"Hands down the best presentation on mental health I have ever attended!"

– Oliver Dressel, St. Norbert College Student Government Association President

Jessi is a mental health speaker for first responders, military personnel, and college students. Her goal is to help trauma survivors find a path to healing that’s right for them and help their loved ones become the best possible support systems during their healing journey. She would love to join you at your upcoming event to empower, educate, and inspire your audience. Jessi is represented by ForCollegeForLife. To inquire about her availability, please contact Casey at info@forcollegeforlife.com or click the button below.

Keynotes & Workshops

For High School & College Audiences

With The Best of Intentions: How to Safely and Successfully Support Someone Who’s Struggling with Mental Health

When someone you care about is struggling with their mental health, it’s understandable that the first thing you want to do is jump in and support them. But, even with the best of intentions, some of the most common responses can drive a wedge between you and your loved one.

Worse yet, these actions might cause you to no longer be a trusted support system for them.

Jessi knows this firsthand. When she was in high school, she struggled with her mental health. She was depressed, self-harming, and in a codependent relationship with someone else who was also struggling. The relationship ended with his suicide attempt. In retrospect, Jessi knows she did just about everything incorrectly in supporting this person. And she doesn’t want you to make the same mistakes.

In this moving program, Jessi will share her personal experience as well as expert interviews and published research about the best (and worst) ways of safely and successfully helping those who need it the most.

Audience members will…

Examine the ways in which we incorrectly attempt to support someone who struggles with mental health
Explore key strategies to successfully support others
Consider foundational ways to keep yourself safe while supporting loved ones

For First Responder & Military Audiences

How To Save A L.I.F.E.: Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention for First Responders and Military Personnel

First responders and military servicemembers are the first to put themselves in harm’s way to protect others, and their selfless service often leaves them with scars and burdens that are extremely heavy to carry. While many think the greatest threat to first responders and military servicemembers is dying in the line of duty, suicide is actually much more likely to take the life of a first responder or military servicemember.

Unfortunately, most first responders and military servicemembers are ill-equipped to help their peers overcome suicidal ideation, and because of that, those struggles are often pushed aside, shoved down, and never addressed. This is a dangerous approach to suicide intervention: hundreds of first responders and active servicemembers and thousands of veterans die by suicide each year, and though proper suicide intervention practices won’t save every one of those lives, it very well can save some.

In this informative and application-focused program, Jessi Beyer teaches a concrete, step-by-step system you can use to support a first responder or military servicemember through suicidal ideation. Using the L.I.F.E. model of assessment and intervention, attendees will be able to take the uncomfortable, confusing, and overwhelming experience of a peer’s suicidal ideation and replace it with confidence and tactical, clinical, and compassionate skills they can use to return their peer to safety.

This is the presentation Jessi hopes you never have to use, but it’s also the one that can help you save a life.

Attendees will learn how to…

Identify warning signs and risk factors for suicide
Convey empathy, instead of judgment or blame, for the pain the person is in
Assess safety by asking directly about suicide
Reduce access to potential suicide methods
Create a safety plan with the individual at risk for suicide

What Others Have To Say

Jessi Beyer was called upon to speak to our Search and Rescue team regarding how to safely approach and connect with subjects in the field. Jessi kept the audience rapt, with a healthy combination of education and entertainment. She was engaging, enthusiastic, and interactive. Perfect for what we were looking for. Jessi doesn’t just lecture, she engages, instructs, and entertains to seat the information in your brain.

– Jeff Dahl, DVM, Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue Safety Committee Chairperson

Your story and message really touched me. Educating people [on] how to help or how to treat those that are struggling is a huge step to taking talking about mental health out of the shadows and into the light so people can get the help they need. Thank you for coming and sharing your powerful and amazing message!

– Missouri State University Student

Here on campus at Clarendon College we fail to offer any licensed counseling services to our students. We definitely point them in the right direction if they ask for help but we do not have someone on campus who is licensed to help to be a resource to the students. Taking on the roll as Director of Student Life at the young age of 25, I did not expect to be the person that many students would try and come talk to about their mental health. As more and more students would come talk to me about their struggles or the struggles they were watching their friends go through I realized the demand for mental health education was very high. Jessi’s knowledge and personal experiences makes her very relatable to young adults. Since having her speak on campus, I have had many students tell me how much more comfortable they feel addressing their mental health battles and also helping their friends through their struggles. Not only did Jessi speak with about 50 students but she also offered our school a link to her talk which allowed those who were not able to attend to still benefit from her presentation. Having a young and motivated speaker on campus who interacted with our students really made them feel like they weren’t alone. Although we may not have a licensed counselor here on campus, having Jessi Beyer come talk to our students has really helped kick start a change in the culture around campus. I am very thankful that Jessi was able to come speak to our students and some faculty and look forward to working with her more in the future.

– Kelli Tolar, Clarendon College Director of Student Life

Very informative, funny, and articulate.

– Amy, Seminar Attendee

Jessi was a fantastic speaker to work with and contributed great knowledge through our Leadercast Webinar. She was professional, responsive, knowledgeable of our Zoom platform and seemed eager to be working with our company. Plus, her topic netted one of our highest-registered webinars ever! I’ve received a lot of feedback from attendees of the webinar she presented for Leadercast and all reviews were positive. Even the Leadercast Team noted how professional and insightful the webinar was with Jessi. I’m very glad we had her on!

– Bart Keeler, Leadercast Marketing Coordinator

The Panhellenic Council at University of North Florida are so grateful to Jessi for speaking with our community on mental health. Her presentation was incredibly impactful and valuable for young women going through college in today‘s world. Many of the women in attendance commented on how much they needed to hear what Jessi has to say, and we look forward to hopefully having Jessi back again in the future. I highly recommend Jessi as a guest speaker for any event you have, her presentation is relevant not only for college women but for any demographic!

– Brooke Davis, University of North Florida Panhellenic Council VP of Programming

Jessi truly has a way of empowering and educating young adults in their journey of discovering their “why” in life. She was beyond easy to partner with and was even willing to work up a presentation that was accessible to college students during COVID-19, a time in which we are all trying to find purpose. Her message is inspiring and validates the feelings of those around her. I would recommend having Jessi come and speak to your organization, no matter the event!

– Hailey N., Augustana Lost&Found President

The information Jessi provided will be incredibly helpful to our students as they work to support their own mental health in addition to the mental health of those they love.

– Annie Jacobson, West Shore Community College Director of Enrollment & Student Engagement

Jessi was exactly what we needed. She spoke with passion and an honest intelligence. She tied mental health concepts to real life stories that opened up our eyes to new ways of approaching mental health. Jessi was very helpful and kind to adapt her normal presentation to a Q&A style for our online platform. You can tell that she cares deeply about mental health and she shares what she knows in a relevant and relatable way. Thank you, Jessi, for your wisdom!

– Reagan Young, Mississippi State University Co-Director of Maroon and White Speakers

I really enjoyed attending this mental health event today, your suggestions and insights for resources are very helpful! You are so inspirational.

– Presentation Attendee

Thank you for sharing your story and your knowledge with us! I know I can speak on the behalf of everyone on my team when I say your presentation is something they have learned from and will take with them on their future endeavors as well. I think it is important for everyone to be aware of how to support someone during a time where one’s mental health may not be at its best. However, I think it is especially important for someone on a college campus in a leadership position to be aware of this. I think towards the end of your presentation you said it perfectly: “that is how we create a community on a college campus”. Thank you again for your presentation! It was truly insightful and not at all awkward which I understand is how presentations on this topic can come off as at times!

– Alyssa Frausto, Associated Students of California Lutheran University Programs Board Director

In a time of such chaos and uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemic, Jessi shined a light on the importance of mental health and how to handle both personal crises as well as others who are struggling. Jessi was phenomenal to work with, patient and flexible. The virtual presentation was powerful and moving because Jessi is so passionate! I am so grateful she was able to speak to us!

– Catherine Leonard, Briar Cliff University Student Government President

Being in front of people appeared to come very natural to her as she always seemed so cool, calm, and collected. She is an individual that excels at whatever she does and always strives for mastery.

– Sarah Miller, Royal Bank of Canada Senior Business Process Analyst

Your training is very informative and more engaging than any other training I’ve done before. The training that supposedly took an hour and a half flew by because of how captivating it was. [You are] very approachable and gave a sense of humanity into something that most people give normal lectures on! Learning the different techniques for each part of L.I.F.E. makes each facet of tackling such a difficult topic and sensitive situation a lot easier.

– Nathan and Anthony, Associated Students of the University of California Irvine Mental Health Directors

Jessi was absolutely amazing! In her presentation about being the “therapist friend” I learned so much more than I could have imagined, in an interactive and thought-provoking way. I highly recommend having Jessi as a speaker!

– Jessica Lockwood, University of Connecticut Undergraduate Student Government Student Development Advocacy Director

I have identified myself as a “therapist friend” and during Jessi’s presentation, I learned strategies to be the best one I can be. I also learned how to manage my own support system.

– Bailey Quigley, Presentation Attendee

Thank you so much for coming yesterday and speaking with the academy and members of the training office and sharing your materials. We all enjoyed your presentation and thought it was extremely informative. The timing was perfect as we had just talked about suicidal callers and the difficulties that may arise during call interrogation. I really liked the role play scenarios you had everyone participate in. By hearing first-hand the information you were presenting it helped paint a clear picture on how to respond to callers that are in crisis. I especially liked the active listening section and hearing about reflective statements. I haven’t utilized that technique before but think it will be extremely helpful when talking to our callers. I look forward to having you come speak to future academies!

– Alanna Cole, Snohomish County 911 Dispatch Supervisor

Jessi Beyer shines a light on mental health awareness. The best part is her use of audience participation to uncover the concept of “Why You Need A Why.” I would recommend Jessi Beyer because she provides a real, raw, and personal perspective about how to escape the trap of poor mental health.

– Abdillahi Dirie, Missouri State University Student Body President

Jessi was wonderful to work with throughout the entire process. Her program was incredibly open and honest which I appreciated as she shared her own vulnerabilities. Jessi is an incredibly professional, personable, and knowledgeable individual whose positive and genuine energy are sure to energize a room.

– Jess Narum, University of Puget Sound Alpha Phi sorority VP of Education and Programming

I thoroughly enjoyed the concept of the Five Buckets and how important prioritizing your Five Buckets is in your everyday life, especially to achieve your goals. I will be implementing the concept of the Five Buckets into my daily life and I believe that focusing on those Five Buckets will help me maneuver roadblocks when they appear. Overall, what I gathered from the presentation is that finding your “why” is extremely important and then pursuing that “why” is the great quest of life.

– Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Presentation Attendee

Jessi was amazing! I found the workshop to be most educational, very thorough and informative. Useful facets from top to bottom. Easy to follow and easily implemented (I’ll be using the smart-savvy tactics myself).

– Jennifer Stutheit, Eagle County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director

According to NAMI, 1 in 5 US adults experience mental health, and 17% of youth experience a mental health disorder. It is time for us to erase the stigma associated with mental health. It is time for us to talk about it and not be scared to assist those loved ones, students, and co-workers who are struggling. Today, we held a conversation on our campus which addressed this topic. Myself, along with our student attendees found this presentation to be extremely educational, eye-opening, and relevant given the current times.

– Mark Berry, Jr., MBA, Chesapeake College Director of Student Engagement and Development

Working with Jessi, especially during a pandemic, was so smooth and easy. She has such a positive presence and was able to convey that through her presentation, even though it was virtual. I highly recommend working with Jessi for any mental health awareness events!

– Alexa Jones, Christopher Newport University Panhellenic VP of Membership Development

After speaking with several students who attended both of Jessi Beyer’s wonderful presentations, we all agreed they were moving and informative, teaching us the appropriate ways of supporting our peers but also how to focus on our individual mental health and happiness.

– West Shore Community College Student Senate

I just wanted to thank you for taking time out of your evening to give that slideshow presentation to all of the students who attended. I learned so much more about healing from mental health and how to help others who are struggling, so I really appreciate you giving that presentation just now. Again, thank you so much, Jessi! I feel a bit like a new person now after learning all of that.

– University of California Irvine Student

Hands down the best presentation on mental health I have ever attended! The way Jessi opened up about her own story in the beginning, earning our trust and attention, provided concrete resources and different options for strategies moving forward, and the invaluable do’s and don’ts that she was able to share from her firsthand experience made for a wonderfully holistic and interactive presentation. I can feel already that our campus benefited greatly from Jessi’s presentation by helping us become a better equipped campus community of linked support systems!

– Oliver Dressel, St. Norbert College Student Government Association President

Thank you for the incredible presentation a couple days ago! It really stuck to me and impacted the way I think and talk with friends! I am trying to better myself, and your presentation was a huge step.

– University of California Irvine Student

Thank you kindly for the wonderful presentation this morning. It was enlightening to hear your uplifting and inspiring story about your trauma, outlook on moving forward, and thoughtful guidance on how to support individuals who are struggling with their mental health. As our educators deal with this more and more in their role, the material presented will serve as a ‘just in time’ resource for them.
– Katie Feuerhelm, Ed D., CESA 11 Educational Consultant

I wanted to thank you for coming to speak to our campus! Everything you had to say was so helpful and engaging, and on behalf of the Mont Alto campus, we say thank you for taking the time to come out here. I had a number of students share stories with me and explain how helpful the event was, as well as faculty members thanking me for how much they got out of it. I hope we can have you come to our campus again.

– Hayley Mellott, Penn State Mont Alto Student Government Association President

I have received countless suicide prevention presentations before and Jessi’s presentation was by far the best at equipping individuals to support those with thoughts of self-harm.

– Josh Lanzona, Presentation Attendee

Before going through this workshop with Jessi, I was unsure how I would go about supporting someone considering suicide. However, after the workshop, I have a clearer idea of how to be someone’s supporting cast in a more effective manner.

– Duyen Ta, Presentation Attendee

Jessi provided an amazing insight into how to support people that are struggling with their mental health. She was engaging, personable, and was able to connect with everyone in the room. She spoke with a true passion and care that made her workshop easy to understand. After speaking with multiple attendees of her event, the general consensus was that she was AMAZING! Jessi Beyer is truly a speaker worth listening to and a person worth meeting.

– Madysen Morgan, Northwestern State University Student Government Association Academic Affairs Commissioner

Before I attended Jessi’s presentation, I felt scared and unsure about a lot in my life. After attending Jessi’s presentation, I feel like I have skills and coping mechanisms I can use to deal with these type of situations.

– Presentation Attendee

My Commitment To You

From my years as an event coordinator, I know how much you have on your plate. Your task list can be a mile long, and it may seem like you’re spending most of your time running around and putting out fires. This event is your baby, and the last thing you want is to add another hassle to your plate. That’s why my commitment to you is that I will make our collaboration as easy and painless as humanly possible. Here’s what you can expect from me:

Quick, professional responses to all emails, texts, and phone calls
An announcement on my website and social media about your event (if the event is public)
A professional presentation with energy that commands the attention of your audience, enthusiasm that infects them, and information that empowers them
Follow-up communication after the event to ensure that I met your expectations and to communicate about areas of improvement and future collaborations