When I decided to bring mental health awareness to the big screen in Times Square, people asked me, “Why there? Why spend so much?” My answer was simple—because there is no price tag on saving a life. There’s no cost too high for a message that might stop someone from ending their story too soon.
For me, this isn’t just another campaign. It’s personal. I’ve been an advocate for mental health since 2013, the year my own world came crashing down. I went through a mental health crisis that changed me forever. I learned that healing isn’t a straight line—it’s a lifelong process. The truth is, you never fully “get over” mental health struggles. You learn to manage them, to understand your triggers, and to give yourself grace when the dark days return. A bad day can pass, but a mental health episode feels like being trapped in your own mind with no way out.
That’s why I chose Times Square. It’s a place where millions of people look up—people from all walks of life. Maybe someone in that crowd is quietly fighting a battle no one sees. Maybe they’ll look up, see the message, and realize that their pain is valid—that they’re not broken, they’re human.
Too often, society treats mental health like an invisible problem. We tell people to “shake it off” or “just stay positive.” But having a mental health condition isn’t the same as having a bad day. One fades with time; the other takes work, patience, and understanding.
If you ever encounter someone in crisis, please—don’t turn away. Here’s what you can do:
Do:
• Listen without judgment.
• Let them know you’re there.
• Encourage them to seek help or call 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
• Stay with them if they’re in immediate danger.
• Follow up later—your care can mean everything.
Don’t:
• Don’t minimize their pain.
• Don’t tell them to “get over it.”
• Don’t leave them alone if they’ve mentioned suicide.
• Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
When I saw my message light up in Times Square, I felt something shift inside me. It wasn’t pride—it was peace. Because even if it only reached one person, one soul who needed to hear it, that’s enough. Awareness saves lives. And to me, that’s priceless.