For Evelyn Alejandro, mental health isn’t just a topic, it’s a journey she’s lived. A business owner based in Connecticut, Evelyn has experienced firsthand the ripple effects of silence and stigma within families. Today, she shares her story not to dwell on the past, but to help others see that healing is possible, and that purpose, faith, and self-care are powerful tools in reclaiming your path.
“I wanted to be part of the Let’s Face It campaign because mental health still isn’t talked about enough, especially how it affects families,” Evelyn says. “My mother lived with bipolar disorder. My father lived with schizophrenia. But those things were never discussed when I was growing up. There was stigma and fear of judgment.”
Yet Evelyn’s parents were far more than their diagnoses. Her mother, Jessica, a young nurse and devoted mom, loved nature, music, dancing, and weekend cookouts with the family. Her father, Danny, shared a passion for dancing and was known for his easy laughter and love of music. “They were joyful, and full of life,” Evelyn says. “They were both deeply human. Their diagnoses were only one part of their story.”
At just 14 years old, Evelyn’s world shifted when her mother passed away in a car accident. At the time, Evelyn had been living with her mom and her younger sister, Jessayla. After the loss, Jessayla went to live with other family members, while Evelyn lived with her father and brothers from his side of the family. Eventually, Evelyn and her sister were reunited and moved in together with their uncle.
“It was heartbreaking,” Evelyn recalls. “Not just losing my mom, but being separated from my siblings. Jessayla and I were really close. We both lost our mom, and then we lost the life we knew. It was a lot for two young girls to process.”
Her new reality brought deep changes, a new home, school, and routine, all while carrying the weight of grief. “People don’t always know how to support someone navigating grief,” she says. “You’re expected to get over it but what you really need is someone to sit with you in the hard moments.”
Although therapy was offered, she initially resisted. “Stigma made me feel like therapy meant something was wrong with me,” Evelyn explains. “At the time, it felt like a consequence, not a resource.”
In college, a friend in a nursing program gently suggested Evelyn might be living with PTSD. That moment opened a door. She began therapy, received a diagnosis, and slowly started learning more about the symptoms and ways to heal.
As her healing journey unfolded, Evelyn found restoration in holistic wellness. Hiking, music, journaling, skincare, massages, and traveling all became forms of self-care. Community service also played a big role. “Giving back helped me reconnect to something bigger than myself,” she says. “Serving others gave me perspective, purpose, and a sense of hope during times I really needed it.”
Faith, especially, grounded her. “My relationship with God helped me process my childhood. It gave me peace and helped me let go of things I had no control over.”
Evelyn has found light in the community as well.
“I’ve had communities that saved me: friends in high school, my college service group, and a Christian mission trip,” she says. “They helped me rebuild trust and showed me what real community could look like. Through traveling, I was exposed to other cultures, perspectives, and hardships, and I realized how big the world is and how much opportunity there is out there.”
Today, Evelyn continues to walk the path of growth while supporting others along theirs. She mentors young professionals and shares her journey openly, not as a mental health expert, but as someone who’s lived through it.
“There’s hope. Don’t give up,” she says. “Healing isn’t just for you. It’s for everyone who comes after you. That’s how we break the cycle. That’s how we change the story.”
One mantra that continues to guide her:
“Your future is waiting for you. Don’t keep dwelling in the past. Every step forward you take is a step forward for your family.”
Learn more about Evelyn’s creative work at agapedesignct.com.
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Let’s Face It
Launched in 2022 by Mental Health Connecticut, Let’s Face It takes place every May in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month. Throughout the month, we host and participate in events, share daily wellness content and vital resources, and spotlight Connecticut residents with lived experiences, amplifying their voices and journeys to inspire hope and understanding.
Why focus on stigma? Because it’s pervasive, taking on various forms, and we firmly believe that its power diminishes when faced head-on. By sharing these compelling stories and daily wellness content, our aim is to spark more conversations, show the individuality of mental health, and increase awareness. Through Let’s Face It, we hope to help create a safer and kinder Connecticut for all.
Let’s Face It 2025 is presented by ConnectiCare. Learn more at mhconn.org.
