Today, I'm collaborating with mental health/recovery advocate , Jatsive Hernandez. As usual, I asked her JP's 3, photographed her & discussed why her outfit makes a fashment.

JP's 3

Question 1: Being a flight attendant, I’m sure you’ve been to many wondrous destinations, what’s one place that you’ve been craving to visit and why?

“Jatsive: I’ve been really wanting to go to Prague, so I’m going in October for five days. Everybody I’ve spoken to says that Prague is their favorite place in Europe from the food, culture and history. My sister has visited Prague, she told there’s this hill apparently it’s not a natural hill. I believe it was during the Holocaust, they ran out of spaces of burying Jews, so they stacked one on top of another until it formed this hill. It’s basically a burial site for the Jewish Holocaust victims, it’s morbid, but a big part of our history. People died for just being themselves, so I want to see this hill and pay my respects to the Holocaust victims. I work for a regional airline, so I don’t fly overseas, more like local destinations like Springfield, Missouri, or Lawton, Oklahoma. One thing I’m pleasantly surprised about is visiting hidden gems across the US. For example, my favorite iced lavender latte is in Springfield, Missouri or Traverse City, Michigan has this event called “Friday Night Live”, which has variety of delicious food trucks and live music to enjoy. ”

Question 2: You’re an ambassador for RevolutionDFW, which is a community where it empowers you to be vulnerable. Can you tell me more about it?

“Jatsive: RevolutionDFW was started by Alecia Moore, once she started working for Outdoor Voices it was hard time in her life to point where she thought about ending her life. I remembered when she got hired, her and I would talk a lot about that stuff. I’ve personally attempted two suicide attempts, been hospitalized long term twice, been on multiple psychiatric holds and had an eating disorder. I had a really hard time after college coming to terms with it wasn’t my fault, which lead to a downward spiral. I was very open with Alecia how much my therapists helped me get to where I am today and it took therapist number seven. With all my previous therapists, I wasn’t ready to talk about the dark stuff and put in the work to be better. Alecia appreciated how I was so open about my experience, which helped her with her experience. She realized more people would benefit from others talking about what they’ve gone through, which led her to start RevolutionDFW. In the Dallas fitness community, I feel like people look up to their instructors, a source of motivation for a lot of people. It’s refreshing and humbling to see some of these instructors that you depend on having gone through their dark journeys. RevolutionDFW is about being vulnerable, not just on social media, but in life using fitness to get better in your mental health state. For me, spin classes help get me through a lot of dark times, hopefully this community will grow and see fitness and vulnerability go hand in hand. When Alecia asked me to be an ambassador, I was honored being one of two who aren’t a fitness instructor. Alecia has a lot of fun plans to bring RevolutionDFW to the forefront, be sure to be on the lookout.”

Question 3: Mental Health platform is currently a huge topic across America, you openly discuss on your IG how it’s important to take care of one’s self. What’s your advice to anyone who may be dealing with anxiety, depression or other mental health illnesses?

“Jatsive: As cliche as it sounds, “You’re not alone” you really aren’t alone, there are so many of us who experience depression or anxiety. The only way to cure stigma and make it okay for people to seek help or get resources is being comfortable talking about it. Growing up in a Latino household, you’re not suppose to “air your dirty laundry” out in public, you get over it. As a first generation American, it was kinda hard because both of my parents were immigrants yet I grew up in a privileged way. My parents always wanted to give me the best of everything, they never told me I couldn’t do anything. When the depression started to hit me, I felt as if I had no right to be depressed. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the richest or poorest person in the world, depression, anxiety or any mental health illnesses doesn’t discriminate and can happen to anyone. The important thing is knowing when you’re ready to talk to someone. We need to be proactive and get more funding for mental health by speaking our truths. Mental health is just as important as our physical health. My dream I’m working towards is starting a nonprofit organization where therapy is free or provided at a reduced cost regardless of income, insurance or immigration status. I want to have this foundation, so that if you want the help, we will provide the help without you have to worry about the financial aspect. I would also love to do community projects in lower income schools and get that conversation going in minority communities because it’s very taboo to talk about mental health and illness. I talk about my journey openly on IG and it hurts to think I was in that place and how I hurt myself and my family, but it is part of my recovery. My depression, anxiety or eating disorder don’t define me, I’ve become a more stronger person. September is suicide prevention month and also my birthday. Last June, I was hospitalized after attempting suicide, I was grateful to celebrate turning 25 and being alive. Women are more likely to attempt suicide, however men are four times more likely to actual die by suicide. It speaks volumes because asking for help should be okay and you shouldn’t be afraid to show emotion, that’s something we need to make okay, especially among men. I have come a long way and give a lot of credit to my therapist because it’s the therapy that has helped me get to this point. ”