Knowledge Center

Breaking the Silence

INSIGHT
Anxiety, a common and natural response to stress, can present as a feeling of unease, worry, or fear.  This symptom often occurs when facing uncertain or challenging situations. While anxiety is a part of the human experience, it can become overwhelming and interfere with daily life. The unique challenges that young people of color face can sometimes lead to increased anxiety. This article will discuss the warning signs of anxiety and provide resources to help you or a loved one manage this condition.
COURSE
Journey into the complex landscape of schizophrenia in this micro unit, where you'll identify its hallmark symptoms, recognize related disorders, and review treatment options. Equip yourself with practical self-help strategies while learning how to craft a personalized crisis plan to better understand, manage, and support those affected by this challenging mental health condition.
COURSE
Explore the complex world of Bipolar Disorder in this micro unit. Discover its hallmark symptoms, learn about effective treatment options, and uncover valuable mental health resources to support yourself or others on the journey to stability and well-being.
COURSE
Despite affecting an estimated 33% of Americans, anxiety remains a rarely discussed topic. Dive into the symptoms and risk factors that contribute to anxiety, and discover ways to support both yourself and those you know who may be experiencing it.
COURSE
Approximately 9.5% of all American adults have some form of depression. Often it goes undiagnosed, especially in the BIPOC community. Explore the symptoms and risk factors to better understand your wellbeing, as well as your friends, colleagues, and family members.
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1 in 10 young adults experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their life. Learn how you and your loved ones can better manage anxiety disorders.
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You are not alone. 60 million people are impacted by bipolar disorder in the world. Learn how to you and your loved ones can manage bipolar disorder with The Steve Fund.
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Schizophrenia is a serious but treatable disorder. Learn how you and your loved ones can take an active role in managing schizophrenia disorder.

Back To School

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Join us for a discussion of proactive strategies that promote belonging and prioritize the mental health of students of color in the post-affirmative action landscape. Explore how student organizations, sororities, fraternities, and communities of faith can serve as protective factors in preventing isolation, enhancing positive student experiences, and fostering a shared identity.
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Now more than ever, there is a need to focus on campus culture, practices, resources, and programs that foster inclusive and supportive environments for all members of the college community. Explore proven and effective programs, approaches, and services that support colleges and universities in creating campuses that enhance student belonging and sustain mental health.

Family Corner

Healing journeys rarely happen alone. As family members, we can give and receive support when we or someone we love struggles. Whether we simply listen to understand or help a loved one find professional support, each of us can develop the qualities and skills we need to care for our families. At the Steve Fund we know that parents and caregivers who heal help their children in the process. We believe caring for our mental health is as important as caring for the body. We offer the information, resources and tools below to support families find the help, hope and healing they need to thrive.​

INSIGHT
This conversation guide is designed to help you talk to your young person about a racially charged encounter they've experienced. It’s crucial to approach this conversation with sensitivity, openness, and a non-judgmental attitude. Your goal is to provide a safe space for your child to express their feelings, validate their experience, and offer support. Remember, you don’t need to have all the answers; being present and listening is powerful.
INSIGHT
Talking about mental health can be challenging, but it's an important conversation to have with your friends, family, or mentors. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. This guide is here to help you navigate these conversations with confidence and honesty.
INSIGHT
Going to College is an exciting and important life transition. The Steve Fund has created a checklist of questions to help your family get a better understanding of how a college values, supports, and integrates students of color into its community.
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Staying present in each moment is a powerful way to give yourself the space to balance acceptance and action. Incorporating gratitude for each breath and each moment we have can fuel the positive steps we can take each day.
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Dr. Gina Newsome Duncan discusses how to start and approach the conversation around community trauma with our young people
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15 year old, Kendellyn Duncan, articulates the emotional impact that recent gun violence has had on her generation and pleas for adults to make the necessary changes.

Youth Healing Space

Young people need a space just for us. High school and college can be tough — there’s pressure to succeed without ways for us to take care of ourselves. If you’re feeling stressed, remember you are not alone. Together, we can find the help, hope, and healing we need to thrive! It seems a day doesn’t go by without a community trauma. As young people of color, we can rely on each other and our communities to build resilience and gain the skills we need to thrive.

INSIGHT
The Steve Fund invites you to visualize how you allocate your time and energy across different areas of your life. By understanding your “life pie”, you can make more informed decisions about where to invest your resources to create a balanced and fulfilling life after high school.
INSIGHT
Everyone has overwhelming experiences or moments, it's crucial to have tools to help manage stress and anxiety. Grounding exercises are powerful techniques designed to bring you back to a place of calm and control when the world seems to spin too fast. These practices offer a way to reconnect with oneself, and gain more control of mind and body. You may need to try multiple different exercises to find one or two that work best for you.
INSIGHT
The Steve Fund invites you to partake in this interactive Relationships and Boundaries Quiz!
VIDEO
Amid so much rapid social, political, and economic change, one thing is sure, being back at school is different this year. Given all that is happening in our world, returning to school can spark new and complex feelings for young people of color.
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Daymian is a young black college student who is not only adjusting to college life, and navigating financial challenges; he is managing his Bi-polar II mental health disorder. He shares how college campuses can feel unsafe for young people who are coping with life’s everyday emotional struggles and the college/university mental health supports and services offered are not immediate or very limited.

Young Women of Color

As young women of color, we find help and healing together — with our families, loved ones and communities. Today, young women of color are at greater risk for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicide and face inequitable access to care and treatments. Yet, when we do access care that speaks to our identities, cultures and histories, we find the support we need to thrive.

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Weaving Wellness: Connecting Mental Health Resources, Community, and Self to Address the Mental Health Struggles of Native and Indigenous Girls and Young Women
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The workshop will explore cultural nuances on the factors impacting mental health in the young woman in the South Asian community, including understanding gender dynamics, parental and community influences, exploring common experiences and challenges, and collectivist/community influences.
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In honor of Arab Heritage Month, Parastoo Massoumi leads this dynamic session that unpacks the various mental health challenges and experiences that Middle Eastern, Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) girls, young women, and nonbinary transfeminine individuals face as they navigate their social, familial, cultural, and academic lives.
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In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Mabel Terrero Salcedo (LCSW) leads this interactive workshop for young Latinx girls, young women, and nonbinary transfeminine individuals. Participants will learn the importance of mental health, the negative impact of stigma, and societal influences that prevent young women of color from seeking help and caring for themselves.
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In this session, participants will be able to reflect on how Black women and girls not only survive, but thrive in our current social, political and cultural context. We will explore the historical and present day mental health barriers, while also recognizing and amplifying the strides and celebrations of Black women mental health advocates and wellness warriors.
VIDEO
Transitions to college are often accompanied by race-related stress, which can impact a student’s ability to succeed. In particular, students of color can face experiences such as the imposter phenomenon, microaggressions, and mental health stigma. Being aware and equipped to handle these concerns can help you survive and thrive. This workshop will provide students with information on the types of issues they might face, how to maintain their physical and emotional well-being, answer questions about monitoring their health, and provide best practices for seeking assistance and available resources.
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In honor of Lunar New Year, this session had participants explore the different factors that impact the mental health of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) girls, young women, and nonbinary transfeminine individuals on a societal level, within their family system, and how that is internalized. During this interactive presentation, participants had the opportunity to share relevant experiences, reflect on how this impacts their lives, create an individualized self-care plan, and leave with mental health resources.
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Girls Rising! is a 60-minute virtual event devoted to supporting the mental health and well-being of Latina girls and young women around the country. This interactive webinar is designed to uplift and empowers young people while providing helpful tools to strengthen their emotional and mental health.
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Celebrating Black young women and girls as bosses and creatives: A community conversation on entrepreneurship and wellness

Strength In Sharing

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“Know that we’re all going through struggles and there is power in vulnerability so don’t be afraid to seek the help you need.”
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“For me anxiety began to be a major issue in middle school. I didn’t know what anxiety was but I remember feeling overwhelmed in crowded areas… Then I got help. I started to implement self-care routines to help alleviate my anxiety. I learned the power of practicing gratitude, the power of self-talk and to be conscious of my diet…”
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“We think controlling our emotions is keeping it in…but actually that’s the toxic thing for us to do. It’s better to let it out. Remember what you talk about you control, but what you can’t talk about controls you.”
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“I learned anger is okay. Sadness is okay. That it’s okay not to be okay. You don’t have to feel good all the time. I learned all this through therapy. It was huge.”
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“After years of lying about who I was and not dealing with my issues and 22 suicide attempts, I finally got help and realized that you can’t deal with yesterday’s pain and bring it into today. I have to realize I only can deal with today.”
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“Maybe it’s being a man, more specifically a black man, I thought I was supposed to just struggle through on my own but trust me that’s not the way. Seeking help is the most powerful thing a man can do.”
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“You can pray and work for your mental health. In addition to my spiritual practice, I can also journal, go to counseling, challenge negative thoughts… and in doing this it helps me to be well.”

LGBTQIA

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What does “coming out” really mean? What do you say — and to who? Will it affect my mental health? How does racial identity affect your experience of sexual and/or gender identity?
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Jonathan, a self-described Black queer nerd from the South, sheds light on how young college students of color must come to terms with where they came from, who they are, and how they fit into their college community and the world. Coming to this realization, made Jonathan disconnect, shut down and avoid dealing with the emotions. Speaking on the college “culture” of pushing through, Jonathan explains how it’s important to be seen as a successful individual in a healthy emotional space, not just a student measured solely on academic performance.

Life Transitions

REPORT
The Steve Fund's mental health experts researched the critical transition points for young people of color entering the workforce, and provides innovative solutions for the private sector to support this transition.