Blog

Youth Voice in Youth-Centered Technology

In a world fueled by rapid technological advancements, it’s more important than ever for kids to have a say in youth-focused technology. Why? Because our voices in this space are severely limited. Just as products are designed with a specific audience in mind—like cancer treatments for those battling cancer or……
The Role of Community in Suicide Prevention

It’s often said that you might not fully understand a feeling until it hits close to home. That was true for me when my brother confided in me that he had attempted suicide a couple of times in the past week. I was both shocked and scared, unsure how to……
The Waiting Game of Ghost Networks in Behavioral Healthcare

There’s an unspoken game all the rage in behavioral healthcare–ghost networks. It is a silent crisis that is largely overlooked but causing real damage to families seeking care. Despite assurances that behavioral healthcare is accessible, these ghost networks make it nearly impossible to get the help we need. Two years……
The Hidden Crisis of Ghost Networks in Mental Health Care

Imagine desperately seeking mental health support, only to find that most listed providers are unreachable. This is the reality of “ghost networks” in U.S. healthcare. With studies showing up to 82% of listed mental health providers unavailable, patients face a frustrating maze of dead ends. How can we transform these……
Launching MyCuraJOY: Behind the Scenes

My daughter just came back from a summer at UC Berkeley. It was the first time that she stayed in a more metropolitan area where she wasn’t as sheltered. She asked me to buy her pepper spray. In fact, she carried one in each hand whenever she went out. A……
curaJOY Leverages UserTesting To Improve Behavioral Healthcare Access

We often think about our physical well-being when we hear the term “wellness”. But emotional wellness is the foundation for a thriving life – a life that considers how well we go through challenges, rather than just assessing whether our bodies ache or if our knees don’t creak when we bend. curaJOY……
The Circle of Control

In our Youth Ambassador orientation, fellow youth ambassadors and I created a venn diagram of what kids could and couldn’t control. As you can see, the things youth actually can control in their lives is very little. Based on what was written in the “I cannot control” circle, what do……
Cipher in the Snow

I grew up in a little farmhouse, outside a small midwestern town. Being the seventh of eight children, one would think that, in spite of being 10 miles/16km from town, perhaps my socialization did not suffer so much. After all, I was surrounded by seven siblings. Right? … Wrong! The……
Over Twenty Years of Struggling with Unnecessary Guilt

In July, the midnight sun of Northern Europe stretches the beauty of the city into 20 hours everyday. Enamored with such a summer, I often wander aimlessly around the city even at 11 p.m. One day during one of these leisurely walks, I received a rejection letter for a job……
I love you. How Asian Parents Express Love.

One of our volunteers thanked me for believing in her and “I love you.” I was taken aback for a moment because she’s Asian, and we Asians don’t tell each other, “I love you!” 😭 Only Westerners and movies do that mushy emotional stuff. We only dream about it.……
My Journey with AI in Mental Health: A Therapist’s Hopeful Perspective

Let’s begin by talking about our wonderfully complex brains. You know those times when you make a decision and later think, “Wait, why did I do that?” Well, you’re not alone! We all have these things called cognitive biases. They’re not just us being silly; they’re actually our brains taking……
Understanding Attachment Styles: The Invisible Threads Shaping Our Lives

Have you ever found yourself wondering why you react a certain way in relationships, or why some of your interactions seem to follow the same old script? The answer might lie in your attachment style, which is formed long before your first relationship. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of……