We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Francesca Reicherter a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Francesca, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

In 2019, I became a three-time suicide attempt survivor after losing my uncle to suicide earlier that year. I was hospitalized in a psych ward following my third attempt. In the psych ward, I saw how many other people were struggling with their mental health just like I was; how many people needed to feel heard and validated as I did; how many people did not have emotional support, access to treatment options, or any prior information on warning signs, resources, starting points, etc. At that time, I also heard a statistic that individuals discharged from a psych ward are 100-200x more likely to die by suicide upon discharge, which stuck with me. How could it be that when someone is finally receiving an emergency intervention that the odds are still stacked against them?

I spent a year in recovery and then decided to turn the blog I started when I was 12 into a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. When I launched Inspiring My Generation Corporation, I knew that I needed to do something different to make the resources I needed when I was struggling available to others.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My own lived experience led me to turn my pain into action. Personally, I am a current master’s in clinical psychology student and keynote speaker, where I share my own story to remind others that just like mine, their story isn’t over.

In collaboration with my nonprofit organization, Inspiring My Generation, I offer three main initiatives:

For the first initiative, I started a podcast to increase access to information and stories of hope. I had no idea that I was experiencing symptoms of bipolar two disorder or even suicidal ideation until I was formally diagnosed; and even post-diagnosis, it took a long time to understand how to find resources and tools that worked for me. I wish I had access to quality information and starting points, thus I started the conversation for others. The podcast is called “Normalize The Conversation” and is the home to over 150 episodes featuring mental health professionals, advocates, individuals with lived experiences, and family members of individuals with lived experiences from around the globe to make sure every voice is included and amplified.

The second initiative is an Encouragement Card Program. After being discharged from the psych ward, I spent every day making cards for myself to serve as reminders that I am not alone, I am enough, and I am strong enough to overcome this. One day, I had 100 cards in front of me and thought how cool it would have been to receive one of these while I was in the psych ward. As of June 2023, we have donated over 10,000 handmade cards of encouragement, support, and hope to patients hospitalized in psych wards with volunteers making cards from around the US.

And, the third initiative is Education through Preventative Resources. My first year out of the psych ward, I was continuously trying to develop new tools to help myself keep going. Then, I thought it would be really cool if we all had guides that helped us develop essential tools and skills that work for us. Therefore, I started turning my own guides into workbooks. As of May 2023, four workbooks have been published. “You Are Not Alone: The Workbook” is a guide to building affirmations, coping skills, and language to support someone else. “I AM” is a guide to developing the language to reach out for support. “How Are You? The Workbook” is a guide to checking in with yourself. And, “Self Care” is a guide to implementing self-care practices into your daily routine that meet your specific needs and align with your schedule and budget.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In December 2018, I graduated with my bachelor’s in management and intended on furthering my education with my master’s in information systems and operations management. I believed that upon receiving my master’s I would either go to law school or start working in data analytics. But, by March 2019, I found myself hospitalized in a psych ward following my third suicide attempt. I had withdrawn from my master’s program and my life felt utterly derailed.

In August 2019, I went back to complete my master’s in Information Systems and Operations Management. And, I started my nonprofit organization from my apartment. It was originally a side project as a way to help people but has turned into my main career focus. After graduating in 2020, I completely shifted my direction.

In 2022, I started my master’s in clinical psychology and decided all aspects of my career will intertwine with mental health, from nonprofit work to speaking engagements, to being a therapist.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

Inspiring My Generation depends on its many volunteers and donors to build the brand and further our impact. To connect with volunteers and donors, I send out handmade thank-you cards to individuals who contribute to our mission. And, I keep in touch through e-blasts sending updates on what is new at Inspiring My Generation as well as follow-up thank you cards via mail as a reminder that their contribution, whether financially or through an initiative, has played a huge role in the impact we’ve been able to make. I work to continuously remind each volunteer and donor that their support saves lives and we are very grateful for them.

Contact Info:

• Website: inspiringmygeneration.org
• Instagram: @freicherter & @inspiringmygeneration
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspiringmygeneration
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-reicherter/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/71392608
• Twitter: @freicherter & @inspiringmygen
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@inspiringmygeneration

Image Credits
professional photo of Fran laying down with stigmatizing words written on her arms was photographed by Jaquie Ohh (@jaquieohh)