. And you aren’t, either. 

So as a sophomore in high school, I founded Letters to Strangers, which has since grown into the biggest youth-to-youth mental health organization in the world that seeks to destigmatize mental illness and increase access to affordable, quality treatment.  

All of this has taught me that if we all had second chances, perhaps our lives would be so different. But not all of us are lucky enough to get a second chance. 

​This is why I fight. I know personally that when all you understand is emptiness, one letter–one human connection–can save a life. Mental health matters; mental health is personal. I fight because I can’t bear it otherwise.

Letter-Writing

Our chapters (usually student clubs on campuses) write anonymous, heartfelt letters that aim to share their vulnerabilities and offer support for those who are fighting through difficult times. These letters are distributed either within Chapters, to other Chapters, or to community organizations called partner sites. We believe that writing is humanity distilled into ink. Individuals unaffiliated with our network can submit and exchange letters via our free, public online platform

Peer Education

We partner with schools and other mental health organizations to provide training and talks for youth around the world. We also facilitate our own unique youth-for-youth educational mental health module (check out our guidebook for free here) designed and researched in-house and delivered to thousands of students a year in addition to interested peer listeners at our chapters.

Policy-Based Advocacy

We stay updated on current mental health-related policies and issues. Our chapters work with administrators to foster changes in the mental health dialogue and system at their institutions, such as bringing in mental health professionals to campus for the first time or creating a history-making student-run mental health task force. On a broader level, we sometimes engage in letter-writing campaigns, in-person meetings, and advocacy events to urge officials to take action on mental health awareness and treatment reform.

– – –

The estimated cost of untreated mental illness in the U.S. is $100,000,000,000€ (includes unemployment, unnecessary disability, substance abuse, etc.)

70-90% of individuals with mental illness saw improvement in their symptoms and quality of life after participating in some form of treatment.

Point is – we need to talk about it – and no longer hide it like it’s a crime or demonic possession.

If you love it, here’s new footage – with voices of children and PARENTS.

Skateistan today have schools in Afghanistan, Cambodia and South Africa. 

when we saw another bomb blast on tv, and didn’t even care listening for details, we got news the next day that three Skateistan students selling chewing gum at the entry of this very US military base got blown up in the suicide bomber explosion. 

Real Life happens. 

For half the world’s children Real Death happens constantly.

#bemoreawesome