HelpKarina’s Journey: From Isolation to Hope
Karina didn’t know anything about mental health until her son had his first major mental health crisis when he was 13 years old. Karina struggled to accept her child’s new diagnosis. “My first instinct was, my child doesn’t have a mental illness. I hoped that this was just a one-time blip that would get fixed.”
After her son left the hospital, Karina was overwhelmed with navigating therapy, medication, and daily care for her son. “I was completely alone and isolated. I felt like no one else understood what I was going through as a parent,” Karina explained. Needing support, Karina started attending therapy herself, where her therapist mentioned NAMI-NYC and its family support programs.
Karina’s was matched with NAMI-NYC Family Match Mentor Jessica. “I’d never had a real conversation with someone who’s been through what I’ve been through.” Through Family Match, she learned to accept her son’s mental health diagnosis and recognize that he could have a happy and successful life.
To better understand how to support her son, Karina enrolled in NAMI-NYC’s Basics class. “NAMI-NYC Basics sat us down and explained all the different mental health conditions, which was really helpful.” Learning about different mental health challenges helped Karina understand what her son was experiencing.
Over time, Karina’s son’s mental health began to improve. “I felt really proud of him because it’s hard to talk to a therapist and do the work to get better.” He was able to go back to school in person, and Karina found that he didn’t need as much support. “I’m able to give him space now, because I trust that when things are really bad, he’ll reach out to me.”
With the extra time and a new understanding of mental health, Karina began working on her master’s in social work. “The mental health system doesn’t understand the trauma that parents experience when their child is diagnosed with a mental health challenge. I really want to give parents and caregivers support earlier on in their mental health journey.” Karina created a discharge guide to give psychiatric hospitals and ERs that connects parents and caregivers to NAMI-NYC’s free family support programs. “The resources that NAMI-NYC offers can change the trajectories of your mental health experience by giving hope and letting parents and caregivers know they are not alone.”
Karina has also recently taken on a leadership role with Staten Island’s Lived Experience Advisory Board (LEAB), an initiative of the Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness in partnership with the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the New York State Office of Mental Health. In this role, she will help facilitate the Parent & Adult Survivor contingent. The board brings the voices and experiences of individuals and families directly into Staten Island’s comprehensive Suicide Prevention Task Force, advising professionals and community leaders on suicide prevention services, supports, and the planning and implementation of suicide prevention efforts.