Michael Vargas Arango created a podcast titled The Monsters We Create, sharing his experiences of growing up in Colombia and dealing with schizoaffective disorder. This chronic mental health condition combines symptoms of schizophrenia and mood disorders, affecting 3 in 1,000 people. He won a $5,000 scholarship for his compelling narrative. In a follow-up podcast, The Monsters We Saved, Vargas received heartfelt feedback from listeners who felt understood and requested multilingual adaptations, further emphasizing the podcast's impact as a source of support.
"I am not dangerous. I'm not crazy and I'm not delusional; I'm just one more guy with a mental health condition living with it."
"Many were from people with their own mental health conditions who talked about how his story made them feel understood and seen."
"Several listeners asked him to recreate his podcast in different languages, so his message could reach beyond English speakers."
"I felt like I was talking to myself in an earlier stage of my journey, having the opportunity to guide someone else on their own journey."
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