RETHINK MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE PROFILES
Rethink Mental Health Advocates are individuals who are passionate about combatting the stigmas those with mental health issues face and debunking stereotypes around mental illness. They are passionate about the mission of Rethink Mental Health Incorporated and have a strong desire to leverage their platform for social good.
Below is a list of our ever-growing network of Advocates, including details on their relationship with mental health and our mission along with their website, blog or social media links.
Below is a list of our ever-growing network of Advocates, including details on their relationship with mental health and our mission along with their website, blog or social media links.
Meet Our ADVOCATES
Learn more about the Advocates of Rethink Mental Health Incorporated
and follow them on social media for more insights about their efforts to rethink mental health!
To inquire about booking one of our Advocates as a speaker or for an event contact support@rethinkstigma.org
and follow them on social media for more insights about their efforts to rethink mental health!
To inquire about booking one of our Advocates as a speaker or for an event contact support@rethinkstigma.org
AZA
About
During my teenage years I had manifested signs and symptoms of depression, but I didn't have the opportunity to access help from professionals since we are living in a remote town where mental health is not a priority. I have friends who have experienced the same. We are like a flock of broken people but here is the thing, I can see their great potential, they have talents.They believe in my capabilities too when I can't. I faced failures with courage knowing there are people who believed in me even when I doubt myself. I want to inspire everyone who suffers from mental disorders and everyone whose mental health are at risk that we matter and we those negativity does not define who you are. We are able and we will raise our flags! Social Media
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Leah Rheana Weeks
About
I have always dealt with depression, anxiety and in the past few years I’ve been dealing with PTSD. It’s been an uphill battle and I’ve never given up because I’ve always lived by the expression that it gets better because it does!! I want to use my story to help others! I want to use my story so people can understand that mental is so important! It’s never to late for help! Social Media
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Our next advocate!
About
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Shireen Aljundi
Youth Advocate & mental health SpeakerAbout
In 2013 Shireen was diagnosed with depression, anxiety and even ptsd. It was a journey and a roller coaster of emotions and experiences and it took her a really long time to ask for help. She had a hard time finding a good support system and she was not education about her own illness which made things more frustrating. Having overcome these common barriers, Shireen wants to helps others and inform our community on the importance of mental health so we can stop this stigma. People are losing their lives everyday due to mental health issues and one person can make a difference. She want to inspire people to not be ashamed of their mental health and promote how important it is. She want to make a change. Social Media
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KEVIN Johnson
Mental Health, Suicide Prevention & Empowerment SpeakerAbout
Kevin Johnson is the founder of a nonprofit organization that is committed to eradicating the stigma of mental illness, conveying awareness about bullying and its psychological effects, and augmenting efforts to prevent suicide. Kevin’s life mission has never wavered from his desire to educate, inspire, and motivate the masses to maximize their full potentials in life to avoid being held prisoners by their pasts. Kevin is a blogger, podcaster, and published author. His article, Chronic Poverty: The Factorial Implications of Bullying, Trauma, and Education in the Poverty-Stricken Population, is featured in the 2019 Special Edition of the European Journal of Educational Sciences. Kevin is the founder of DBSA Central Georgia, a Depression and Bipolar Support Group affiliated with the national Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. He is a field advocate with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and a member of the Georgia Education Committee. Social Media
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Fabiola Ciarleglio
Mental health & Positivity bloggerAbout
Fabriola advocates for mental health to spread positivity and help people know they aren't alone and that it's ok not to be ok. She strives to influence mental health improvements and does so by blogging on a separate instagram account about mental health. SOCIAL MEDIA
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CalVIN LONG
Published Mental Health Author & Social Anxiety AdvocateAbout
In 2019, Calvin published Mile Behind the Smile, Rediscovering Our Happiness Through Embracing Our Stories. In this book, Calvin shares a compilation of stories from people who have been able to overcome varying mental health struggles & were able to find genuine happiness through acts of kindness, selflessness, service, and love. With this book, Calvin wanted to show the strength and healing that comes with being vulnerable and open with our stories. He is an advocate for growing from our pasts, not allowing our mental health to weigh us down in the natural progression of life and happiness. After struggling with social anxiety since middle school, Calvin has learned the importance of seeking solace and using his story as a vehicle to support others. Everyone has a story to tell, no matter the ups and downs. Let our stories be a lighthouse that guides others through the storm. Social Media
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Amy Watkins
Mental Health Support and perseverance BloggerAbout
Amy has had her blog "Daisies and Bruises" for almost two years, and she couldn't imagine life without it. Only three years ago, she was sexually assaulted, and less than a year later, after finally opening up, she fell into a deep depression. She was diagnosed with depression and PTSD, for which she was given counseling, medication and extra support. But none of that came close to the support she received once she started her blog. It became a journal, allowing her to express her emotions, whilst supporting others along the way. Amy is committed to normalizing mental health in day to day life. She believes everyone has a purpose, and should be told so. Amy knows what it feels like to almost give up, to wake up in the morning and wish you were dead. She pulled herself through that, worked hard to make a name for her blog and herself, and never felt so good in her twenty two years. She believes that with support from people who have been through it, that others can come out on top and make a name and life for themselves also. Social Media
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Jacqui Jones
College and YOuth Mental Health AdvocateAbout
Jacqui became a Rethink Mental Health Advocate because she has been personally affected by mental illness and the stigma that is often associated with it. She strives to be an inspiration to those with mental heath issues, especially children and young adults, and let them know that they are not alone. As the president of a mental health club on her college campus and a student wellness ambassador, she has experience leading and helping others. She is passionate about eliminating the mental health inequities many communities face in regards to cultural stigma as she also an international student and has faced stigma from her own cultural background. Affirmations
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Charles Ituah
Nigerian Mental Health and mindfulness AdvocateABOUT
Growing up I have always been passionate about living a healthy lifestyle. I had my own fair share of depressive episodes but my defining moment was when I gave my to Jesus, He took away all the pressure away from me. I now advocate strongly for the enlightenment of proper mental health and how people can be able to live life without the fear of being stigmatized just because they are going through a series of mental health issues. Meditation, Yoga, Mindfulness has been a daily practice for me to realign myself to the present moment and I try not to live life worried about little matters. My mental health is very important to me and I protect it with a strong heart. I advocate for mental health because I want to see other people living life without fear of being judged because they might have a mental health issue. SOCIAL MEDIA
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Lisa Kift
Licensed Therapist and mental health BloggerABOUT
Lisa supports the notion of de-stigmatizing mental health issues so more people will come forward for help and reach out for support from friends, family and their community. Lisa has a very popular website called LoveAndLifeToolbox.com with a focus on emotional health and relationships, newsletter and am active in social media. Additionally, she is a licensed Marriage And Family Therapist with working with individuals and couples. SOCIAL MEDIA
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Frank Arias
ADvocate for Suicide Prevention and supporting othersABOUT
My name is Frank Arias and I have been advocating for mental health for a while . I have been through a lot of losses in my life and have been there for my friends and family as a help and someone that they can come to and listen. I went through a personal list of a friend which had started my journey into the awareness of mental health. I have someone close to me with bi-polar symptoms and I have personally have seen what it can do to a person if someone does not stop and tries to help . Please let stop the stigma of people not being aware that this is real and it can happen to the best of us SOCIAL MEDIA
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NATASHA NAFRINI
Millennial Mom Influencer, Blogger, and VloggerABOUT
Natasha is Mom Influencer, Blogger, and Vlogger. Her focus is to discuss parenting issues and bring awareness to Mental Health with New Millennial mothers, like herself. Mental Health issues run in her family and she sought therapy to overcome postpartum depression and to learn how to manage her anxiety. She can relate personally to the stigmas of mental health and hope to help combat it by influencing a healthy dialogue about mental health. SOCIAL MEDIA
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Samantha Foster
Non-profit Founder & mental health Curriculum developerABOUT
My mental health journey brought me to the creation of Rethink Mental Health Incorporated after a major turning point in my life. At the age of 22 I was finally given the correct diagnosis, detoxed from medications I had been wrongly prescribed, and learned about therapies and life-practices that could (and ultimately did) improve my mental wellbeing and quality of life. I went from rock-bottom hopelessness about never being "normal" to a sense of empowerment that gave me the hope and motivation I was previously lacking to take charge of my mental health. That empowerment is what I hope to spread through our educational and advocacy initiatives at Rethink Mental Health Incorporated. As a result, more people can speak openly about what they are going through or seek the professional help they need without fear of stigmatization, discrimination or harassment. As a result, our society can accept that it is OK to NOT be OK! SOCIAL MEDIA
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Melissa Manfredi
ADvocate and ally for mental heatlh supportABOUT
Melissa first started her mental health journey 5 years ago after getting out of an abusive relationship. She had struggled with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. On top of that, she also has ADD. Melissa sought professional help and found an amazing support team. Every day is still a challenge but it's always worth going through knowing that each day is getting better. SOCIAL MEDIA
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Victoria Brammer
Mental Health Advocate for support and Personal GrowthAbout
Victoria has personal as well as professional experience in roles as a coach, mentor, and trainer. She has always been able to find different ways to relate to others, and she finds the most joy in helping others become/achieve what they want/need. She has studied behavioral intelligence for her own growth and has found the more she learns and practices the more she is able to understand others with an open mind. Over the years Victoria has been through a mental/emotional roller coaster and she wouldn't have gotten to where she is now without the advocates that supported her. This is why she strives to advocate for others in return! Affirmations
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JOSH ROITBERG
Advocate for mental health recovery and spiritual supportABOUT
Josh has both worked in the mental health field and experienced mental health issues first hand. His professional experience has driven his empathy for others and his personal experience has motivated him to actively work on his own recovery. Through both of those experiences, Josh has learned valuable information and advice that he wants to share to help other people. Josh hopes to be of service to this cause that he feels passionate about and wants to help change the way people receive mental health support in a progressive way moving forward. Josh also has a special focus the spiritual and holistic approach to mental health support through activities like inner work and observing/changing personal habits. SOCIAL MEDIA
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Sarah Duffy
American mental Health Advocate for TeensABOUT
Sarah is currently 16 years old and has struggled with anxiety and depression from a young age. Her personal experiences have motivated her to bring attention to the stigma surrounding mental health because she believes it discourages people like herself from getting help. She’s actively advocated for mental health in many ways, including publishing an editorial on this issue in the Capital and beginning plans for a ‘March for Mental Health Awareness’ in her city for the coming year. Between having personally struggled with mental illness and having seen 3 teen suicides in her area go without the awareness and support they deserved, helping to end the stigma of mental illness is very important to her. SOCIAL MEDIA
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Samantha Santos
supporting and destigmatizing Mental HealthAbout
Samantha has struggled with depression since high school. She wants to share with people that it is okay to take prescribed medicine for your mental health and to share with people the challenges she has faced. She wants people to know that it is okay to not be okay. That they are not alone. She can be someone for them to reach out to at anytime. She loves to share her outfits with her followers and talk to them about mental health since not many do on social media. Social Media
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Martyn Hale
Advocate for Mental Health & AlcOholism recoveryAbout
Martyn Hale is an actor raised in Alma, Michigan by his loving grandparents. At the age of 17 Martyn moved to Los Angeles to start his career in acting. But over time, he found himself drinking alcohol more and more, until he ultimately burned bridges with his agent, fell into financial hardships, found himself in and out of jail, and became homeless. It was then that he decided to move back to Michigan and under the supportive care of his grandfather joined AA and took healthy, productive steps towards his recovery. Today, he finds himself over a year sober and working hard to secure acting auditions once again. His road to recovery was not easy, but his motivated mindset and the guidance of AA has kept him on a positive path. Social Media
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CORINNE DECOST
PTSD, DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY ADVOCATEAbout
Corinne suffered with PTSD, depression and anxiety for years without knowing what she was going through. During her last semester of college she was hospitalized for suicidal thoughts and finally received the diagnosis, medications and therapies needed to improve her mental health and thrive. Her goal is to support others in their mental health journey, especially as it may relate to survivors of sexual assault. Social Media
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- Other people don't define you - Keep being you - Be quirky; be strong - Love and be loved |
GAbrielle Pattinson
Advocate for Eating Disorders, Anxiety and DepressionAbout
Gabrielle battled with anxiety and depression along with an eating disorder from a very young age. Her senior year of high school she met her now husband whose support helped bring her back from "rock bottom" and as a result she began her road to recovery, including celebrating 9 years of no longer having an eating disorder. She works really hard to not let anxiety rule her life and has been in a much better place over the last couple years because of coping mechanism she found work for her. She wants to be a more helpful person to those who need someone to look to for ideas on how to get to a better place too. Social Media
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TAMISHA FRANCOIS
ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVING SELF-AWARENESS AND EMPATHYAbout
Tamisha has always worked to leave a powerful, positive impact. She has experience working as a Direct Care Counselor at Advocates Inc in a group home setting allowing her to form meaningful relationships with people and supporting them in their mental health challenges. Her personal experience with PTSD is very useful in providing guidance and encouraging independence. In every conversation and interaction, Tamisha strives to add value and build others. She sees the person underneath the behaviors caused by mental health issues and hopes to spread this empathetic perspective to others. Social Media
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NATHAN SMITH
BLOGGER: LEARNING TO LIVE WITH YOUR MENTAL HEALTHAbout
Nathan was interested in becoming a Rethink Mental Health Advocate because he believes that reducing the mental health stigma and sharing experiences with mental health are two of the best ways we can affect change, and being an Advocate would allow him to do those things well. We achieve so much more together than on our own, and he wants to bring that same attitude and energy to Rethink. Social Media
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Megane JaCques
Canadian Advocate for Teen mental healthAbout
Megane was diagnosed with severe anxiety, developed a major depression, all related to her giftedness. She also has friends who have various mental health difficulties and she's seen the impacts that struggling can have on youth's life. Megan knows that it's possible to get through it with the proper help and tips, which is why she advocates for mental health solutions for teenagers across Canada and the world. The statistics and recents facts regarding teenagers' health are alarming to her and she strongly believes something has to be done and now! After all, today's teens are the future. Social Media
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Charles Marshall
Mental Health youtuber and motivational speakerABOUT
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Olivia Shepherd
mental health advocate for african american womenAbout
Olivia experienced trauma from a young age, but found her mental health struggles silenced and invalidated by stigmas in the African American community and even healthcare professionals for years. Upon reaching a breaking point, she took herself to a psychiatric hospital where she finally got the treatment and advice she needed to begin a road towards recovery and mental wellness. Olivia deeply understands all the stigma around mental illness! As such, she has been very vocal about her experiences and tries to reach and teach to as many people as she can about mental health! Social Media
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Whitney Hall
Suicide Survivor & Mental Health messaging AdvocateAbout
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Desiree Baxter
mental health advocate through self-care & MindfulnessAbout
Desiree became a Rethink Mental Health Advocate because she knows how important it is to bring awareness to society about how we can further improve our mental health. She would like to be a stepping stone to those who are quiet about it and who feel like they have no one to turn to. Through her platforms, she shares self help tips and focuses on areas of meditation and mindfulness. She hopes to help people find empowerment and motivation from the darkness they may face in life, and be the best person they can be, for themselves! Social Media
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Natalie Swatowski
Mental Health Blogger: taking control of our mental healthAbout
When Natalie dealt with severe depression during her late teens, she struggled to find helpful online resources. She wanted resources that both identified with the struggle of depression and provided a light at the end of the tunnel. After dealing with severe depression for four years, Natalie committed to a two year battle to get better. Now that Natalie has successfully learned to manage her depression, she hopes to inspire others to keep fighting. She currently runs a blog where she tells her story, offers advice, and shares her thoughts through a mental health lense. With the help of her blog, Natalie combats the shame often felt by the stigma on mental health and empowers others to take care of their mental health. Social Media
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