Beneath The Brave

You can be the strong one in every room and still feel fragile when you’re alone.

Dependable and depleted.

Capable and overwhelmed.

High-functioning anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder - they don’t always look chaotic.

Sometimes they look competent.

And that’s what makes it dangerous.

Because when you hide it well, people assume you’re fine.

And when people assume you’re fine, you stop getting the support you need.

You don’t need to fall apart publicly to justify asking for help.

If it’s affecting your energy, your relationships, your sleep, your ability to feel present...

It matters.

What’s the phrase you use to downplay what you’re carrying? 🤔

⤵️ Drop it below.

Sometimes you've got to take the good with the bad. 🤷

Seeking out the wins has helped me shift the lens through which I see the world.

Does that take time? YES ✅

Is my mental illness an inconsiderate jerk? YES ✅

Is my life worth fighting for? 10,000% YES ✅

You can be struggling and still not know how to say a single word about it.

Asking for help is hard.

❌ That’s not weakness. That’s reality.

If you’ve ever held back, felt insecure, minimized what’s really going on, or talked around the part that mattered most...I'm right there with you.

That’s exactly why I created this FREE 8-page guide.

📝 How to Ask for Help: Even When You Don’t Have the Words

Inside, I'm showing you how to put words to:

➜ What’s been going on
➜ How it’s affecting you
➜ What you actually need

Grab it here 👇

How to Ask for Help | Even When You Don't Have the Words Struggling to ask for help? This practical guide shows you how to put your feelings into words, communicate clearly, and get the support you need.

Grateful to be part of such a strong kickoff in Tucson, thank you PSHRA Chapter Arizona for having me! 🎉

I look forward to continuing the conversation in Tempe this week: "Psychological Safety in Action: Helping HR Respond Confidently When Mental Health Enters the Conversation" 🙌

Here’s the truth: teens rarely raise their hands and say, “I need help.”

More often, it shows up in ways we don’t immediately recognize:

⚡ A sudden drop in grades

⚡ Pulling away from friends or family

⚡ Changes in sleep, eating, or energy

⚡ Anger or irritability that seems out of nowhere

These aren’t just “teenage moods.”

Sometimes, there are red flags that a young person is struggling with their mental health.

That’s where Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) comes in. Once you know what to look for, you can take action.

MHFA gives parents, teachers, coaches, and community leaders the skills to:

✅ Spot early warning signs of a mental health or substance use challenge

✅ Understand when “normal teen stuff” might actually be a cry for help

✅ Connect youth to the right support without guessing or waiting too long

JOIN ME THIS WEEK FOR MY NEXT VIRTUAL YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING!

📅 Date: Friday, September 19th

⏰ Time: 8 AM PST

💻 Where: Live Online Training

👉 We only have a few seats left, so grab your spot now! https://www.beneaththebrave.com/event-details/virtual-youth-mhfa-course-9-19-2025

VIRTUAL YOUTH MHFA COURSE 9/19/2025 | Beneath The Brave Youth Mental Health First Aid certification, which must be renewed every three years, teaches ADULTS to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges impacting youth. Participants will apply the appropriate steps of the Youth Mental Health Action Plan to crisis and non-crisis situatio...

I dare you to step back into your life. To fully experience it.

Can you imagine if we all had the courage to live in the present, even when it’s tough?

Eeeek…I know.

It’s something I’m constantly working on. Like, ALL THE TIME.

Have you ever caught yourself saying:

🤔 I’ll be happy when…

🤔 Life would be easier if…

🤔 Once I make X amount of money…

🤔 I’ll spend more time with my family after…

🤔 After I get that promotion…

If not, don’t worry, I’ve said them all!!

The problem?

When we focus only on outcomes, achievements, and future milestones, we miss life itself.

Even more dangerously, we start equating our worth with those outcomes.

Am I suggesting we toss our goals and dreams aside?

Nope.

Should we stop setting intentions and creating systems for success?

Also nope.

But when we only focus on results, we rob ourselves of the moments that get us there.

Years ago, I had a thought that shook me.

“When I die, they’ll put my resume on my headstone.”

That scared me.

At that very moment, I realized my accomplishments had replaced experiencing my life.

So, how do we step back into our lives?

Here are 4 things I do RELIGIOUSLY:

✅ Take time off. WITHOUT GUILT. Vacation days aren’t trophies. Use them!

✅ Reconnect with nature. I’m a sunshine gal, so I do my very best to get outside and feel the ground beneath me.

✅ Write it down. I need to make space in my busy mind. And when I put my thoughts on paper, it gives me perspective and clarity.

Now, it’s your turn…

How do YOU step back into your life and actually live in the moment?

It's okay to talk about su***de. I promise. 🩵💜

We don’t need to sugarcoat it or dance around the word because we’re afraid of the stigma it carries when it leaves our lips.

Su***de isn’t a bad word, and if we keep treating it like one, we’ll miss out on opportunities for connection, prevention, and intervention.

I'm not alone in knowing all too well the pain when a loved one dies by su***de.

(See what I did there? I said the word. And that’s okay.) 🫶

If we sidestep conversations about su***de, we might unintentionally close the door on someone who is trying to share what they’re going through or ask for help.

After losing too many people to su***de, I became a certified instructor in QPR Su***de Prevention Gatekeeper Training so we can collectively learn how to offer support and intervene.

I care about this training because I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is when people feel equipped to step in instead of stepping back.

📅 Thursday, September 18th (Virtual)
🕙 10:00am – 12:00pm PST

QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) is like CPR, but for mental health. In just two hours, you’ll gain practical tools to:
✅ Recognize the warning signs of su***de
✅ Ask direct, compassionate questions
✅ Connect someone to life-saving support

Su***de prevention doesn’t belong only to experts...it belongs to all of us!

💜 This is a training that EVERYONE needs. 🩵

I hope you'll join me on September 18th for a powerful discussion about how we can show up when it matters most!

***depreventionmonth

QPR Su***de Prevention Gatekeeper Training Ask a question. Save a life. Join me on 9/18/2025. By increasing awareness and knowledge about su***de prevention, QPR Gatekeeper Training empowers participants to be proactive in reaching out to those who may be struggling and guiding them toward the help they need.

When people take a Mental Health First Aid course, everything changes.

They stop second-guessing themselves when someone opens up.

They stop worrying about “saying the wrong thing.”

Instead, they listen with confidence and know how to help someone struggling with their mental health.

That's life-changing.

That's life-saving.

Mental Health First Aid certification is for ANYONE who wants the skills to support a friend, co-worker, or loved one through a mental health or substance use challenge.

By the end of MHFA, you’ll be able to:

💬 Spot the signs of mental health or substance use challenges
🛠 Respond in the moment with empathy and proven strategies
🤝 Connect someone to the right help without feeling lost for words

If you want to move past “I don’t know what to say” and into “I know exactly how to show up,” this training is for you.

Don't just take my word for it...hear from past attendees. 🎊

⛑️ Upcoming virtual Mental Health First Aid course dates:
- August 21
- September 9, 19, 23
- October 8, 21

Sign up for a course and get your 3-year certification through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing! www.beneaththebrave.com/mhfa