Identity Groups Mental Health Interviews

In addition to the mental health toll normal high school students face, many IMSA students are subject to further struggles related to their identities. IMSA represents a multitude of different races, genders, and sexualities, each student different from the next. Based on their own experiences and background, every student’s identity can have a major impact on their mental health struggles. Many have even reported hearing derogatory remarks at school. According to IMSA’s 2021 Diversity Climate Survey, 47.9% of responding students have heard sexist remarks sometimes, often, or frequently, 18% have heard racist remarks sometimes, often, or frequently, and 11.9% have heard homophobic remarks sometimes, often, or frequently. 

In order to examine each identity’s experience with mental health, The Acronym interviewed various students who represent a specific group. The interviewees are: 

• Niyati Kapadia: Indian Student Association (ISA) President
• Jasmine Liu: Asian Students in America (ASIA) President
• Zoie Sloneker: Native American Student Society (NASS) Representative
• Raven McKelvin and Jadesola Suleiman: Black Student Union (BSU) Representatives
• Lethzy Gutierrez and Karen Olvera: Alma Latina President and Representative
• Elizabeth Soyemi and Natalie Hulseberg: Gender Equity Association (GEA) Co-Presidents
• Brogan Long: Spectrum President

You can find the following conversations here:

• ISA
• ASIA
• NASS
• BSU
• Alma Latina
• GEA
• Spectrum