Faith, Family & Mental Health: A Conversation with Sister Sayeedah
In this episode, we sit down with Atlanta-born Author and Advocate, Astrid Serika Ross, affectionately known as Sister Sayeedah. A mother, grandmother, suicide loss survivor, and fierce voice for mental health and education, Sister Sayeedah shares her journey of transforming personal tragedy into powerful advocacy.
As Executive Director of the Mental Health Support Network and a 20-year leader at the City of Knowledge Islamic School, she has dedicated her life to breaking the stigma around mental health, especially in communities of color. Certified through NAMI, a leader of the Gwinnett Comm-UNITY Mental Health Task Force, and a newly published author of children’s books on emotional wellness, her impact spans classrooms, communities, and policy circles.
In this conversation, she opens up about:
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Her journey as a suicide loss survivor and how she found purpose through pain
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The importance of early mental health education for children
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Her new children’s books that empower kids to embrace emotions
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Why representation and advocacy in politics and education matter more than ever
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Her vision for mental health equity across Georgia schools and beyond
This is a powerful episode for parents, educators, advocates, and anyone committed to transforming mental health in our communities.
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Astrid Ross
Educator/Mental Health Advocate/CPS-P/CIT-Y/Author
Atlanta born Author, Astrid Serika Ross, affectionately known as Sister Sayeedah, is a 55 year old mother of 5 adult children and 2 grandchildren. A Suicide Loss Survivor, Astrid is the Executive Director of her family’s nonprofit, Mental Health Support Network. Astrid is an Educational Leader and has been the Elementary/Middle School Principal and Preschool Director of the City of Knowledge Islamic School, a state licensed and accredited Montessori through 8thgrade private school, for the past 20 years. Astrid currently serves as the PTSA President at Berkmar High School and serves as the lead for the Gwinnett Comm-UNITY Mental Health Task Force working in partnership with the GCPS School Board chair to provide targeted free mental health educational programs and resource in Gwinnett County’s School District 5. Astrid is a Mental Health Educator for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) certified to teach Ending the Silence (a program geared toward mental health education for youth), In our own voices (a program aimed at changing attitudes about people with a MH condition), Sharing your story with law enforcement (a training for law enforcement to help remove stigma and preconceived notions about those with MH conditions), BASICS programs (a 6-week program for families of children with mental health or substance abuse challenges)
Astrid is a member of the Georgia Mental Health Policy Partnership (GMHPP), member of the Georgia Peer Policy Collective (GAPPC), Georgia Behavioral Health Services Coalition (GBHSC), is a Georgia state Certified Peer Specialis…
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