The Effects of Sexual Harassment

Cover design by Savannah Buccellato

Dear Global Girls

APRIL 2021 ISSUE

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN

Katelyn Howard pg. 3 & 4 THE LIFE OF A TEENAGE MOM: COMPLICATIONS AND RISKS

Harina Sangeetham pg. 6

WE WILL HEAR YOUR VOICE

Carla Ramirez pg. 7-9 SPLINTERED SHARDS Harini Sangeetham pg. 10-11

THE MINOR ISSUES Sadia Annona pg. 12-13

RESOURCES Sadia Annona pg. 14-17 MEET THE APRIL GEN Z OF THE MONTH: STEPHANIE NGUYEN!

THE EFFECTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Dear GlobalGirls and fellow readers, Dear GlobalGirls is a monthly digital magazine dedicated to educating, inspiring, and empowering young girls around the globe. Our mission is to empower girls through educating them on current events and social issues, highlight young girls who show leadership in their communities, and overall, create a welcoming and resourceful space. Founded by two Generation Z high school students from New York City, we strive to encourage girls to speak out for themselves, inspiring them to become the next leaders of our generation.

This month’s magazine focuses on the effects of sexual harassment. Our team worked diligently to research these topics, use their voices, and share personal stories, to bring light to the horrifying, yet important topic. It is truly inspiring to see the voices of our writers come to life on paper. If you are interested or want to learn more, be sure to read each piece and learn about the stories of these incredible pioneers of life-changing movements and hear from the voices of our passionate writers.

Throughout this magazine, we hope you've learned something new. While you may have not witnessed or seen it, sexual harassment is real. Donate to organizations, or create your own project to challenge this horrifying reality. Let's work together to dismantle and shut down this behavior. Nobody should have to worry about whether they will be a victim of these inappropriate advances.

With these topics in mind, we are excited to see what is in store for Dear GlobalGirls as we continue to create monthly magazines serving to educate, inspire, and empower girls around the globe! We hope you take away a new piece of information and take your part in creating a more safe society.

Lastly, a huge thank you to our team who have been dedicated to serving our organization in the creation of our monthly magazines. .

We’d love to hear all your thoughts and suggestions so please email us at dearglobalgirls@gmail.com to chat or give feedback.

Sincerely, Sandra and Talia (founders)

To all the readers: Dear GlobalGirls stands in solidarity with the AAPI community. The evident racism and acts of violence against Asians are purely disgraceful and horrifying. As a collective unit, we must work better and stronger to dismantling these xenophobic rhetorics and racist attacks not only during this pandemic but beyond years.

Check out stopaapihate.org for more resources and help.

Thank you.

Sexual Violence Against Children Written by Katelyn Howard

The topic of sexual violence is difficult to discuss, but it is important to talk about all kinds of topics; the good and the bad. This article contains themes that may be upsetting to some readers.

If this is a difficult topic for you, there are resources listed at the end of the article to help you. It is so heartbreaking to think that so many people go through something this traumatic, even young children. What is sexual violence? The term “sexual violence” is a non-legal term that encompasses crimes such as rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse. In this article, I am discussing sexual violence against children 18 and under. One in 9 girls and 1 in 53 boys report being sexually abused before the age of 18. I say “report” because evidence suggests that between 30% to 60% of children who have been sexually abused never tell anyone. Why is it that the sexual abuse of a child isn’t reported? Children are young and many may feel that no one will believe them; especially when the person who abused them is a family member or a friend of the family. In fact, about 93% of all child sexual abusers are someone the victim knows. 59% are acquaintances and 34% are family members. Brad Simpson is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. He didn’t tell anyone until 35 years later. He explained, “It was scary; I was afraid of judgement most of all. I had feelings of guilt, and struggled with self-esteem and trying to hide my story.” It was even more difficult to tell anyone because the person who assaulted him was close to the family and “groomed” Brad to get closer to him. “Grooming” is a tactic predators use to get close to the victim in which the person builds a relationship with a child, teen, or young adult and even with the family. This is done so that they can manipulate, exploit, and abuse the young person without suspicion from family and friends. Grooming starts with the abuser befriending the child. They will do this so that they can get to know them and figure out what they like. Then, they will begin to give gifts and use favors to continue gaining the child’s trust. The “grooming” process involves the abuser convincing the child to keep the “friendship” a secret. The abuser will then begin expecting favors in return from the child, first non-sexual, and then building up to more sexual acts such as kissing or inappropriate touching. This process allows for the abuser to manipulate the 1 child. They start seemingly friendly and gain trust and then break that trust by sexually abusing the child.

Child sexual violence can take many different forms from rape to child pornography, and no matter what form it takes, it leaves behind deep scars. The effects of child sexual violence can last throughout adulthood. Guilt, shame, anxiety, eating disorders, depression, and PTSD are just a few of the mental impacts of child sexual abuse on victims. Studies have shown that child sexual abuse survivors frequently blame themselves for the abuse. These negative thoughts about themselves turn into shame and guilt and can lead to depression. In fact, child sexual abuse survivors are about 3 times more likely to experience depression. After years of these negative thoughts, survivors' depressive state may worsen and cause them to have a sense of worthlessness and avoid others. Survivors are also 4 times as likely to start drug abuse and other risky behaviors because of the shame and guilt they may feel after the abuse. As they internalize these negative messages, they may try to find something to dull the pain, and so they turn to drugs, alcohol, or something else that may give them a distraction. Body image issues and eating disorders are also a common effects of childhood sexual abuse. This is again a result of internalizing negative messages that lead them to be unhappy with the way they look. Sexual abuse that occurs during childhood also makes it hard for survivors to trust people and may hinder their ability to build relationships with people. The trauma that the event causes survivors can lead to high levels of stress and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). In fact, victims of child sexual abuse are 4 times more likely to experience PTSD. A study was done in 1995 that compared the trauma levels of Vietnam veterans to adults that had been sexually abused as a child and found that the symptoms of sexual abuse were comparable to symptoms of war-related trauma. The effects of sexual abuse on survivors’ mental health and self-worth are very serious and it is important to seek out professional help.

If anyone reading this article has experienced sexual assault or abuse of any kind or knows someone who has, please know it is not your fault. You did nothing wrong, and there are organizations that you can reach out to for help. You are not alone and you do not have to recover alone. RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) is the United States’ largest anti-sexual violence organization. This organization created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline where survivors of sexual violence of any kind are connected to someone to help them through their traumatic time. They also have programs to prevent sexual violence, assist survivors with the legal fight against their abusers, and connect survivors to confidential support services. The National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation is an organization that is fighting to promote the healthy development of youth and end sexual exploitation. Survivors of sexual abuse need to know that they are not alone and that they can get help to process the trauma they are feeling. The topic of sexual violence is so broad and the numerous terms used can be very confusing. To learn more about sexual violence of all types, signs of sexual abuse, or ways to help, please go to sites such as rainn.org, womenshealth.gov, and nsvrc.org. With large cases of sexual violence coming to light in the past couple of years, such as the USA Gymnastics scandal with Dr. Larry Nassar, and the risks of increased sexual abuse during the coronavirus pandemic, the topic of sexual violence has been brought into the public eye. It is important to continue the conversation and fight for the protection of all children.

1.RAINN, Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, accessed July 6, 2020, https://www.rainn.org/.

2.Lauren’s Kids, Lauren’s Kids, accessed July 8,2020, https://laurenskids.org/awareness/about-faqs/facts-and-stats/.

3.Darkness to Light, Darkness to Light, accessed July 7, 2020, http://www.d2l.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Statistics_1_Magnitude.pdf 4.Emma Sarran Webster, “What is Sexual Grooming? 7 Things to Know About This Abuse Tactic,” Allure, accessed July 15, 2020, https://www.allure.com/story/what-is-sexual-groomingabuse#:~:text=%E2%80%9CGrooming%20is%20the%20slow%2C%20methodical,and%20move%20in%20from%20there.%E2%80%9D 5.Joshua Hall and Melissa Hall, “The Long-Term Effects of Child Sexual Abuse: Counseling Implications,” American Counseling Association, accessed July 7, 2020, https://www.counseling.org/docs/disaster-and-trauma_sexual-abuse/long-term-effects-of-childhood-sexual-abuse.pdf?sfvrsn=2 6.The National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, The National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, accessed July 15, 2020, http://www.preventtogether.org/

IMPORTANT

THE LIFE OF A TEENAGE MOM: COMPLICATIONS AND RISKS Written by Harini Sangeetham

A teenage pregnancy is pregnancy in a woman younger than 20 1 years old.

Most teenage pregnancies are a surprise.

Complications occur because most times, mothers don’t have the 2 proper prenatal care, especially if there is no support. More stress and pressure is on them because they have to tell their parents. It can start to take a mental and emotional toll on them, which could potentially harm the pregnancy. Prenatal care is important in the early stages of pregnancy, as this is where the baby is monitored and any health problems are f o u n d .2 T h e r e i s a h i g h e r c h a n c e f o r t e e n s t o h a v e h e a l t h problems such as premature birth, anemia, high blood pressure o r p r e g n a n c y - i n d u c e d h y p e r t e n s i o n .2 T h i s i s w h y i t i s c r i t i c a l t o book an appointment with a doctor to know how to take good care of both the mother and the fetus.

One of the most common indicators of a pregnancy is the period c y c l e .3 I f a p e r i o d i s m i s s e d , o r i f i t h a s b e e n t o o l o n g s i n c e a teen has had their period, it is strongly pointing towards pregnancy. However, every person is different so it’s not always 3 the case as other health problems can cause irregular periods.

No matter what, it's always safer to check before it becomes too late. Another major sign is having morning sickness- feeling n a u s e o u s a n d v o m i t i n g .3 T h i s o c c u r s m a i n l y b e c a u s e o f t h e increase in hormones during the early pregnancy. One important fact to mention is the morning sickness can happen at any time of day, and not just in the morning, despite the name of the symptom. Hormones and stress are the cause of a killer back pain, hip pain, as well as headaches and it may continue throughout pregnancy.3 Breast changes such as tenderness or swelling occurs through all of the trimesters.

Increased hormonal changes and physical discomfort cause insomnia.3 If pregnancy is suspected, don’t just rely on these symptoms. These symptoms are present in other health problems, so it might just be a false alarm. Take a pregnancy test or consult a doctor to get confirmation.

Not only are those symptoms present, there are mental and emotional problems that develop. One of the biggest feelings is shame and fear. Fear of getting rejected by their parents or boyfriend. Fear of getting kicked out of the house. Fear of not being wanted. Fear of having no support. Fear of not having sustainable materials for nurturing. Fear of being ridiculed.

Feelings of shame or guilt for getting pregnant in the first place. Depression and anxiety starts to rise when people start shaming teenage mothers saying derogatory comments and giving judging looks, somewhat like a sort of pregnancy stigma.

This makes it even harder on them because a teenage mother has to take care of their baby, and take care of their mental health but also deal with those degrading opinions

1 “Teenage Pregnancy.” American Pregnancy Association, accessed July 20, 2020, americanpregnancy.org/unplanned-pregnancy/teenagepregnancy/.

2 Johnson, Traci C. “Teenage Pregnancy: Medical Risks and Realities.”

WebMD, WebMD, accessed July 20,2020, , www.webmd.com/baby/teenpregnancy-medical-risks-and-realities.

3 Carey, Elea. “Teenage Pregnancy: Signs, Effects, Diagnosis, and Prevention.” Healthline, Healthline Media,accessed July 20, 2020, www.healthline.com/health/adolescent-pregnancy.

There are three options for a pregnancy: adoption, abortion, or parenting. Parenting is taking care of the baby, adoption is giving birth to the baby and then giving it to someone else forever, and abortion is ending the baby’s life. Parenting is hard but manageable, and might take some time to get used to.

The teen mother will have to juggle their school/work lives with their baby’s life. Adoption is for teenagers that don’t believe in abortion or who are prepared to carry their baby full term but aren’t ready to raise a child. There are many adoption facilities and procedures out there that the doctor can recommend. Abortion is a safe medical procedure to end a pregnancy. It can be done through surgery or with medication, depending on the health and how far along the mother is.

Before making a decision from any of these choices, make sure to look at all of the information including restrictions on them.

Consult a doctor and discuss these options with them, and see which one best fits you. The mother should do what they think is right for the baby, not what others are telling them to do.

We Will Hear Your Voice Written By: Carla Ramirez

Who was Vanessa Guillen?

Vanessa Guillen was a courageous, young 20-year-old soldier who refused to stay quiet about the sexual harassment she was experiencing on her base. Before her disappearance, Guillen had told some of her family members, fellow soldiers, and friends about the sexual harassment she had faced in the military. Guillen also felt fear when wanting to report the abuse due to a fear of retaliation, as the harasser was of a higher rank.

Impact on other women?

When Guillen’s story was shared, many other women were encouraged to speak out about their experiences regarding the sexual harassment that they had faced as women in the military. This allowed for many other women to speak up so that there could be justice for Guillen and for themselves. No woman or child should ever go through the experiences they did, and nonetheless, fear a man who isn’t stronger than us. We, as women are powerful and strong. Do not give up! As a woman, I recognize that it could be dangerous to speak up knowing that the abusers can target young girls/women and input fear in them. Some abusers threaten the victims if they don’t stay silenced about their situation. Some threaten the victim’s family members and sometimes even manipulate others into thinking they are the victims. So yes, it is dangerous to speak up, but still know that many people will try to help you and your family. Don’t stay silenced. Speak up, your voice will be heard!

Male dominance/Patriarchy?

The idea and stereotype that comes to mind when someone mentions the military, completely excludes women and includes men. Throughout history, women didn’t have the chance to join the military and if they did, it was to be a nurse, carry bombs, or to stay at home supporting their husbands who went to war. The training in the military is very difficult and harsh; that’s one of the reasons why our society considers it so "manly" and patriarchal that the man is the most important and the one that holds the most power. Due to the military being so heavily dominated by men, acts such as sexual harassment and discrimination go unnoticed. Most abuse or harassment cases reported are not even heard if they aren’t considered "extreme".

When is it extreme?

If someone says no, or if a girl says no, it means no. Not honoring one's decision is when it gets extreme. Extreme does not mean until someone is deeply hurt; it’s extreme when harassment continues even though a girl lets you know that she is uncomfortable. If you know that some of your employees, bosses, partners, friends, colleagues, or someone in general, who is in a situation where they can’t speak or feel uncomfortable, help them. Helping someone in need is important, so that they can feel better, instead of letting them feel trapped and alone, and so that there can be a change in society. Society should listen when someone says no, because a no is a no and, respect and consent has to be granted first. More representation of women is needed in such industries. First, we should raise awareness over the issues of what women who enlisted or those who are part of the military go through. Women should be heard whatever the case might be. There should be a change in the military, even if that means separating both genders so that women can feel safer instead of feeling like a target. Women should be granted more respect, and have the opportunity to be in higher positions. As women, we can do so much more, and we can start by bringing change to society.

Lupe Guillen (Vanessa’s sister) said, “She used to tell my mom how she wanted to be a soldier because she wanted to protect and serve the nation. She wanted to be a fighter. She wanted to be a hero. She wanted to be someone in life. The military failed her.”

Don’t be afraid to speak up.

Rest In Peace Vanessa Guillen and Krysta Martinez, who started the "Find Vanessa Guillen" movement. Martinez got killed in a “car accident” and had also filed a sexual assault complaint against the military base. https://www.npr.org/2020/07/03/887167023/fbi-files-charges-in-vanessa-guillen-case

Splintered Shards Written by Harini Sangeetham Silenced, Shy, Soundless My voice is mute, I am speechless I feel numb inside out.

Why can’t I be normal Like everybody else?

Why can’t I be in control?

I feel so lonely.

Nobody listens to me, I am voiceless.

Nobody wants to talk to me, I am a nobody.

I I I I

am am am am

sadness, broken, fragile, delicate,

Progression, Affection, Passion.

I will speak up.

To those who want to listen, I will stand-up.

To those who see me.

Let the light shine brightly Into the darkness precisely.

-Harini Sangeetham

This poem that I wrote is describing my experiences of depression. “I feel pain and have mood swings for no reason at all. The worst type of pain is when I smile just to keep the tears from falling. But one look at my eyes, and my facade crumbles and the truth is right there. When I look into the mirror, I see a different person. I see the emptiness in me, the fading of tears, the pain my eyes depict. I see the wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds. I hear voices in my head that tell me "I'm worthless, I'm useless, I'm a nobody, I'm dumb." One word is all it takes for me to collapse. I don't even realize it but those words get stuck in my head and repeat a thousand times like a broken tape recorder. The worst part is that I let myself believe that I am exactly that. Some days are just great but then others, I have really bad mental breakdowns. Sometimes it just feels like wherever I go, I am engulfed with darkness.

Just when I think everything is going right, everything goes downhill. It hurts so badly to feel like that. But then I remember that I am not alone in all this because I have a family and friends that I can rely on. I remember that no matter what the situation is, to every dark side there will be a bright side. I remember that some days will be bad days and that I have to experience sadness to know happiness. I remember that my strength grows in the moment when I think I can't go on but I keep going on anyway.”

What is Depression? Depression is a common illness that negatively affects how you feel and think. It can bring random moments of sadness, loneliness, anxiety, the feeling of worthlessness, and more severe thoughts such as suicide.1 It starts small but manifests into something problematic later on. It might seem insignificant but it can affect many aspects of a person’s life.

Someone who goes through depression doesn’t socialize with others that often anymore. You become a secluded version of yourself. You start to lose interest in things that were once loved or enjoyed. It begins to take a toll on your physical health as well. Insomnia can occur because you can’t stop thinking about those thoughts. 2 Other effects are losing focus, difficulty in making decisions, and remembering things. It can cause blood vessels to tighten, resulting in a risk of cardiovascular disease. 2 As a result of that, fatigue, weaker immune system, and migraines occur.2 It drains the energy out of people and that's just horrible.

If you have a family history of depression or another mood disorder, then you are at a higher risk of developing it. Stressful events in life can be the root of depression, whether it is a loss of a job or loved one. It is a key component because when an overload of chemical reactions occurs, it can alter the body with long lasting effects.

Some other instances include drug abuse, the side effects from medication and other medical conditions. Depression can be triggered for a number of reasons but can also just appear at one point in life, even though everything seems perfect.

Depression is terrible to go through and it's exhausting. But just know that coming out of it is the strongest and bravest thing to do. It's painful but remember that you are never alone!

Find a trusted friend or an adult to talk to, to have a shoulder to lean on. Talking about how depression is affecting your life can make you feel better. If it is severe, talk to a doctor to find the type of treatment that fits you such as a therapist or medication. If talking about it isn't your forte, write it down in a diary or journal or even type it up. It's better to do that instead of bottling it all up until one day you snap.

That's what I used to do and it just became way worse. Depression kicks you around but sooner or later, you realize you're not just a survivor.

You're a warrior and you're stronger than anything that depression throws your way.

1. What is Depression? American Psychiatric Association, accessed July 20, 2020,https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-isdepression 2. Side Effects of Untreated Depression, accessed July 20, 2020, from

https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/untreated-depressioneffects

THE MINOR ISSUES

By Sadia Annona To my mother,

“it’ll be worth the toil”

Who wears a blinded bindi between brown barren eyes

I want straight A’s, you dressed to a tee

To my father,

for when you win first place in that assembly

Whose back bends beneath the beatings

I said put that hood down, pull those pants up,

To my parents,

and don’t go walking around with no hoodlums

Whose hands hang haggard having had to hump the heaviness of hunger and hope

Picasso dropped out of school Well, Picasso never looked like you!

The day I saw the Lion bow its head Became witness to the Eagle clipping its wings

How do I trace the stars on my skin,

I could only think how it should have been

Caress the textured mane on my head,

instead

Does it hurt when i ask?

As I watched the Elephant kneel to a pitiful

But for this I can’t apologize

cowering

To be profiled and demonized

And the Tiger retract its fangs and set aside the name

Mama don't say no more

“King,” they said, would live no longer

I can see it: your heart’s lying on the floor I know you’re praying

Mother, you pour your tears into the soil

Praying every time I walk out the door I don’t

Father, to a cage you gifted a bleeding heart to

come back as nobody’s target practice

stow

Praying everytime I walk out that door I don’t get

Because grandma and grandad told you that’s

snatched away like auntie Eshe when nobody

how the flowers would grow

noticed

Praying you won't have to pray no more Because that’s what you told me your mama told you at the door

Despite the increasing awareness of mental health, the silent battles of minorities are still often overlooked. Not only by the external structure of a eurocentric and heteronormative system, but the internal workings of minorities themselves. Thus, the responsibility to destigmatize mental health in minority communities falls on the entire society. But the effort must go beyond simply acknowledging that there is an issue. The topic of minority mental health gets more complicated as Austin Frakt, from The New York Times, notes that white washed medical books and studies have led to cases of malpractice in healthcare: Henrietta Lacks, the Tuskegee study, forced sterilization of women of color. This would explain reservations minorities might hold against seeking professional help, but it can also be traced to the lack of cultural sensitivity by health care professionals. Therapy sessions can often feel like a glorified high school counselor intervention. When health professionals have not taken the time to climb over the cultural barrier themselves they leave their patients in a more vulnerable state instead of furthering the healing process. Jeanne Miranda, Ph. D., a professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, and Thomas G. McGuire, professor of Health Economics, found that “African Americans are more likely than Whites to terminate treatment prematurely. . .[and] 37.6% of Whites, but only 22.4% of Latinos. . . receive treatment.” Asian American communities, as well, are perceived to have a “lower prevalence of psychological disorders” (Cai, 2). That is why health professionals and minorities must join hands to bring awareness to the inseparable relationship between mental health and cultural competence in health care. Minorities deserve quality treatment. Minorities do not deserve to be treated as anomalies.

Against the backdrop of a “progressive” western society, many immigrant and BIPOC families choose to hang back and hold on to the mindsets of their parents and their parent’s parents. Self-discipline and self-sufficiency were a necessary adaptation; the minority had to be more perfect than perfection itself to stand equal to their white counterpart. Even then it was not enough. Most minorities share the experience of transgenerational trauma. Transgenerational trauma is trauma transferred to offspring, and it was first recorded in the descendants of holocaust survivors. The unprocessed trauma can affect the way parents interact with their children to create a world view, such as creating mistrust and a pessimistic perception of society. Though their experiences may differ in detail, most communities are troubled by the slippery grasp they have on their cultural identity. For example, the Americas was a terminal for the Transatlantic Slave trade and a hub of Indegenous genocides by Europeans. With each new crop of Africans and Indigenous people, Christian missionaries, slave masters, and capitalism regularly watered down the culture of these groups to create “African Americans” and “Native Americans.”

Their efforts may seem successful as West African slaves on southern plantations mixed the language of the oppressor into their own speech, but the slaves adapted the words to reflect their unique experience. It is a beautifully subtle act of resilience to take the direction of rebellion not in the form of violence but rather one of expression and connection. Thus, came the birth of African-American Vernacular English (i.e. Ebonics) or Creole in many Carribean nations (however, Creole’s status and history is controversial among linguists). Slaves colored the blanche abstractions with the grime of hard labor and breaths cut short. This is why words are choppier.

Through boarding schools, urban relocation, and removal policies Europeans attempted to break the spirits of Inidgenous tribes. Even in bondage, bruised and beaten, kept the freedom of their souls. In the case of Asian Americans, the diverse group was covered by the umbrella term, “model minority”. Educational institutions ignore the supplementary needs of Asian American students because of the prevailing stereotype of the spelling Bee champion and math wiz. South East Asian Americans have the highest rate of suicides at the college level due to the pressures applied by family and society. African Americans face systematic racism in the deepest sense. Slavery, police brutality, and segregation have all contributed to the generational trauma found in African America youth. Often, these children experience a sense of guilt for their loss of African identity and confusion of their standing identity in a Eurocentric society. Native Americans who witness their land and culture being stolen in this very day and age suffer a sense of identity loss. Immigrants who escaped from war zones inadvertently communicate their trauma to their children with the cautious approach to life in their new homes. This is why culturally competent health care professionals are necessary for QIBPOC patients.

On the next page, you will find a list of therapist and psychiatrist associations and directory of a specific cultural context.

RESOURCES Composed by Sadia Annona

THERAPY RESOURCES Free:

Asian American Psychological Association The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation: Allies can Austin Area African American Behavioral Health Network text NOSTIGMA to 707070 to donate and help fund A3PCON DACA Mental Health Project free therapy sessions.

Bay Area Muslim Therapist BetterHelp: one month free Therapy For Black Girls: Black Therapists RockDeaf Counseling Center group support sessions weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EST. Ethnic Counselors Well Williamsburg: Psychotherapy practice offering The Jewish Board free therapy for Black and indigenous people of color I-am Shakti (BIPOC) living in New York.

Melanin Mental Health Therapy The LGBT National Help Center offers confidential peer support connections for - Decolonizing Therapy: MentalHealth4Muslims “Dr. Jennifer Mullan believes that it is essential to Muslim Mental Health create dialogue to address how mental health is Muslim Wellness Foundation deeply affected by systemic inequities and the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental - Health trauma of oppression, particularly the well-being of Queer Indigenous Black Brown People of Color Association (QIBPOC).”

National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse $$: National Association of the Deaf National Deaf Therapy Sista Afaya: “online therapy appointments, provided National Jewish Health at a reduced cost of $75 to $150 USD per private Open Path Psychotherapy Collective session and $35 USD per group session. Sista Afaya Psychology Today African American Therapist Directory also offers a sliding scale rate for those with Psychology Today Asian American Therapist Directory Psychology Today Latino Therapist Directory financial limitations and accepts insurance providers Psychology Today Native American Therapist Directory New York Association of Black Psychologists Society of Indian (Native American) Psychologists Therapy For Black Girls: Those looking for further support can also join the Therapy For Black Girls Facebook group.

The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM) Black Mental Health Alliance Melanin and Mental Health Inclusive Therapists: matches POC and minorities to mental health providers that fit specific criteria regarding race, gender identity, sexual orientation and cost.

National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN): The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association's Provider Directory The Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists

BEHAVIOURAL RESOURCES HRSA Maternal and Child Health Home Visitation Program: MIECHV provides personalized home visits by nurses, social workers, and certified health professionals to support at-risk families, which might include teen moms, individuals suffering from substance abuse, lowincome families, or single parents without adequate resources, before birth and up to their child’s entry to kindergarten. A large portion of participants were mostly ethnic families and those of a racial minority. Childcare professionals asses the personal needs of your community and individual family to mentor parents on safe parenting practices, educatie them on milestones, and screen for postpartum depression and developmental delays or disorders in their children, and guide parents in furthering career goals or life plans. This program has reduced the presence of child abuse or neglect, improve school readiness, and aid maternal and child health. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, home visitations have come to a halt and video or telephone communications have taken their place.

Triple P and Incredible Years: The Triple P and Incredible Years are two separate parenting and family support programs to prevent and treat – behavioral and emotional problems in children and teenagers 16 years of age. Provides parents with the skills needed to manage family conflict. Triple P provides Specialist programs: for parents of children with a disability (Stepping Stones), for parents going through separation or divorce (Family Transitions), for parents of children who are overweight (Lifestyle) and for Indigenous parents (Indigenous) Individual Family Check-Up Program: also provided brief family support offered to at-risk families in the home or in community centers, and was shown to be effective in promoting proactive and positive parenting skills which correlated with changes in child disruptive behavior.

John Hopkins Prevention program: A one year program for first graders in high risk school settings, showed a decrease in teacher reports of problem behaviors, conduct disorder diagnosis at 6th grade, school suspension, special classroom placement and medication.

Good Behavior Game class program: Was a two year whole school social skills curriculum that showed efficacy in improved attention and concentration, and less oppositional and conduct behavior problems, predominantly in children with moderate levels of initial inattention.

Kataoka’s Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS): tackle internalizing disorders (such as depression or some anxiety disorders) Kataoka tested an intervention with third through eighth grade students with trauma-related depression and/or posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, in which group CBT was delivered in Spanish by bilingual, bicultural school social workers, with additional psychoeducation and support services available for parents and teachers. Students in the intervention groups showed significantly greater improvement compared to those placed on a waitlist for the program.

The Circles of Care: especially focused on the needs of American Indian children and youth.

Montgomery Cares Behavioral Health Program (MCBHP): In 2005, they began adapting and implementing a collaborative care model for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders in a network of primary care clinics that serve low-income, uninsured residents of Montgomery County, Maryland, the majority of whom are immigrants. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3191881/

PODCASTS Therapy For Black Girls: weekly podcast striving to make mental health discussion and care more accessible to Black women Between sessions podcast: Melanin and Mental Health Run by two black women who are therapists OB podcast: 8. Ourselves Black : focuses on and promotes black mental health Co-host of the Extraordinary Negroes podcast (also a must-listen!)

Since 2016, Making Gay History has been bringing the largely hidden history of the LGBTQ civil rights movement to life through the voices of the people who lived it.

Nancy is a critically-acclaimed podcast featuring queer stories and conversations, and hosted by two best friends (Kathy Tu and Low), neither of whom are named Nancy. It’s a podcast about how we define ourselves, and the journey it takes to get there.

AfroQueer, a podcast about queer Africans living, loving, surviving and thriving on the African continent and in the Diaspora.

Queer as fact: global look at lgbtq “Stories of Stigma: South Asian Mental Health” is hosted by MannMukti, an organization which “aims to encourage healthy, open dialogue of South Asian mental health issues,” according to the MannMukti website. In its podcast, the organization adheres to the same mission as it discusses questions of whether therapy is for everyone, dating and much more.

Latinx Therapy: This weekly podcast, hosted by Adriana Alejandre, talks about mental health and the Latinx community to dispel myths surrounding mental health. Alejandre is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Many of the episodes discuss culturally stigmatized themes, according to the podcast description.

The Siwe project: blog that tells a personal journey of Siwe, a black woman who embarks on a self-fulfilling adventure where she explores what being “black” means to her.

Free

APPS

Black Therapy Love: directory of Black mental health professionals The Safe Place App: Developed by Jasmin Pierre, a black woman who survived a suicide attempt, The Safe Place app is designed to reach black users with information about mental health and self-care tips and resources. offering educational resources including statistics on Black mental health, self-assessments for depression and anxiety and tips on self care amidst instances of police brutality.

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Liberate App: The Liberate app offers meditations and talks "designed for the BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, and People of Color] wellness of Black women and girls." The site includes information about physical health as well as a quiz to determine your stress level.

SUICIDE LINE The Trevor Project is a support network for LGBTQ youth providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention, including a 24-hour text line (Text “START” to 678678) National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Hours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish) 1800-273-8255

MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION

SOCIAL MEDIA

Association of Black Psychologists Self-Care Tool

Get Some Joy: Get Some Joy is a recently

Kit : This 26-page tool kit, written in English and

launched multimedia campaign promoting mental

Spanish, contains information about how stress and

and emotional well-being for Black and Brown

trauma affect the body and mind, and self-care

people.

strategies for dealing with the effects of racism.

Healhaus: Founders Darian Hall and Elisa Shankle

Ourselves Black: This website focuses on and

created this space in Brooklyn to provide

promotes black mental health with a magazine and

accessible and inclusive wellness to their

newsletter

community. HealHaus is currently closed, but

POC Online Classroom: This website "by and for

their ethos has continued virtually through live

people of color" offers readings and resources

streamed classes, including a healing cypher for

related to self-care.

men of color.

Black Women's Health Imperative: This nonprofit

The Nap Ministry: Performance artist and poet

organization was founded by black women to "help

Tricia Hersey founded The Nap Ministry to

protect and advance the health and wellness of Black

champion Black rest as a form of reparations and

women and girls." The site includes information

resistance against burnout culture and

about physical health as well as a quiz to determine

capitalism. While she normally hosts free pop-

your stress level.

ups where visitors can take brief naps and

Emotional Emancipation Circles: Emotional

workshops in the Atlanta area, Hersey has been

emancipation circles are self-help groups "designed

using Instagram to provide mini sermons about

to help heal the trauma caused by anti-Black racism."

the importance of slowing down and getting

EEC facilitators have been trained in dozens of cities

more sleep when you’re a Black person fighting

across the U.S., including Los Angeles, New Orleans,

oppression day-in and day-out.

and Baltimore. For more information about EEC training and participation, contact the Community Healing Network.

Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM)

COUNSELOR/HEALTH PROFESSIONAL CULTURAL COMPETENCY EDUCATION

Trauma Affecting Asian-Pacific Islanders in the San Francisco Bay Area: Journal Article

The Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual &

Trauma and Well-Being among Asian American

Transgender Issues in Counseling

Women: Journal Article

The American Psychological Association (APA)

The Effect of Trauma Transmission: Psychosocial

provides countless educational and support

Development of Second-Generation Southeast

resources on a range of LGBTQ topics

Asian American College Students: Journal Article The National Center for Transgender Equality

GEN Z OF THE MONTH

STEPHANIE NGUYEN

"This year was my very first time experiencing a Major League Hackathon through HobbyHacks. I can still recall the immense amount of anxiety I felt when I first met my team members. Many college students were participating who had years of coding experience while I was only a high schooler who had taken 1 computer science course and was self-taught on web design. I constantly felt out of place, or I was not enough for the team. Everyone on my team was proficient in many languages while I only knew the basics. It was difficult to concentrate when I kept reminding myself that I was “less” than them. My teammates kept reassuring me that I will be fine, and it will not be a problem if I needed help. They were all extremely helpful, teaching me everything I needed to know to be successful which made me realize that they are here for me. With their help, I learned how to code collaboratively through GitHub and use google maps APIS. I also taught one of my members HTML and CSS for our web application. Whenever I apologized because I did not know something, they reassured me and told me about their first-time experiences at a hackathon. My team and I wanted to include concerning problems in our society, so we decided to create a web application, called ZeroWasted. It reduces food waste by having an option to search for an ingredient and having a list of easy recipes pop up with instructions. We also have a feature where you can locate the closest food banks near you. After 19 grueling hours, my team and I created a winning hack. I am very thankful for the award but the overall experience and the creation of the web app were much more rewarding."

It is truly my honor to become GenZ of the month for April because it is the month of raising awareness about sexual assault. I truly care about this topic because I know many people who are close to me that had to experience this traumatic topic. I am creating a website in honor of my friend to raise awareness and provide resources about sexual assault. I want to provide a safe space with helpful tools and easy access. I am still working on redesigning it but, please stay tuned for the release.

In the stem field, it is also difficult finding yourself. Constantly questioning if you belong here or if you are capable. I’ve had these thoughts many times before going to bed, asking myself, “Will I regret this?” I have learned that communicating with a mentor or someone who can understand you will help you realize where you want to be. I had a mentor from the Built By Girls program, and she had so many words of encouragement. She told me that you have to stop having a negative mindset when you want to accomplish a task. If you doubt yourself then only you will become your enemy. My flute teacher as well has told me several times before performances that I have to first believe in myself. I understand that imposter syndrome is extremely difficult to get over, but talking to someone will relieve you.

Opening up and being vulnerable will nurture your growth and help you get over these feelings of self-doubt.

Join Our Community

Dear Global Girls @dearglobalgirls Dear GlobalGirls https://www.dearglobalgirls.org

Our April 2021 Team THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION AND DEDICATION!

LAUREN BYUN

SANDRA CHEAH

HEAD DIRECTOR

MAGAZINE EDITOR

KATELYN HOWARD

TALIA CASKEY MAGAZINE EDITOR

EVA EAPEN

EDITORS-IN-CHIEFS AND CO-DIRECTORS OF WRITING

CARLA RAMIREZ WRITER

MARITZA FUENTES EDITOR

SADIA ANNONA

SAVANNAH BUCCELLATO COVER DESIGNER

HARINI SANGEETHAM

WRITER

WRITER

TIFFANI LIAN

JASMINE REYES

EDITOR

EDITOR