“I lived in fear and did not like going to school due to feeling unsafe no matter where I went. I would have nightmares and constantly think about the people that hurt me. I preferred to be away from friends and from people,” says 14-year-old Aitana.

Aitana’s family fled Mexico to escape death threats from the cartel, leaving behind everything — family, friends, community, and her beloved childhood dog.

Due to the violence she experienced, Aitana lost trust in people and lived in constant fear. She couldn’t focus in the present and struggled to manage school, family life and academics. She was too consumed by her thoughts and fears to attempt to make friends. A school counselor noticed Aitana’s struggles and referred her for mental health support.

Thanks to your generosity, Aitana was able to get the specialized mental health care she needed to heal from her trauma. She received care from a team of professionals trained to work with youth and individuals affected by trauma.

When Aitana first started receiving mental health services, she appeared very sad and defeated. She felt like her life was falling apart due to being in a new country and having to learn a new language and customs. She rarely smiled, was timid, fearful, shy, and had low self-esteem.

It took Aitana some time to trust her providers due to her feeling nervous, not knowing how to socialize, and having fear-invoking “what if” thoughts. But her treatment team approached her with patience, consistency, and kindness. They explored and focused on her strengths, which was the key to helping Aitana blossom.

In therapy, Aitana learned to identify her triggers and came to understand her experience and the emotional and physical symptoms that developed because of her trauma. She learned how to manage her thoughts and shift her perspective on the events she experienced in her life. She also learned to use new coping skills, such as breathing techniques, talking to others, and writing in her journal.

“I learned to calm myself and manage my emotions through interventions to support myself in feeling better and not focus on the past but in the present moment. Now I write in my journal, read and feel comfortable letting my personality show,” says Aitana. “I am grateful for being supported in feeling better and not just [dwelling] on the negative experiences of my past.”

Thanks to you, Aitana no longer lives in fear today. She has many friends, is motivated to do well in school and is hopeful for her future.

Thank you for making such a difference for Aitana and for so many other local children and teens who are struggling with their mental health. What a gift!