Author's Note

A letter to my younger self in partnership with RiseUp powered by Kids Help Phone to raise awareness of mental health issues in the Black youth population. If you're a Black youth in Canada who's feeling alone, in an active time of crisis, or who just wants someone to talk to, you can text RISE to 686868 to connect with a trained, volunteer crisis responder, at any time of day. Conversations are confidential, and no issue is too big or too small.