About Nina Barber
Nina Barber is the Executive Director of the Norooz Clinic Foundation, a non-profit mental health clinic located in Santa Ana, CA. The Norooz Clinic Foundation provides affordable and accessible mental health services to underserved communities. Nina has been an integral part of the Norooz Clinic Foundation since 2012, dedicating the past 12 years to combating mental health stigmas within our communities. She has achieved this through the development and execution of numerous low-cost and pro-bono therapy programs at the clinic.
Nina holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the California State University, Fullerton, and a Juris Doctor Degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. With her legal expertise, Nina is on track to become a licensed attorney upon successfully completing the California Bar Exam. In addition to her legal and non-profit pursuits, she is an entrepreneur, running her own jewelry business and media production company. She has also taught legal research and writing as an adjunct professor in a paralegal program.
Questions:
What does mental health mean to you?
To me, mental health isn’t just about a single tragedy or life-changing event. It’s a culmination of adversities and our ability to be resilient. It extends beyond one person; it’s about a community coming together to reduce stigmas and educate others so that mental health isn’t seen as a taboo topic or something negative. Most importantly, we each have our own journey and story to share, so we must remember to be empathetic toward one another.
Why the Norooz Clinic Foundation (NCF)?
At the Norooz Clinic Foundation, you receive straightforward, no-nonsense therapy without any red tape, long wait times, or high fees. We provide affordable, accessible, high-quality therapy and are dedicated to reducing mental health stigmas in the community. Our team is caring and goes above and beyond for not only clients but also for each other.
Tell your personal story about how your mental health has impacted your life. How did
you cope with it or overcame it?
I came to the United States when I was 8 years old without knowing a single word of English. Growing up in two completely different cultures, I experienced firsthand the confusion of my identity. Was I American or Vietnamese? Could I speak English properly, or would I forget Vietnamese? These uncertainties led to extreme loneliness and a deep sense of discomfort. I didn’t understand what mental health was until I was older and recognized that I was experiencing severe depression and anxiety.
I remember crying alone on a bench after school in 4th grade because I was bullied and felt so out of place. My first panic attack happened as a sophomore in high school when I felt the world didn’t understand me, and I coped with the intense emotional pain by cutting my arm with scissors. It felt as if I was dying. At 17, I remember wanting to die one night when my ex-boyfriend, drunk and enraged, started driving recklessly, screaming at me, and punching the car. I felt my life was in danger and felt so helpless. At one point, I weighed only 88 lbs due to extreme anxiety and stress, which made it really hard for me to eat a normal meal. In my early 20s, I struggled with extreme depression and suicidal thoughts. At 21, after ending an emotionally abusive relationship, I looked up the quickest ways to die due to severe depression. These are just a few of the experiences that led me to seek therapy and work towards a better life.
What helped me improve was recognizing the need for therapy. Through my involvement with the Norooz Clinic Foundation, I learned that seeking help was okay and that discussing mental health openly is important. Over the years, I discovered that there are plenty of support and resources available for anyone struggling.
I did not let my traumatic past hinder my ability to live my life and achieve success. I hope my story and resilience can inspire other young adults currently struggling with their mental health to reach out and start their own recovery journey.
