Campaign – USTAWI

Dare to change the narrative

“Guys don’t cry.” “Talking to a shrink? That’s for the weak!” “We immigrated to give you a better future, why aren’t you happy?” “Depression? That’s for other people!” “Just pray.”

We know these phrases. They hurt, they silence, they suffocate. But today, one conversation at a time, one action at a time, we can write another story.
“Guys don’t cry”… but I cried, and it freed me.

“Talking to a therapist? That’s for the weak”… but I talked, and it saved me. “Depression? That’s for other people”… but I’ve experienced it, and I chose to heal. “Just pray”… yes, I pray, and I see a therapist. “Immigrants are resilient”… I’m not weak because I chose to ask for help.

Changing the narrative isn’t about denying our values. It’s about transforming taboos into strength, healing wounds, and building a society where mental health is recognized, respected, and protected. It’s about affirming that your voice matters—and that it’s necessary.