Personal Stories

Sometimes it may feel like you are all alone, but you are not. Many children, youth and families in our community share similar struggles, fears, questions, frustrations and hopes. Please view our “Digital Stories” and listen to the personal stories of other youth and parents impacted by mental health challenges. Many of these stories offer words of advice and encouragement.

What are Digital Stories?
The art of storytelling as a healing art is a tradition that has been passed down over the centuries in many different cultures. During a Digital Story Workshop, youth and parents share their personal stories in a facilitated story circle and then bring their stories to life through a montage of voice over, images, music and other memorabilia. The process of storytelling often provides an internal place of peace and inner nourishment for youth and families who are dealing with tremendously overpowering feelings and images. The stories help them symbolize their experience and contribute to their healing in the process. Storytelling also strengthens resilience.

These Digital Stories were developed by families and youth and reflect their personal stories of struggle with and recovery from mental health challenges. Stories tell the journey of a mother recovering from depression for the sake of her children; a youth who, at the fear of being removed from her family, is able to turn her life around and graduate from high school; a mother’s fight to reunite with her children and several others. Countless individuals and organizations such as Children’s Behavioral Health, Juvenile Probation, Department of Social and Employment Services and the Department of Education share these people’s journeys and contribute to their recovery. So in a way it is their stories as well.

All content and graphics for each story were provided by the story teller and may not reflect the views of the Monterey County Health Department, Children’s Behavioral Health Division.