“You Don’t Have to Overcome It Alone”
How the On My Mind Podcast Helped Javier Find His Voice and His Calm
At just 17 years old, Javier is already an actor, playwright, radio presenter and mental health advocate. From the historic centre of Guatemala City, where he lives with his parents, grandmother and aunt, Javier is charting an inspiring path - not just in the arts, but also in the realm of mental health awareness for Guatemalan youth.
Raised in a family where both parents are trained psychologists, Javier has grown up in a home where mental health is not just acknowledged but openly discussed.
“With my mum and dad, it’s always been a regular topic,” he says, “We talk about things like anxiety or loss. I know that not everyone has that kind of environment, so I feel really lucky, and I try to share that openness with others.”
That maturity shines through in the way he reflects on his own mental health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools shut down and the theatres that once gave him joy went dark, Javier struggled with the isolation and monotony of lockdown life. “I did not feel okay,” he recalls, “I was getting bad grades. I didn’t have an outlet to escape.”
But his response was deeply creative. Drawing on his artistic instincts, Javier wrote and staged an original play entitled La Cruz del Adiós: Duelo y Ausencia en Semana Santa (The Cross of Goodbye: Grief and Absence in Holy Week), inspired by Guatemala’s Holy Week traditions, tackling the heavy theme of grief and faith. “The play was about someone going through a crisis of faith after losing a loved one,” he explains, “Even though I haven’t lost anyone close to me, writing that play helped me process a fear I carry: the fear of loss. I poured myself into it.”
The play, complete with live music, a full cast and a deeply moving storyline, became a turning point. For Javier, it was not just about creating art. It was a way to make sense of emotion, find healing and invite others into an important conversation. “There’s a scene where the mother writes a final letter to her son. That moment still makes me emotional,” he says. “It helped me understand that we carry people with us even when they’re no longer here.”
In 2024, Javier discovered the On My Mind podcast, part of a partnership between UNICEF and Spotify to support adolescent mental health. Originally invited to promote the podcast on social media, Javier quickly became a listener and advocate. “What got my attention,” he says, “was that UNICEF approached the topic not as a taboo. They talked about mental health as something normal and something that’s part of everyday life.”
According to Javier, mental health remains a sensitive topic in many parts of Guatemala, particularly outside urban centres.
“There’s still this idea that if you go to a psychologist, you must be crazy,” Javier explains, “But the podcast gives us tools, like breathing exercises, that help us calm down and reflect. It makes mental health feel approachable.”
The On My Mind podcast features episodes on anxiety, grief, healthy relationships and emotional well-being. For Javier, several episodes hit close to home, especially the ones on mourning and anxiety. “I haven’t lost anyone close to me,” he says, “but I’ve written about it, and I know the fear of losing someone. The episode helped me realize that there’s no way to prepare for it, but there are ways to understand and honour the person who has passed on.”
One of his favorite episodes included simple breathing techniques. “It’s a way to change your perspective,” he explains, “Sometimes you’re so focused on stress, you forget what you’ve learned. The podcast is always there to remind you.”
Javier speaks passionately about the importance of reaching other young people, especially those who may never set foot in a therapist’s office. “Mental health isn’t just an interest. It’s a need,” he insists. “It would be great to find ways for it to reach indigenous communities in more rural areas where they don’t necessarily have access to Spotify or mental health tools in general. I know not everyone will listen to a full podcast episode, but I still share it with others as I can pass on what I learn to my classmates and friends.”
Thanks to his involvement with UNICEF Guatemala through initiatives like U-Report and advocacy campaigns, Javier has become a peer educator in his own right. Whether through creative storytelling, school conversations, or social media, he’s breaking down stigmas around mental health, one conversation at a time.
“I’d love for On My Mind to become a video podcast,” he says with a smile, “That way it can reach more people, especially on social media, where it would have the most reach.” Javier is currently preparing to study communications at his university of choice, and he has made it part of his mission to make mental health more accessible. “I hope mental health care can be accessible for everyone someday,” he says, “And I’ll do whatever I can to help make that happen.”
