Born This Way Foundation

On #WorldMentalHealthDay, a reminder that living with lupus can affect more than your physical health. 💜 For young people especially, navigating a chronic condition can feel isolating and having the right support can make a real difference. We spoke with Dr. Claudia-Santi F. Fernandes of Born This Way Foundation about mental health, peer support, and how to start conversations when someone may be struggling. Her advice: you don’t need to have the perfect words - you just need to be willing to take the first step. Read the full Q&A to learn more: https://bit.ly/3VXJ7vs #Lupus #LupusResearch #MentalHealth

On #worldmentalhealthday I'm grateful for our partnerships + the ppl behind them. As one example, check out our Born This Way Foundation x Lupus Research Alliance collab on the science of peer support particularly for young ppl dealing with chronic conditions such as #lupus. 🔗 to our Q & A: https://lnkd.in/eP__aCqx 💡Partnerships like this remind me of what happens when we share what we know and make sure our communities have access to the resources they need for support.

With her nonprofit Memory Matters, this teen has sent over 1,600 letters to those with dementia. Here's how to join her in making a difference. #ChannelKindness #BeKind65 "Each letter written expresses that they mattered, that they were remembered, that someone on the other side of the country was thinking about them." - Arya Devanath https://lnkd.in/eRjJTeTt 

Show up for those you love and learn how to be there. 💚From October 5 - November 1, for every person who earns the Be There Certificate using The Hidden Opponent’s unique link, our nonprofit will earn $25 in funding for the Campus Captains program! Anyone can earn the Be There Certificate for FREE in 60-90 minutes. Challenge a friend, colleague, or family member to take the course and support THO. 💥 The resulting funding will directly support THO chapters on high school and college campuses. Go to https://lnkd.in/ejTcxyhJ to complete the certificate and take action to equip yourself with mental health skills. 🫂 This is the perfect way to support our mission and those you love! #TheHiddenOpponent #BeThereCertificate #MentalHealthMatters

We have some exciting news to share 👀💛 #GenBeThere has been named a finalist in the Social Movement Campaign category at the 11th Annual Shorty Impact Awards! 🎉 Generation Be There is a global movement from Born This Way Foundation that invites people everywhere to learn how to safely, kindly, and confidently support someone who may be struggling with their mental health. At the heart of #GenBeThere is the Be There Certificate, our free, self-paced mental health course created in partnership with Jack.org that equips people with tangible skills to show up for others. We’re so grateful to see this work recognized by the Shorty Impact Awards and to every person and partner who has helped bring #GenBeThere to communities around the world. 💛 Now, we need your help! 🗳️ In addition to the judged Shorty Impact Awards, finalists are eligible for the Audience Honor, which is determined by public voting. You can vote for #GenBeThere once a day through October 13. Plus, once per day, an additional vote is counted when you share your vote via LinkedIn, Facebook or X. Cast your vote + help us spread the word: https://lnkd.in/ecPGJUBT Shorty Awards #ShortyImpact #BeThereCertificate #GenBeThere #MentalHealth

This past #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, our community reached an incredible milestone: more than 100,000 Be There Certificates earned. Thank you to everyone who helped make that possible. 💛 As we approach #WorldMentalHealthDay on 10/10, we’re keeping that momentum going. Over the next two weeks, we’ll share resources and stories from organizations helping young people care for their mental health and Be There for one another. You can take part, too. The Be There Certificate is a free online mental health course created by Jack.org in partnership with Born This Way Foundation. It teaches practical skills to help you support yourself and the people you love. Earn yours at https://lnkd.in/eYJBeXp9, and follow along to meet the organizations in our Generation Be There community. #GenBeThere

CW // Suicidal Ideation In this #BeKind365 video for #SuicidePreventionMonth, our Youth Advisory Board member Jeremy shares how social connection can help protect against suicide. A message as simple as “Hey, I’ve been thinking about you” can interrupt isolation and create space for someone to share what they’re going through. You don’t have to fix everything. By paying attention, checking in, and being there, you can remind someone that they are cared for and supported. If you or someone you know is struggling, visit https://lnkd.in/drUwYUv3 for mental health resources and evidence-based self-care tips. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide + Crisis Lifeline. Want to learn how to support someone safely and confidently? Take the free, self-paced #BeThereCertificate at https://lnkd.in/dk3VjYrU to learn how to recognize when someone may be struggling, connect them to support, and protect your own mental health along the way. 💛 💖 Take the #BeKind365 pledge at https://bekind365.world/ and join us in building a kinder, braver world.

Today’s the day! Applications for Born This Way Foundation’s 2027–2028 Global Youth Advisory Board close TONIGHT, September 30, at 11:59 PM ET! 💖 If you’re 15–24 and passionate about building a kinder, braver world that supports mental health, there’s still time to apply and share your voice, ideas and experiences with us. Don’t miss your chance to join a global community of young people helping shape our work. ✨ Learn more and submit your application by 11:59 PM ET tonight: https://lnkd.in/eWJYPEr2

As Margaret hit a quarter-life crisis in her early 20s, she turned to 'Adventure Time' for life advice. “Even if we’re not changing on the outside, we’re changing on the inside constantly…As long as I know the shape of my soul, I’ll be alright." -Margaret Garcia #ChannelKindness #BeKind365 https://lnkd.in/ePTAiR6Y

As we celebrate a decade of #ChannelKindness, we’re catching up with some of the incredible young people who have helped shape our community and seeing where their stories have taken them. Next up in our Channel Kindness Spotlight Series is entrepreneur + Channel Kindness alum Amy Yan, Cofounder + COO of Nowadays, an event planning company she built alongside her sister, Anna. “Channel Kindness taught me that kindness is a habit, and you can build it by paying attention on purpose.” From building kindness into how she leads to learning to extend that same care to herself, watch Amy reflect on the lessons she’s carried with her since Channel Kindness and how they continue to shape who she is today. 💚 Here’s to 10 years of stories, kindness + bravery, and to the many stories still to come. #ChannelKindness10