Yashi Brown’s Mental Health Advocacy Work

Yashi Brown is a writer, poet, spoken word artist and passionate mental health advocate. After a rare disappearance at 24 years old, she was hospitalized for manic depression (bipolar) and vowed to keep her condition a secret. But once recovery became a reality, she broke her silence and began empowering other peers suffering alone with depression or any mental health challenge.

In 2013, she was invited by the White House to participate in President Obama’s National Dialogue on Mental Illness and recently received the administration’s SAMHSA Special Recognition Voice Award.

Yashi conducts poetry workshops at psychiatric locked facilities through her foundation project, People of Poetry (POP) and is especially excited to partner with The Campaign to Change Direction in changing the culture of mental health in America and worldwide by educating the public on the five signs of emotional pain.

Above all, Yashi wants the world to know recovery is real and demonstrates how the beautiful support team of family, friends, treatment, poetry, and her strong spirituality have been the keys to her success.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.  Find out more about SAMHSA!

Watch Yashi receive her award with mom, Rebbie Jackson and sister Stacy Brown!

The Campaign to Change Direction is to change the culture of mental health in America so that all of those in need receive the care and support they deserve. The Campaign encourages all Americans to pay attention to their emotional well-being – and it reminds us that our emotional well-being is just as important as our physical well-being.

In order to change our culture, we have to start with a common language, and here, Michelle Obama describes the five signs of emotional pain.

Learn more about The Campaign To Change Direction here!

Yashi also supports Project Return Peer Support Network!  PRPSN promotes wellness, personal growth and self-determination for people who have experienced mental illness by providing social opportunities, education, and community involvement. Their mission incorporates diversity, acceptance, advocacy and empowerment while encouraging people to transform their lives.

Learn more about Project Return Peer Support Network here!