Ampl!fy
Ampl!fy
AMPL!FY Your Voice. Share Your Story.
AMPL!FY is an online blog, created by the Black Health Alliance to support Black youth mental wellness in Ontario through artistic expression and peer-based mental health support.*
*What is peer-based support?
Our goal is that by sharing the authentic stories and experiences of Black youth, other Black youth across the province will be encouraged to explore their own mental health and wellness journeys.
Stigma in Mental Health
Stigma is a negative attitude or perception, and many of us may feel this way towards mental health and illness. Stigma can be directed towards other people and even towards youraself. Stigma is harmful because it can silence people due to shame. It can also prevent us from asking for help, even when we need it. Sometimes this means we don’t ask for help at all, or we struggle to navigate our mental health and wellness alone.
In this first ever Issue of AMPL!FY, Black youth share their experience of stigma with the hope of encouraging us all to overcome it as a community.
The Art of Coping
"I’m… still struggling with being open about my emotions — but I am better at being open about it to myself... Because I know from here on out, my relationship with myself and my mental state will continue to grow through whatever comes my way."
“Once you let stigma get to you, get inside of your head, it slowly starts to take over your life. So, having those things that make you happier and safe with who you are will be a great help in the long run like singing, songwriting, writing & reading poetry, or playing sports.”