1. Breaking the Silence with Karena Dawn

Welcome to the first episode of The Big Silence! I’m your host, Karena Dawn, a mental health advocate, wellness entrepreneur, bestselling author, and founder of the women’s fitness community Tone It Up. I’m also the founder of The Big Silence Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and support to anyone impacted by mental illness, as well as removing the stigma around speaking up about it.What is The Big Silence? It’s the conversation we’re too afraid to have: caring and supporting others dealing with mental health conditions, anxiety, eating disorders, depression, suicidal ideations, and more. I’m laying out why this mission means so much to me, from my childhood growing up under a mother with mental health issues, to how I learned to escape from and avoid my own problems. If you’re struggling with mental health issues in your life, know that you are not alone, it’s OK to not be OK, and you don’t have to be silent anymore.If you or anyone you know is dealing with thoughts of suicide, text “HERO” to 741-741 to reach The Big Silence Crisis Line.Resources:Pre-Order: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing by Karena DawnDonate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.Produced by Crate Media.