October 2024 Luncheon: Inspiring Fireside Chat with April Simpkins on Mental Health and Suicide Awareness
Submitted by Julie Pruett, Marlboro Development Team
April Simpkins, a dynamic advocate for mental health, spoke at CREW Charlotte’s October luncheon. April is certified in QPR Suicide Prevention Training, Mental Health First Aid, and Emotional CPR. After the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst, who battled depression, April co-authored the deeply moving memoir By The Time You Read This: The Space Between Cheslie’s Smile and Mental Illness, now a New York Times bestseller. At the luncheon, April shared powerful insights from her story and highlighted important mental health resources.
April emphasized that there were two emotions she refused to allow on her grief journey: guilt and blame. “You cannot blame an illness,” she explained, focusing instead on gratitude for the 30 years she had with Cheslie. She also addressed the coping mechanism of staying “busy” and the importance of transferring grief from the mind to the heart, urging the audience to truly feel their grief in order to heal. April credited empathetic women leaders and her close-knit community of friends for supporting her through her grief, reminding us all not to be afraid to lean on others.
April stressed the importance of speaking openly and frequently with children about mental health, ensuring they feel seen and heard. She advised against talking at your children about your own experiences, which may not resonate with the challenges they face today. Instead, she encouraged teaching children that it’s okay not to be okay, while guiding them toward healthy coping strategies, such as expressing their emotions and identifying next steps.
To best support others, April recommended familiarizing yourself with helpful resources, such as:
– National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
– Dial 988 – Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
– Emotional CPR resources on AprilSimpkins.com
No Comments