Meet Francesca Reicherter

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Francesca Reicherter. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Francesca, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
In 2019, I was hospitalized in a psych ward following my third suicide attempt. When I looked around, I realized that everyone around me had either attempted to end their life or was at imminent risk of ending their life, but we were all afraid to talk about what we were experiencing. And, it all felt so isolating. I decided I wanted to be a voice for those who felt silenced whether it was by the stigma or system itself.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
On January 20, 2019, Francesca experienced the loss of her uncle to suicide. Just 27 days before this tragic event, she had made her first suicide attempt, and it was her uncle who provided crucial support, guiding her towards hope. The aftermath of his suicide left Francesca’s world shattered. Presently, Francesca stands as a survivor of three suicide attempts and serves as the Founder of the national nonprofit organization, Inspiring My Generation.

Committed to eradicating the stigma surrounding mental health, Francesca hosts the podcast series, “Normalize The Conversation.” This platform amplifies the voices of mental health professionals, advocates, and individuals willing to share their stories, boasting over 150 episodes with new releases every week.

In 2021, Francesca authored “You Are Not Alone: The Workbook,” a guide designed to assist readers in building a coping toolbox. In 2022, she published “I AM,” an interactive workbook aiding readers in developing the tools necessary to advocate for their mental health, along with “How Are You?” as an interactive guide to check in with one’s mental health. In 2023, Francesca released “Self Care,” providing guidance for implementing personalized self-care practices. Scheduled for 2024 is her latest workbook, “Your Thoughts Matter,” aimed at helping readers shift negative thoughts into encouragement.

Beyond resource development, Francesca is a speaker who spreads hope. She delivered the keynote speech at the NAMI CA 2022 Annual Youth Conference, presented a session on Mental Health Conversations at the NAMI FL 2022 Annual Conference, and participated as a panelist at the When The Music Stops 2022 Annual Summit. Additionally, she has spoken on virtual panels for Magellan Health and the National Federation of Families, conducted a fireside chat at the 2023 Mind Out Loud Event, presented at the 2023 Brave Summit, shared her experiences and innovative suicide reduction methods at NAMI Con 2023, and spoke at the 2023 Annual Student Mental Wellness Conference.

Francesca’s work has garnered recognition in the Kindness Channel and IDontMind Journal. She emerged as a top finalist at the RevolutionHER 2022 Summit for Impact in Leadership and was honored as a Peer Recovery Champion at the NAMI FL 2022 Annual Conference. NBC6 South Florida featured her organization in September 2022, and in 2021, Francesca was named an Amplifier by the ConversationaLIST Awards.

Francesca’s overarching mission is to provide preventive resources, eliminate barriers, and normalize conversations around mental health, ensuring that no one else loses themselves or a loved one to suicide.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1) Curiosity. I am always exploring the limits of what’s out there. How can I push past these limits to make a difference? What can I improve and build upon versus what can I reinvent and create? My advice is to be a lifelong learner. Never assume that you know everything there is about anything. Ask questions, respectfully and appropriately test the limits, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

2) Resilience. I make mistakes, I struggle, I get knocked down BUT I stand back up. It’s not always immediate, but when I am ready, I try again. My advice is if you truly believe in the potential of something, do not give up. But, if you aren’t sure this is the right option or route, do not be afraid to pivot. It may not be as easy of a journey as you hoped, but keep trying. That being said, check in on your mental health and how everything is impacting you. Supporting yourself is the biggest factor in resilience. When you can show up for yourself, honor yourself, and work toward your goals despite the obstacles, I believe that is when you are truly resilient.

3) Communication. I am a public speaker, so unsurprisingly, I love to talk! Learning how to effectively communicate my mission and myself as a whole has been an essential component of my growth in business and all other aspects of my life. My advice is to focus on building your messaging to be clear, assertive, respectful, and empowering. What value do you offer and what value does it create for others?

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, I utilize a three-step process based on my workbooks:

1) Check in to identify why I feel overwhelmed, any other specific emotions I am facing, and where it all comes from. For example: Am I overwhelmed because of one specific task or situation, a few too many things on my plate, or is it a million little things building up? Am I feeling inadequate because I am comparing myself to others or societal expectations? Am I feeling powerless because there are so many factors outside my control?

2) Determine what I need. Is this something I can manage myself or would I benefit from asking for support? Do I need better time management, coping skills, or more self-care practices? Where shifting my thoughts from negative to encouragement?

3) Implement ways to meet the identified needs. Identify who I want to talk to and what I want from the conversation, then create a script outline and self-advocate. Or, create a reasonable schedule and budget time for coping skills and/or self-care practices that target how I am feeling. Or, identify negative thought patterns and focus on reframing them to feel more supported.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
professional headshot of Francesca was photographed by Jaquie Ohh with Creative Klick

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