Equity
Lines for Life honors Juneteenth as a reminder of the struggle toward freedom for Black Americans. We recognize the hardships that racism continues to inflict on Black communities and we embrace Juneteenth as a time to acknowledge these hardships, celebrate progress, and honor the culture, history, and strength of Black communities. Lines for...
My grandfather and father faced exclusionary codes that made entering the United States and gaining citizenship impossible. Both worked on the railroads, which was how a lot of Chinese immigrants came into the country at the time – making much lower wages than workers of other races. As a boy, Dad lived in the United States during worldwide...
In high school, I first realized I had a serious problem with my brain. I got my driver’s license, started a job, got accepted into college, and was close to graduating – but I still felt despair. I had no clue why I felt so heavy in my chest, failing to feel happy about all these milestones I expected to be excited about. I grew up Catholic in a...
Asians, like people of all races, can and do experience mental health challenges throughout their lives. Because of cultural norms, their experiences are often made to be invisible. Mental health is rarely talked about in Asian communities and is often seen as a “white person’s disease.” Because of that, fewer and fewer Asian people get the...
Lines for Life Honors API Heritage Month This May, Lines for Life celebrates the diverse cultures and rich histories of the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community by honoring API Heritage Month. Why May? May holds special significance for API heritage in America, as it commemorates the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in the United...
Suicide rates among Black children and young adults between the ages of 10-24 have increased dramatically over the past few years.
My connection with youth is my biggest interest, and my foundation has been crucial in understanding how we can have influence in supporting and advocating for youth mental health in Portland and across the state of Oregon.
There is so much stigma against mental health and suicide in the Black and Creole cultures, but many of us are working to break that stigma. I’ve always been interested in mental health. My family moved to Southwest Louisiana over 300 years ago as one of the premier and largest Creole families.
January 21st, 2023, marked Lines for Life’s first annual Barbershop Conversation in partnership with Kingdom Kuts, a local barbershop in Portland, Oregon. It was packed with people from Portland’s Black and Brown communities to talk about the importance of community and receiving support for mental health.
We are trying to diversify the mental health workforce by aligning with community partners, Black-owned businesses, and Black-owned mental health facilities.
As Lines for Life celebrates Black History Month, it is important to learn the history behind this celebration of the culture and strength of Black Americans as well as their countless contributions to this country. This February, we highlight the accomplishments of Black Americans that have defined history as well as Lines for Life staff and...
Black History Month is a time to reflect and celebrate the history, culture, and strength of Black Americans as well as their countless contributions to this country. There are many “firsts” that Black people and communities are still achieving daily. We want to uplift and magnify the historic and notable accomplishments of influential Black...
Native & Strong Lifeline – the first state-funded helpline dedicated to serving Native communities specifically – launched on November 10th as part of the 988 call center operated by Volunteers of America Western Washington (VOAWW). The service offers Native communities in Washington state 24/7 emotional support over the helpline, and...
In partnership with Lines for Life, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have dedicated a satellite YouthLine call center on the Warm Springs reservation in Central Oregon. As we partner with the Warm Springs community, tribal elders, and service programs, our shared goals are to destigmatize discussions of mental health, increase help-seeking...
2022 Tribal Opioid Training Academy by Yoli Flores The annual Tribal Opioid Training Academy – funded by Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest and Oregon Health Authority and supported by the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, Lines for Life, and many other partners – gathers leaders and stakeholders annually from...