Author: Monica Drake

Monica Drake is a communications specialist within Corporate Affairs for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. She is a mental health advocate, working to raise awareness about suicide and help erase the stigma associated with mental illness. Follow her journey on her website at www.meant2live.net.

Monica Drake - Heart Health Month

Monica Drake - Heart Health Month

Taking Care of Your Heart and Mental Health Go Hand-in-Hand

Writer and mental health advocate Monica Drake offers a reminder for American Heart Month that taking care of your mental health is good for your heart.

How Access to Diverse Stories Would Have Helped Me in High School

Monica Drake reads at home with her cat.

Monica Drake reads at home with her cat.

Monica Drake shares how reading books from diverse perspectives has helped her as an adult -- and imagines how they could have helped her when she was younger.

New Year Doesn’t Have to Mean ‘New You’

Contributor Monica Drake dispels the myth that entering the new year has to mean changing yourself -- and offers advice on how to increase self-confidence.

Advice for Coping with Holiday Blues

woman poses in a Santa hat while feeling sad with the holiday blues

woman poses in a Santa hat while feeling sad with the holiday blues

Contributor Monica Drake shares what you can do if the holidays aren’t feeling so joyful right now.

Monica Drake and her fiance dressed up for Halloween

Monica Drake and her fiance dressed up for Halloween

How Horror Films Helped Me with My Anxiety

Contributor Monica Drake writes about how scary movies -- along with mental health treatment -- have helped counteract her anxiety.

Crisis Lifelines Make a Difference to Someone Considering Suicide

Woman sits alone with her cell phone

Woman sits alone with her cell phone

Contributor Monica Drake writes about how crisis lifelines can help someone experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Man walks with his teenage son to talk about mental health

Man walks with his teenage son to talk about mental health

Monica Drake: Check in on Your Child’s Mental Health

Contributor Monica Drake writes about why it's so important to check in your child's mental health -- and to get them help if they need it.

Youth Suicide Rates In LGBTQ+ Community Decrease Since Legalization of Gay Marriage

Two men stare at each other lovingly during their wedding ceremony

Two men stare at each other lovingly during their wedding ceremony

Contributor Monica Drake shares a personal story from a friend who came out as gay; and how the legalization of gay marriage affected his outlook.

Monica Drake

Monica Drake

How Mental Health Care Changed My Life

Monica Drake, writer and mental health advocate, shares her mental health journey. "You are not alone in this. Millions of others, including me, are with you."