Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Inthavong
Hi Kimberly, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hi! My name is Kimberly Inthavong and I am a mental health advocate and public speaker.
I began my journey in mental health advocacy in 2012. As a high school project, a couple of friends and I created a suicide prevention group as a school project. Our mission educated other students at other high schools and middle schools about suicide, mental illnesses, how to get help, and find resources. We shared our stories with our peers to let them know they aren’t alone if they were feeling so. There were many times where we were approached by people as young as 10-12, sharing they were going through something and needed help. As adults, you don’t think about what kids go through “just because they’re so young.” But we were shining a light on that.
This high school project sparked my interest into what I would have never expected – an unintentional future career in mental health. I went to college for many things and this was not one of them.
I love my job – talking about mental health, teaching others how to be kind to themselves, how to breathe in tough moments, how to create a plan for their worst days. My work is centered around empathy, towards others and ourselves, how to live with a mental illness, life after a suicide attempt or trauma, and most importantly love.
As someone who struggled with mental health and multiple suicide attempts for over a decade, mental health advocacy is everything to me. When I’m in front of 300 strangers, I’m not nervous at all. I’m more nervous in a group of 3. That’s how I realized this was my purpose.
I just kept going, walking in my path and trusting my prayers, and that’s how I got to where I am today. As happy as a lark – I never would have imagined my life would be so full of love today at 27.
Here are some links with additional info that may help:
https://sevenwaystolive.org/kimberly-inthavong
https://sevenwaystolive.org/about
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a long road and not always easy.
My main struggles were maintaining my mental health wellness and trying to run a mental health organization. How can you put a smile on your face and tell people to be kind to themselves, when you did not do the same for yourself the day before?
So, there were many periods of hiatus for so many reasons. Big and little ones. I kept feeling like I was not good enough. I was scared of being judged by my family. The branding wasn’t right. The logo. The colors. The name. Whatever excuse I could make to not keep going. I think a lot of us do this to get in our own way.
It hasn’t been until this year that this has become my full-time job so I am fully dedicating myself to this work. And as a new mom! Juggling everything makes me feel like a rockstar even on my off days.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Seven Ways To Live is a mental health organization dedicated to promoting and fostering empathy within mental health spaces. Whether that’s a presentation educating students about suicide and mental health in middle-school classrooms; a wellness session during a school staff’s professional development day; or a 5-week workshop on how to heal ourselves, we provide a variety of services for every community’s unique needs.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Be authentically yourself – no one likes to meet a version of someone just to find out who they really are when the veil falls.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sevenwaystolive.org
- Instagram: sevenwaystolive
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/sevenwaystolive
