Pacific Pathway was born from lived experience.
As the founder, I want to be transparent about why this work matters so deeply to me.
For most of my life, I’ve battled depression and anxiety. Raised in a strict LDS household by first-generation immigrant parents, mental health was never something we talked about. When I tried to express my struggles, I was often met with responses like:
“What does a teenager have to be depressed about?” or “Pray and ask Heavenly Father for guidance.”
So, I did what many in our communities do — I masked my pain.
Then came 2016 — a year that changed everything.
I lost my aunt to cervical cancer. I underwent emergency surgery related to my weight that left me in chronic pain. And shortly after, my long-term relationship came to an end.
This series of losses pushed me into a spiral, and for the next three years, I turned to drugs as a way to cope.
I didn’t have access to therapy or medication. I was told that rehab and counseling were “for white people,” and that I should be strong enough to handle it on my own. But I wasn’t. And that’s okay.
What got me through wasn’t shame or silence — it was love, healing, and finally, access to the right resources.
I’ve now been sober for over six years. I still live with depression and anxiety, but through therapy and the right support, I’ve discovered a level of mental wellness I didn’t know was possible.
Now, I’m building the thing I wish I had back then.
Pacific Pathway is my commitment to you — to Polynesian women, to Pacific Islanders, to all women in underserved communities.
We are creating safe, inclusive spaces where mental health is no longer taboo, and where no one is left to struggle alone. Whether you’re navigating trauma, addiction, or just need a place to feel heard, we’re here for you.
Our mission is to break the silence, remove the stigma, and build a path to healing—together.
– Winona Ripley