This is NPR's life kit.

I'm Nitaline Mahia, a freelance writer and editor from the Bronx.

And I'm Ysa Bethman Losa, a freelance producer from Southeast Los Angeles.

So let's talk about mental health.

Nitaline, when was the first time you spoke to your parents about it?

So the first time I talked to my mom about mental health was when I went to therapy for the first time in college, actually.

It was the first time that I was living away from home, and I was having a really hard time adjusting.

My university offered free therapy sessions to students, and I thought, why not?

I think I mentioned it to my mom during one of our calls.

I didn't really think that much about it.

What did she say?

Just pretty supportive, actually.

She said, that's good in me.

I had been considering therapy since high school because I kind of always struggled with depression anxiety.

And these services being offered to me for free kind of gave me the green light to try it out.

I think my mom would just happy that I was finally taking ownership of my mental health.

How about you, Ysa?

When was the first time you talked to your parents about this stuff?

I was actually forced to go to therapy in high school, and that didn't work out.

But the first time I decided to go was when I was in graduate school, and I was going through culture shock.

And so I knew I needed support from a therapist to survive the two years that I was going to be there.

And I just straight up said to my mom, I'm going to therapy.

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