Saig Feliz

“There is nothing more beautiful than the infinite possibility inherent in all of our existence. Not one person in all the history of the Earth has "not mattered", we are all important and here for a reason. Like I said, I speak from experience and I hold one fact to be true: the world would not be the same without you. You are still here for a reason, you still have time, and you DO matter!”

NAMI: Have you ever had any mental health struggles? How have you healed and grown from your experiences?

SF: I personally am diagnosed with OCD, ASD/ADHD, and general anxiety disorder. I also experience Gender Dysphoria, which just adds to my baseline of anxiety. Anxiety impacts my daily life and oftentimes can hold me back from pursuing goals or wants in life. I attend therapy weekly and find it extremely helpful to receive support and care from a professional; that hour a week with my therapist feels like true self-care and always leaves me feeling accomplished, like I've done something good for myself. When I experience intense bouts of anxiety, I focus on my breathing and do breath exercises and always seek support within my close circle of friends. 

NAMI: You are a hair stylist at Talking Heads – do you find yourself supporting your clients in their mental health journeys?

SF: I am proud and blessed to work within such a welcoming space like Talking Heads. The space we've created there just naturally makes stylists and clients alike feel comfortable and safe to be and express their true selves. I do find myself supporting my clients in their mental health journeys, especially surrounding the ritual of self care and gender expression and euphoria. I am not a professional so I speak to my clients from personal experience and in being open about my own struggles or how I've handled situations in life, I only hope they find answers that help them better themselves mentally and physically. I try to lend a listening ear for the most part, I want my clients to know they always have a friend who will be there for them.

NAMI: You are a community advocate for many important causes! Which are closest to your heart?

SF: I publicly advocate for harm reduction, antiracism, supporting our houseless neighbors, fighting for LGBTQIA+ equality, and mental health awareness and suicide prevention. I am a survivor of suicide loss, I lost my sister, Evelyn Grace, in 2020 after her long battle with mental health issues. Suicide prevention and ending the stigma around mental health is deeply important to me. I personally feel like this and harm reduction, with a focus on overdose prevention and substance use awareness, go hand in hand. Always carry Narcan, folks!

NAMI: Why did you decide to share your story?

SF: I feel like the only way to end the stigma around suicide, mental health, and substance use is to share and be open. I am confident in the person I have become and will not let my past define me, only make me stronger. I hope in sharing my experiences around these difficult subjects, people will feel empowered to seek help themselves. The more we talk about our metal health, suicide, and substance use, the less scary it becomes and the closer we come to healing.

NAMI: What keeps you hopeful?

SF: My community and the sense of being surrounded by support and love keeps me hopeful. This includes my clients. Everyday I get to support people in their journeys of self expression and acceptance, it's a huge blessing. I have an army of friends and we all help each other fight through our struggles, it's a beautiful thing to be able to grow and heal alongside the people in my life.

NAMI: What words would you share to encourage others in their mental health journey?

SF: There is nothing more beautiful than the infinite possibility inherent in all of our existence. Not one person in all the history of the Earth has "not mattered", we are all important and here for a reason. Like I said, I speak from experience and I hold one fact to be true: the world would not be the same without you. You are still here for a reason, you still have time, and you DO matter!