This episode is sponsored by:
I’m honored to welcome Elliot Kallen to the Lead with Heart Podcast. Elliot is the president and co-founder of A Brighter Day, a nonprofit organization that has turned the devastating loss of his teenage son into a powerful mission to prevent teen suicide and offer hope to thousands of families.
In this deeply moving and empowering conversation, Elliot shares how his nonprofit is supporting 3,000–6,000 families each month with free mental health toolkits, a 24/7 teen crisis text line, and Zoom counseling sessions. We explore how emotional intelligence, real communication, and parent-teen connection can create protective factors against the alarming rise in teen suicide.
In this episode:
- [02:47] The loss that sparked a movement
- [05:34] Early warning signs of teen depression and suicidal thoughts
- [08:07] How social media affects teen self-worth
- [11:04] The hidden epidemic of cyberbullying
- [14:53] Practical strategies for emotionally connecting with teens
- [17:57] Programs at A Brighter Day – from text lines to Zoom therapy
- [21:14] The power of nonprofit partnerships
- [22:55] Destigmatizing suicide and mental health struggles
- [28:33] Elliot’s vision for reaching 37 million high schoolers
- [33:51] Leadership lessons from scaling a grief-born mission
NOTEWORTHY QUOTES
“Social media is a highlight reel, and it makes kids feel even worse ’cause they’re not having as good of a time as the perception they have of their friends.” – Elliot Kallen
“Bullying is a leading cause of suicide.” – Elliot Kallen
“The stigma of suicide is that there was something wrong with that child. […] We have to get beyond that and understand that mental health, particularly depression and stress, is more prevalent than we think it is.” – Elliot Kallen
RESOURCES
Teen Crisis Text Line: Text “BRIGHTER” to 741741
The EmC Masterclass developed by Dr. Lola Gershfeld is for everyone looking to enhance their communication and collaboration skills to raise more revenue for their mission. This groundbreaking Emotional Connection process has been integrated into top universities’ curriculum and recognized by international organizations like ICF HRCI, and SHRM. Use the code LEADWITHHEART to enjoy a generous 10% discount.
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CONNECT WITH ELLIOT
LinkedIn: Elliot Kallen
Instagram: @abrighterdaycharity
Website: https://abrighterday.info/
Email: elliot@abrighterday.info
Phone: 510 206 1103
CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Certified Stress Management Coach, and Certified EmC train the trainer. She is the Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business. She has worked in both small and large nonprofit teams in the human services, homelessness, and youth sectors; and she specializes in the EmC process, nonprofit leadership, board development, and fundraising. Haley is a passionate, impact-driven, experienced nonprofit professional whose mission is to empower, elevate and engage nonprofit leaders to build healthy, thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
This episode is sponsored by Donorbox
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