The Bravest Thing You Can Do: Ryan Lipsett on Asking for Help

In this episode of the No Shame on U podcast, host Gadi Kalman is joined by Ryan Lipsett, a college freshman mental health advocate from Illinois who is already making waves in the mental health community. Ryan shares his story with remarkable openness — from a "typical childhood" that shifted in middle school when body dysmorphia and isolation set in, to years of quietly living with depression and anxiety, to a pivotal moment when he finally asked his mom for help on what he feared might be one of his last days. Ryan reflects on what it meant to finally be asked if he was okay, why that one question changed everything, and how his journey led him to advocacy work with NAMI's Ending the Silence program and a seat on NAMI's National Next Gen advisory board. He and Gadi also dig into the unique barriers men face when it comes to mental health — from toxic "man up" messaging to identities tied to performance and silence reinforced by peer culture. The conversation turns to the state of mental health education in schools, where Ryan makes a compelling case for why a one-week mental health unit simply isn't enough, and what a real, consistent, clinician-informed curriculum could look like. Throughout, Ryan models exactly what he advocates for: honesty, vulnerability, and the belief that reaching out for help is the bravest thing you can do. Whether you're a young person navigating your own challenges or someone who supports them, this episode is a reminder that you don't have to go public with your story, but getting help early can change everything.