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Mental Health Discussed in Closing Remarks of DREAM Graduation

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During the closing remarks of the DREAM Act mock graduation ceremony on June 26, 2012, I heard for the first time a real emphasis on the mental health concerns of DREAMers. The student delivering the remarks spoke about Yanelli Serrano Hernandez, an undocumented youth who attempted suicide while being held in a detention center, and how Undocuhealth , a project out of the National Immigrant Youth Alliance was addressing the mental health needs of undocumented youth.  I was proud to hear that the issue of mental health was brought up to a crowd of DREAMers, parents, and allies because it showed that the stigma surrounding mental health and undocumented youth was being tackled head on by DREAMers themselves. By sending a direct message to DREAMers that it is OK to be sad, to write about it, and to seek help, the DREAM community is taking care of its own.

To read in our Spanish blog, click here.