Maliyah, 23 yrs

Welcome to our Black Mental Health Week Photo Exhibit

 

For Black Mental Health Week 2022, we asked you one simple question “What are things you do as part of your Self-care routine to reduce your stress and improve your Mental Health?”

The images contained in this gallery represent different activities youth in our PhotoVoice project do. Thank you to all the youth who participated in this project.

"Cherry blossoms communicate with me through sent plumes that feel sacred, and cling to my hair and skin as I walk by. Springtime is for change, and it’s for purge. These flowers and their temporary, yet immortal lives remind me of the spirit. They i

"Cherry blossoms communicate with me through sent plumes that feel sacred, and cling to my hair and skin as I walk by. Springtime is for change, and it’s for purge. These flowers and their temporary, yet immortal lives remind me of the spirit. They inspire me to be still, and to ground myself in my breath."

"I made this shell out of strings I found around the dollar store it help clear my head during hard time"

"I made this shell out of strings I found around the dollar store it help clear my head during hard time"

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"Meditation: This practice continues to be the most difficult in my routine, but the one I get the most value from. It can be hard to stay focused and even harder to get the motivation to practice mindfulness, but taking just 10 minutes to sit down,

"Meditation: This practice continues to be the most difficult in my routine, but the one I get the most value from. It can be hard to stay focused and even harder to get the motivation to practice mindfulness, but taking just 10 minutes to sit down, turn off my thoughts, and rest has the power to change the direction of my entire day. Meditation does wonders for my mental health, so I try to make it a daily practice alongside some seated stretching."

"Growing my own aloe and nurturing the plant helps me remember that nurturing comes in many different forms. With words of affirmation and many thanks, I harvest the aloe with great intention. Mental health days look like connecting with the soil and

"Growing my own aloe and nurturing the plant helps me remember that nurturing comes in many different forms. With words of affirmation and many thanks, I harvest the aloe with great intention. Mental health days look like connecting with the soil and the plants."

"I love to check on my plant friends daily! Their growth process is very healing for me to witness and also helps me feel comfortable with my own"

"I love to check on my plant friends daily! Their growth process is very healing for me to witness and also helps me feel comfortable with my own"

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“I burn incense and use my tools to connect with my higher self.”

“I burn incense and use my tools to connect with my higher self.”

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"Show casing some of my various crystals from my collection. They make me feel grounded and at peace"

"Show casing some of my various crystals from my collection. They make me feel grounded and at peace"

"Whenever I feel very overwhelmed with emotions or difficult thoughts I love to zone in on my turtles and hold space for the connection we share"

"Whenever I feel very overwhelmed with emotions or difficult thoughts I love to zone in on my turtles and hold space for the connection we share"

"The undeniable magic of late May, accompanied by the full moon, the slow tide, and the timely swoop of a gull. My loved one is in awe, and so am I. Self care looks like immersing myself in the living beauty of loved ones, the water, the trees, the m

"The undeniable magic of late May, accompanied by the full moon, the slow tide, and the timely swoop of a gull. My loved one is in awe, and so am I. Self care looks like immersing myself in the living beauty of loved ones, the water, the trees, the moon, the wind."

"Took a walk downtown it felt great to see the rainbow on tower let me feel welcome letting me know it’s okay to be queer."

"Took a walk downtown it felt great to see the rainbow on tower let me feel welcome letting me know it’s okay to be queer."