WELCOME

If you have found this page, know your'e not alone. My story, isn't unique nor does it come wrapped in a happy ending. Like so many others, it is filled with hurt, disappointment, pain, and and a unwavering desire for change. I share our journey, in the hope that it helps others find healing and strength in their own. And if our paths ever cross, may it be because your voice became the loudest in the room-strong, brave and impossible to ignore!

Authentic Self

Get to Know Me

My name is Irisha, and I’m a mother of three — a title that has shaped every part of who I am. My oldest son lives with schizophrenia, a complex and often misunderstood illness that has changed the way I see the world.

For over two decades, I’ve worked in healthcare, dedicating my life to helping others. But nothing could have prepared me for the reality of navigating the mental health system as a mother. The journey has been filled with heartbreak, strength, and an unshakable determination to fight for my son — and for countless families like ours.

Through Unheard Not Broken, I share our real and raw experiences — not for sympathy, but for awareness, advocacy, and hope. My goal is to push for better resources, adaptable laws, and more compassion for those living with mental illness and the families who love them.

The Feed

The Diagnosis That Shattered Our World

“I believe your son is schizophrenic.” That was the day a diagnoses shattered my world. I’ll never forget. The physician looked at me calmly through the screen, her voice steady but heavy with weight. “I can’t formally diagnose him yet — it will take several months of observation.” Even though I’d heard the word schizophrenia before, I didn’t fully understand what it meant. But I knew enough to know it wasn’t good. I sat in stunned silence, trying to absorb her words, but my

Oct 233 min read

First Psychotic Break...

“Mom, I’m scared!” Those words still haunt me today. Etched into my memory forever, I will never forget the day my son had his first psychotic break. It was a Saturday morning, and I was at the mall shopping. Like most weekends, this was the only time I had to run errands and decompress from a busy week. Coffee in one hand, shopping bag in the other, I was walking into a store when my phone rang. Thinking it was nothing urgent, I casually answered the call from my son. But it

Oct 153 min read

The Early Signs of Mental Illness

To tell our story, I have to start at the beginning. I was 18 years old when I had my son—just a baby myself, really. We grew up together. I wasn’t handed a parenting guidebook, though many times I felt like I needed one. I quickly learned I’d make mistakes along the way, stumbling through the early days of motherhood. My son was like most babies—colicky, restless at night, and for the first few months, I experienced what felt like endless sleep deprivation. As he grew out of

Oct 93 min read