In 2021 I had my own stint in a mental health facility local to my home in Alabama. During my stay, I met a young Black man named Chris. I listened to his story and he listened to mine, and I realized how drastically different our two positions in life were, and unlike Chris, I had a home to go back to. Chris lived in a group home for children called the Harris home in our local town, I had never heard of it before. Once I was released, I went to the Harris home to see if Chris had made it out too. He had not. Although Chris was not there were plenty of other disadvantaged children; the pattern amongst them being that they were all young men of color. This pattern was undeniable and heartbreaking. Each boy suffered from some mental incapacity, whether it be an illness or a disability. The state of the home itself was distressing and the state of the boys was almost worse, mentally and physically. Over the next year, I dedicated myself to raising money for them through fundraising events, service projects, and even just good old-fashioned door-to-door soliciting. With the help of my community and my family, we were able to raise several thousands of dollars for the home as well as commenced repainting and rebuilding processes on the home itself. If I had never met chris and formed the connection that I did, I would’ve never realized what was going on just miles away from my own home. I would’ve never found out about the Harris home for children. Chris told me stories about being ignored and stripped of his voice when it came to his mental health until he was on his very last leg. That was not his first visit to the mental hospital and I doubt it was his last, and the world as well as the children’s department of services did no favors for him or his situation. It was unfair just to watch, I can’t even begin to fathom how it must’ve felt to live. I don’t know if Chris still has his life. I don’t know if it’s fair to blame him if he no longer does, but what I do know is that there was more that could’ve been done to help him and it should have been done. Chris was stripped of his voice, simply for being a black man struggling with his own mind in our society and I wish that on no one else. When asked what I think can be done to de-stigmatize mental health within the black community My mind is almost stumped. The black community already suffers so much from lingering prejudice, it’s hard to provide a workable solution to such a close-minded society. Mental health as a whole is already looked down upon and brushed under the rug for all people in our society. I believe in open access to mental health services in this country such as therapy with a trained professional, outpatient and inpatient treatment, as well as medical and pharmaceutical treatment. I believe there should be free and accessible mental health, treatment centers, buildings, and facilities open to lower income or disparaged homes, as well as just the general population in every city. I believe that there are people out there, myself being one of them, that feel strongly enough about this topic that would help aid in the assistance of forming such centers through volunteer work. Everyone struggles sometimes. Everyone should have a voice. Everyone deserves help.