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What My Daughter Taught Me: Be a Champion of Your Mental Health

February 17, 2025 – 1 min read

By Ericka Llerena

Ericka Llerena smiling for a headshot and wearing a red and black checked flannel.

This Volunteer Spotlight story originally appeared in AFSP's 2024 Annual Report. To read other inspiring Volunteer Spotlight stories, and to learn more about our work, click here.

Ericka Llerena first found her way to the National Capital Area Chapter after her 16-year-old daughter came to her the night before Mother’s Day, telling her she didn’t want to be alive anymore. Finding resources, support and comfort for both herself and her daughter, Ericka became involved in chapter events including the Community Walk, tabling with education materials at events in her area, joining the pet-centric Paws for Prevention fundraising initiative, and becoming a PR Ambassador for the chapter’s board of directors. Her 10-year-old son often accompanies her to AFSP events, making her volunteering activities a true family affair.

More recently, Ericka has become a trained presenter for the new education program, Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention for the Latinx and Hispanic Communities.

“The love and support of the community of AFSP volunteers has helped me in ways I cannot express, through such a difficult time in my family’s life. Growing up in a Hispanic household has many blessings associated with it. But one particular way I have found purpose is to help break the taboos that still often exist regarding mental health in the Hispanic community. I have learned over the years, through the bravery of my child, that having honest, open communication about the state of one’s mental wellbeing is crucial. Children need to be able to express their fears, anxiety, and struggles with someone who loves them deeply, without fear of reproach or belittlement.

I think this has been the biggest lesson my daughter has taught me. Be a champion of your own mental health, seek the support of the loved ones around you, and don’t be afraid to speak openly about what is causing you so much pain.

This has been my motivation in speaking to the Hispanic community through the Talks Saves Lives: Latinx program. My hope is that by sharing my personal experience, and combining it with the information and statistics presented, we can move the needle in normalizing how our wonderful community sees mental health and suicide prevention.”