Stories of Hope and Recovery

Patty thinks that the world is populated with survivors and knows that sharing stories is an important part of tapping into that network.

"I think it’s important for me to tell my story because people survive all kinds of things...What I’ve seen coast to coast, if a person is a survivor, it’s important that people should know that."

Jordan, a suicide attempt survivor, says he was better able to cope with his depression once he accepted it.

"It's important to have a healthy emotional balance...[and] the best way to find that is to know yourself…know what makes you happy."

For Grace, all it took was one day for her to change her life and her mindset. Grace is the founder of the Best Day Project, a LGBTQIA youth suicide prevention web series.

"I challenged myself from that day to just be the exact kind of person I want to be and live the exact kind of life I want to, and it’s just–it was up to me to do it. So, I just started living for the day, just enjoying everything I could [and] really making good decisions."

Keris, a former National Alliance on Mental Illness Board President, relies on a full schedule to help her lead a healthy lifestyle.

"My plan is just to keep busy…I just keep busy and make my work worthwhile."