242: From Lived Experience to Nonprofit Leadership

Jessie Bucci-Carter is a mental health advocate, regional manager at a mental health nonprofit supporting youth mental health advocates and a rescue dog lover, foster, and volunteer who shares her compelling journey living with bipolar.

Together we explore Jessie's early experiences with mental health struggles, including panic attacks and depression during her teenage years and her subsequent diagnosis of bipolar at 22. She reflects on the profound impact of supportive relationships, especially with her family and wife, and discusses the significance of cultivating a strong community.

Jessie also highlights the importance of prioritizing mental health through non-negotiable practices like sleep, sobriety, therapy and medication. Additionally, she passionately details her work with Bring Change to Mind, a nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness clubs in schools and how her lived experience fuels her dedication to her role. Jessie's story is one of resilience, advocacy and the transformative power of support and self-care.

Stay connected with Jessie here!

Learn to support someone you love who lives with bipolar here! 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:54 Jessie's Early Experiences with Mental Health03:21 First Manic Episode and Diagnosis08:16 Support Systems and Relationships13:43 Navigating Life with Bipolar Disorder18:34 Jessie's Career in Mental Health Advocacy27:40 Reflecting on Mental and Physical Health31:34 Living Well with Bipolar Disorder35:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts