Mental disability takes many forms. It is the most misunderstood, societally shunned ailment. 50% of children with a mental health condition go untreated. I have been here, lived that.

I grew up in poverty. My childhood was filled with loss and uncertainty. At 11 years old I decided that, as far as it depended on me, that would change. Everything I had, I gave. But despite my best effort,…