Gordon brings awareness to mental illness one shirt at a time
Kim Chaudoin |
Hailey Gordon is on a mission to make a difference in the world.
The sophomore entrepreneurship major from Zionsville, Indiana, is using her entrepreneurial spirit fueled by her personal journey to bring awareness to mental health.
At age 15, Gordon struggled with the transition to high school and all of the adjustments that came with it such as making new friends. She felt herself sinking into a feeling of despair and hopelessness, often battling suicidal thoughts and afraid to talk about her struggles with others.
“It was the lowest point in my life,” she recalls. “I lost my sense of identity and lost enjoyment in things that once brought me joy.”
Her sophomore year of high school, she was diagnosed with clinical depression and began taking medication and going to therapy which helped her slowly begin to gain confidence and a new sense of self.
As she became stronger, she was determined to help others. Six months ago, she founded an organization called Certified Valor. She chose the name because to her it symbolizes battling something boldly with tenacity and resilience.
“I started Certified Valor because I wanted to create a sense of belonging and community among people who struggle with mental illness. Certified Valor is not only a brand, but a community. It empowers the mentally ill, and those in support, to not be ashamed and most importantly to not let it define oneself,” explains Gordon. “I want people to know that you are not your mental illness, you are not alone, and if you’re not ok, that’s ok.”
“This is something that people aren’t comfortable talking about because they don’t feel like they can tell people the really heavy stuff. They don't want to be a burden,” she continues. “Now that I’m on the other side of my struggles, I want people to know that they're not alone. Looking at statistics, so many people are impacted by mental health issues. It's an illness just the same as a physical illness. It should be talked about.”
Gordon says she was passionate about sharing this message, but was not sure about the best way to do that. Then, she thought about using apparel as a messenger. Certified Valor produces t-shirts with that message — “It’s ok if you’re not ok. You are not alone.” Other shirts carry the message “Break the Stigma: How are you really?” She hopes these shirts bring not only awareness to mental health but serve as conversation starters. Gordon, who says she gets her entrepreneurial spirit from her parents, designs the apparel herself.
“I thought that something as simple as everyday apparel could be impactful. People read what's on your clothes if you're in a conversation or they're passing by. If the design is bright and bold it will catch your eye and you're gonna read it,” she says. “With a message like ‘you are not alone’ you never know what impact that might make. I know it is just a small thing that obviously isn't going to solve the bigger issues. But that message could impact somebody's day — even just a tiny bit. That's all I'm trying to do.”
This fall, the George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts partnered with Certified Valor to help create awareness of mental health. It purchased shirts with the message “It’s ok if you’re not ok” for every new student entering the college.
“As students begin their college experience they undergo a lot of change as they leave home and enter into a new environment. And mental health is one of the biggest challenges college students face,” explains Mike Fernandez, dean of the college. “It is important for us to help our students feel more comfortable talking about this topic and knowing that it is ok to have these feelings and that resources are available.”
Gordon says she firmly believes that everything happens as part of a greater plan for her life and that she can now use her story to encourage others.
“I now can offer my story to other people. It's definitely scary being vulnerable,” she shares. “But it's just what I would have wanted to hear at the time. So that's why I've been sharing my story and getting mental health awareness out there through something as small as everyday apparel. I want to make it a more common topic of conversation and to break down the stigma around it.”
Certified Valor apparel may be purchased at certifiedvalor.com.
Counseling services are available to students
The mental health and wellbeing of our students is a top priority at Lipscomb and there are a number of resources available. The University Counseling Center (UCC) works to support the development of and enhance the wellbeing of students through quality clinical services, crisis intervention, preventative mental health initiatives and access to community resources. The UCC accomplishes this mission by providing a variety of services and resources. All UCC services are free of charge and available to currently enrolled Lipscomb University students. To access counseling services through the UCC, click here to complete a consultation request form.
In addition, UCC offers TimelyCare, a FREE telehealth program for university students that provides access to 24/7 medical and mental telehealth care, with no cost for the visit to the student. Students register at timleycare.com/lipscomb using their myLipscomb login information after which they have access to visits on any web-enabled device – smartphone, laptop or desktop — from anywhere in the United States. TimelyCare provides, six services:
- Medical: 24/7, on-demand access to a medical provider that can treat a wide range of common illnesses like cold and flu, sinus infection, allergies and more
- Scheduled Medical: scheduled options to speak to a medical provider
- TalkNow: 24/7, on-demand access to a mental health professional to talk about anything at anytime
- Scheduled Counseling: scheduled options to speak to a licensed counselor
- Health Coaching: access to a nutritional specialist to help students adopt healthier lifestyle behaviors related to sleep issues, weight management and more
- Psychiatry: services provided by referral
Learn more about counseling services available to Lipscomb students here. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is an additional crisis resource for those experiencing mental-health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. To access, text or call 988.