Hi there beautiful people, 

If you’re reading this, you’re part of the very first subscribers to the Yeah No, I’m Not Ok newsletter — a place where you can find more resources, additional content from our episodes, and most importantly, more stories from people all over the country about their own mental health and healing journeys. I am so grateful for all your love and support and wanted to check in and say hi.

As you probably know by now (you can catch up here), this is a podcast about the difficult but necessary conversations we need to have about mental health. Particularly on how these issues affect communities of color. 

Many of us know all too well that within BIPOC communities, we’re taught to bottle up generations of trauma. But as we enter a new era of change and social revolution, we need to reflect inwards and begin to mend the pain we feel within. Some of us carry more than we can handle at times, and know we see you.

We are here for you. Even if just for an hour each week, I hope that each episode helps you unpack and make sense of what you’re feeling. 

Last week, I hit up my good friend and legendary comedian, Eric Andre, to talk about anxiety, therapy, and transcendental meditation, and making sure that your mental health comes first always. There’s a silent epidemic going on amongst men facing mental illness today, but I hope my conversation with Eric helps challenge toxic masculinity and the notion that men shouldn’t be vulnerable or reach out for help. You should. This week, I’m speaking to the extremely talented Demi Lovato — she’s gone through hell and back but still continues to advocate the importance of mental health and shares her journey with addiction and recovery openly. During our convo, she tells me about surviving a near fatal overdose, why she’s not afraid to be vulnerable, and more… don’t forget to tune in. I can’t wait for you to hear this one. 

Ultimately, myself, along with my guests, are here to talk about mental health openly and without stigma. Especially during a global pandemic, I know just how barely okay we can be on some days. So, yeah no, we’re still not okay - but we’ll get there. 

I hope YNINOK brings you comfort and reminds you that we’re all on this journey together. No one is alone. This has been a life changing experience and I’ll always treasure every single one of you reading this and listening. Thank you for being part of our little experiment. Talk to you soon, xo. 

Much love, 

D. 

What we’re reading this week

• In March alone, our country has already seen two mass shootings. On March 16, six Asian Americans and two others were killed by a white gunman. If Anti-Asian racism is taking a mental and emotional toll on you, you’re not alone. 
• Here are 12 AAPI organizations to support amid the increasing Anti-Asian violence. 
• On March 22, a gunman inside a grocery store killed 10 people in Colorado. This is what doctors are saying about how these recent mass shootings are affecting our mental health, on top of the trauma we’ve endured due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• If you find yourself unable to consistently keep in touch with friends compared to the Before Times, or constantly wake up feeling groggy and in a fog, that’s because late-stage pandemic is messing with our brains. 
• Experiencing a global pandemic while being Black, Latinx, Indigneous, Asian-American, or belonging to other underrepresented communities is difficult to put it plainly. These are the communities that struggle the most with finding the right therapist or the necessary mental health resources. Read more about one woman’s experience. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health…

• To learn more about how to help someone with anxiety, read this article from John Hopkins Medicine or for a list of organizations, Everyday Health offers an extensive list
• If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, refer them to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
• In this Addiction Guide you or someone you know can find various resources to rehab facilities, national hotlines, and more

If you want to drop a message or share anything that’s on your mind, email us your voice memos and messages at yeahno@laiststudios.com. 

We encourage you to share this newsletter with friends, family, coworkers who you think might enjoy being part of our growing community, simply forward this email and they can sign up here. 

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