Dear Ol Gladys

I reflect on the journey of uncovering my family’s mental health history, starting with my maternal grandmother, Gladys. Growing up, mental health wasn’t a topic openly discussed in our community—it was often dismissed, ignored, or met with judgment. My grandmother’s presence in my life was sporadic, and as I got older, I began to understand that she battled with mental illness, a reality that shaped her life and, indirectly, mine.