My dad having fun at an animal sanctuary.

Trigger warning: su!c!de, attempted su!c!de, overd0se

Mental Health Awareness Month: A Personal Story of Loss, Grief, and Healing

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to have honest conversations about mental health, reduce stigma, and remind people that they are not alone. For me, this month is not just about awareness. It is deeply personal. It is about my father, the life he lived, the struggles he carried, and the loss that continues to shape my own journey with mental health.

Celebrating my birthday with my dad.

My dad’s story is one of perseverance and sacrifice. He escaped Vietnam and immigrated to the United States in search of a better life. Like many immigrants, he started from nothing and worked his way forward. He earned his GED, worked long hours in a factory, and built a life for our family. He met my mom, raised my brother and me, and did everything he could to provide for us. From the outside, it looked like he had achieved the American dream.

But mental health does not always reflect what we see on the surface. Despite everything he accomplished, my dad was struggling internally. There was a weight he carried that we could not fully understand. Even in moments where he seemed happy, present, and engaged with us, there was something deeper that he was battling. It is something I wish I had understood more at the time.

Losing my dad to mental health was devastating. He had his first attempt by trying to overdose with his prescribed medications. But luckily, we saved him in time and got his stomach pumped. Although his passing happened a few years ago, the pain and grief just still lingers in me no matter how much time has passed. It left me with so many unanswered questions that I will never get the answer to. And this everlasting dark cloud that follows me everywhere I go. I am still learning to process even many years later. Over time, I have also realized that this loss has impacted my own mental health. The pain did not end with him. It passed on to me and all his friends and our family and anyone who knew him. This has shaped how I cope with life, how I think about things, and how I move through this life without him. Healing has not been linear, and there are still days that feel heavy. Everywhere I look, it reminds me of him. 

If you are struggling with your mental health, please know that there is support available. You do not have to go through it alone. Please research online about your local country's or state resources for those who are struggling with mental health. Reaching out for help can feel difficult, but it is an important step toward healing.

Mental health struggles do not always look the way we expect them to. My dad’s story is a reminder that even those who seem strong and successful can be silently struggling. While his story had a painful ending, I share it in hopes that it encourages more open conversations, more compassion, and more awareness. If you take anything from this, let it be this: check in on the people around you, and take care of yourself too. Your life matters.

Me as a baby with my dad.