The magazine dedicated to destigmatizing mental health in Asian American communities.
​New issues released quarterly!

It's Real is taking a hiatus, please check our Instagram for more details! Feel free to head to our submissions page to submit your works, and we will review them as soon as we can!
SUBMISSIONS

Submission for the spring issue are officially open! Please visit our Submission Guidelines for more information on submitting, or submit directly here. ​
ABOUT
Founded in 2019, It's Real seeks to destigmatize mental health in Asian-American communities through art and writing. We have published sixteen issues since our inception. Find out more here!
MONTHLY MUSINGS
Simon Wu: Getting Triggered
April 2021
CW: Eating Disorders

“I’ve survived this once before, I can do it again.”
It’s frustrating to not have agency over your physical body. It’s even more frustrating to not understand when, how, or why that agency was lost.
Usually, I’ll know what triggers my body to reject its basic instincts. Sometimes it’s a location or a time of the year. Perhaps it’s a certain food, or a familiar bathroom stall (I remember each and every one). Maybe it’s staring in a mirror or watching myself on Zoom for too long. But sometimes, it’s nothing at all. No leads, no hints, no hope. Read more.
PRESS + UPDATES

A Conversation about ASAM Mental Health
May 2021

In honor of May being both AAPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, It's Real colaborated with Solace and Solidarity to host a discussion about mental health and wellness in the Asian American community. Find more updates and webinar recordings here.
It's Real stands in humble and unwavering support of Black Lives Matter, and related movements challenging recent and historical crimes against Black Americans, including Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Charleena Lyles, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Oluwaytoyin Salau, and countless others. As a non-BIPOC publication, we must stand in firm support of Black-led protests in all their forms.

To our non-black readers, we acknowledge the lack of Black Asians that have appeared in our publications, and we pledge to uphold the Black community as a whole by 1) matching donations to The Loveland Foundation, an organization specializing in and providing free therapy for the Black community; 2) pledging to feature and support Black art and artists on our social media; 3) updating our Resources page to provide consistent and continuous information regarding Black and Indigenous issues; and 4) updating our Midweek Musings blog to address the intersections of Asian and Black identity.

Our purpose in releasing this statement is aimed towards public accountability. We'd like to ask our readers not to share this statement, but the resources provided on our website, where we will highlight important resources shared by Black artists and activist - voices that should be forefronted in this time.

Thank you for your support. #BlackLivesMatter