In many countries reporting mental health issues is frowned upon – even though statistics show there is a massive need for therapy and support. This illustration is by Dilselekhika Prerna explores mental health and identity. Credit: Fuzia.com

New York, Nov 18 2021 (IPS) – I was told to wait and cry it out. How could I explain to them that I have been crying for years? That was not the solution, asks Azra Zeng, a divorced mother of four in an interview with IPS. I wanted to speak to someone. I wanted to seek help where I could feel whole again. It felt that I was dying from inside, but no one could see.

Zeng was trying to make a living and look after her children while fighting a one-woman battle with mental health issues.

She was the sole breadwinner, and her parents also depended on her. Depression and mental health issues plagued her,…