We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Adrienne McCue. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Adrienne below.
Hi Adrienne, thanks for joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?
Throughout my career in education, tech, marketing, and a starting point in mental health, I have come to realize that my true purpose lies in the service of others. My path was shaped by my personal experiences, from growing up with a mother who faced debilitating mental health challenges to navigating my own crisis during the tech bubble.
The turning point in my life occurred when I helped a deaf community member who was facing homelessness and food insecurity. Connecting them with the necessary resources to stabilize their life was a profound moment for me. This opened me up to founding a community nonprofit, and my experience after that, and the subsequent honor of being invited to the White House (the first time), reinforced my belief that one person can truly make a difference in the lives of neighbors, families, and communities.
I am particularly moved by the work of community nonprofits. While they often operate with limited funding and visibility, these organizations are on the front lines every day, dedicated solely to the mission of serving those in need.
Adrienne, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Adrienne McCue, and I am the Founder of Step Up For Mental Health. My professional journey began in technology, marketing, and Deaf studies, moving from help-desk support to web consulting. However, my true passion emerged through my work tutoring and mentoring children in Japan and later supporting Deaf youth at a mental health hospital.
After managing an advocacy blog for marginalized communities and being invited to the White House in 2011, I realized that mental health was the most critical issue facing those I served. This led to the creation of Step Up For Mental Health.
Since 2009, I have been proud to help hundreds of thousands of families navigate their struggles through our peer support programs. We officially established our current programming in 2016 and launched our helpline in 2019, which provided essential food, medicine, and therapy during the pandemic. Despite the challenges of the past year and the changing landscape of mental health support, we remain dedicated to helping families in times of crisis.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
My personal journey that informs my commitment to peer support and the mission of Step Up For Mental Health. During a nine-month mental health crisis, I experienced the loss of both my job position and my home. Due to a culture misunderstanding and error, I was also hospitalized for three days; however, that experience provided me with profound insight into the systemic challenges my late mother endured during her own years of hospitalization.
Even within that environment, I found opportunities to be of service by advocating for struggling patients and collaborating with staff to implement more effective accommodations and strategies based on needs. When I was eventually discharged with an apology, I left with a clear understanding of how many individuals facing mental health challenges remain voiceless when poverty plays a hand or lack of support.
This realization serves as the foundation of our helpline. My experience taught me that even in moments of overwhelming pain, there is always progress to be made and vital lessons to be learned. Having navigated these hardships, I no longer operate from a place of fear. This perspective allowed me to lead others through the uncertainty of the pandemic and continues to drive my dedication to Peer Support work today.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
You cannot survive in this world alone—not in your job, your community, or your country. There will be times when you need the support of others to get through.
This is the core lesson Step Up For Mental Health shares through our programming and services. While it can be difficult to navigate the challenges ahead, it is possible to persevere with your own inner strength and the support of those who truly believe in you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stepupformentalhealth.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stepupformentalhealth/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stepupformentalhealth
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/step-up-for-mental-health/
- Twitter: https://x.com/stepupformh
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@stepupformentalhealth
- Other: Blue Sky
https://bsky.app/profile/stepupformh.bsky.social
Threads
https://www.threads.com/@stepupformentalhealth
Image Credits
All Photos are Credited by Step Up For Mental Health