05/16/2025
I’ll never forget when I decided to run toward the pain that changed my family’s life forever. I returned to grad school after already having a career and made a choice to transform the darkness to Light 💡.
In this photo I was presenting on my graduate research of the effects on family survivors of su***de. What started off as a curious passion to help others, in some ways became my own addiction to save others from preventable suffering. It’s been a heavy and meaningful 10 years. Only a close few of us really know how intense the journey has been. Many of us that set out to make a significant difference still carry the invisible battle scars in our hearts and in our minds as we held space for those in need and walked alogside them through the fires navigating uncharted waters.
Out of great tragedy (4 teens and 1 teacher’s su***des) my team developed Prepare U, which has become the model internationally for what is possible in preventive mental health education. With a perfect record in su***de prevention for the past 8 years, I am humbled and thankful for the trust that teens, educators, and parents have given us throughout North America. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that has helped us light our torch and continues to spread light and hope . 🙏
Behind the scenes we have been evolving bringing my prior work and initiatives in mental health together with the past 10 years of work on the ground to expand greater emotional intelligence throughout the Americas with Prepare U Pro. (www.prepareupro.com)
The world has changed a lot over the past 10 years. The next 10 will change even more. What won’t change is that when we choose to be a light, open our hearts, and to be a good neighbor the darkness will fade away. 🕯️ ✨
(Pictured - Founder Ryan G. Beale)
