This work has lived in many spaces—classrooms, community centers, conference halls, podcasts, and online platforms. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to share my story, facilitate conversations, and contribute to projects focused on mental health, prevention, leadership, and lived experience.
This collection highlights moments from that work—captured through photos, videos, and conversations that reflect the heart of what I do.
In this video, I share my lived experience as part of the national conversation around 988 and crisis support. After losing my mother and reaching out for help during one of the hardest moments of my life, I became deeply committed to strengthening how our systems respond to people in crisis—especially within Indigenous and underserved communities.
This feature reflects my work as a lived-experience advocate and my involvement in efforts to humanize crisis care, reduce stigma, and ensure people know they are not alone. Being part of this project was an opportunity to speak honestly about grief, vulnerability, and the importance of accessible, compassionate support when it matters most.
In this video, we mark the first anniversary of 9-8-8, the national mental health lifeline that’s transforming how people in crisis get help. I’m featured sharing why 9-8-8 matters — not just as a number, but as a lifeline that connects people to real, compassionate support when they’re struggling.
Being part of this story reflects my commitment to accessible crisis care, reducing stigma, and ensuring that help is available and culturally grounded for all communities — especially Indigenous and underserved populations. It’s a reminder that care can be human, connected, and hopeful — and that reaching out for help is something we should all be able to do without fear or judgment.
In this video, I share my personal journey with 988 — including the moment I reached out for support during one of the toughest times in my life, and how that experience shaped my work in mental health advocacy. Featured on KFOR News 4, the piece highlights how calling 988 influenced my decision to help others navigate their own challenges and find connection and support.
This story reflects my commitment to normalizing help-seeking, reducing stigma, and creating compassionate systems of care for all communities. Whether you’re exploring crisis support or thinking about what it means to show up for others, this video offers a meaningful look at why this work matters.
In this video, I worked directly with the White House Communications Director and Deputy Communications Director for the Biden-Harris Administration to share my lived experience and elevate the importance of 988 as a critical mental health lifeline. Together, we focused on telling a story that was honest, human, and grounded in real experience—highlighting what it means to reach out for help during moments of crisis and uncertainty.
This collaboration was centered on ensuring that lived experience voices were represented at the highest levels of national messaging. The project reflects my role in bridging personal story with public communication, helping shape narratives that reduce stigma, encourage help-seeking, and remind people that support is available and accessible.
Being part of this work reinforced my commitment to advocacy that is thoughtful, responsible, and rooted in care—for individuals, families, and communities alike.
In this suicide prevention public service announcement, created in partnership with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, I share a message rooted in community, culture, and care. This video was developed to encourage open conversations around mental health, reduce stigma, and remind our people that help and support are available.
As a tribal member and lived-experience advocate, being part of this PSA was deeply personal. The goal was to speak directly to our community in a way that felt honest, relatable, and respectful—especially for those who may be struggling in silence. This project reflects my commitment to Indigenous-led prevention efforts and to creating messages that honor our people while encouraging hope, connection, and help-seeking.
Zachary Blackowl
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