RACHEL’S STORY

I am a published author, activist, and Mental Health Awareness Community Advocate.

I hold a BBA from Baruch College with a focus on Human Resources Management and Accounting, along with a certification in Mental Health First Aid. But degrees and credentials aren’t why I started SPEAK.

I started SPEAK because I’ve lived it.

In August 2005, I was diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder. What followed was a long and difficult journey navigating treatment—trying multiple medications over several years, each bringing its own set of challenges and side effects. During that time, I was forced to step away from work, and when I returned, I was still struggling physically, mentally, and emotionally.

By 2008, everything came to a halt. I could no longer maintain a full-time schedule, and I found myself in a mental health crisis that led to hospitalization. I was overwhelmed, exhausted, and facing feelings I didn’t yet have the tools or support to process on my own. What I was experiencing felt isolating and, at times, impossible to explain.

There was a period in my life when things became very dark-when I felt completely disconnected, defeated, and unsure of how to move forward.

But something shifted.

Even in that darkness, there was a part of me that held on. A part of me that knew there had to be more—that my story couldn’t end there.

That moment didn’t fix everything overnight, but it sparked something powerful: awareness, honesty, and eventually, healing.

I began doing the hard work—being honest about my life, confronting what I had been through, and learning how to forgive myself. With the right support, community, and a commitment to my own wellness, I slowly started to rebuild.

And through that process, I discovered something I hadn’t fully seen before:

I have purpose.

That realization became the foundation for SPEAK Initiative, Inc.—Suicide Prevention through Empowerment, Action, and Kindness. What started as a personal turning point has grown into a community rooted in support, connection, and advocacy. Through SPEAK, we’ve created spaces for “SPEAKers,” “LISTENers,” and “Healers” to come together so no one has to navigate their hardest moments alone.

My journey has taught me that healing takes work. It takes persistence, trust, and deep self-examination. But it is possible.

Today, I am committed to living a healthy, intentional life—and to encouraging others to seek help, find their voice, and hold on to their purpose.

If you’re here—for yourself, for someone you love, or because you simply care—thank you. It means you value life.

You are not alone. It is not hopeless.

Let’s do this together.