Mental-Health Advocate
Mental-Health Advocate Attitudes In Reverse® or AIR® Offers a Mental Health Plan to Educate Youth. State Of Slay™ is A safe Place to share our experience.
My mental health journey.
My name is Carrie Genzel. I’m an actor. I am a storyteller. I was attracted to acting at a young age because I got to be someone other than myself, I hated myself. I thought you’d hate me too if you got to know me, so I hid behind characters, it was an escape for me, I could be someone else and I could go to faraway places, far away from me. Hiding worked for a long time until it didn’t. Today, after many years of learning to love myself and living in the light, I still love to tell stories, but I’ve learned that the most important story to tell is my own, it was someone sharing their story with me many years ago that saved my life, perhaps mine can do that for someone else. I share my stories today without fear of what you think, because what’s important is what I think, and I love myself today. With a humble heart I am proud of where I find myself today and who I have become. I am a warrior. I am love. I am kind. I am generous. I am strong. I am a survivor.
I used to hide behind what I loved to do to try to connect to others, now I use what I love to do to connect and relate to those who are and were like me, struggling to see the light while shrouded in darkness. If I can be a light for someone in the dark, that is the greatest gift I can give, a gift that was given to me that I can now give, a gift of hope, a gift of strength, and in turn, when I share my light gets brighter, as does yours.
Let’s burn brighter together.
Attitudes In Reverse®
Attitudes In Reverse® or AIR® offers a comprehensive mental health plan to educate youth, from elementary level through college-age. AIR'®s programs are wrapped in messages of understanding, empathy and kindness towards all. At AIR®, we believe that good mental health programming makes the best anti-bullying and suicide prevention plans. Breaking down stigma allows AIR® to help identify youth who are at risk. Programs are also available for parents, teachers and all school staff. Certified AIR® Dogs, therapy dogs, accompany all program presenters.
Photo: © Carrie Genzel
Photo: © Carrie Genzel
AIR® Therapy Dogs Program
Daphne and Carrie Genzel join AIR® in the fight against suicide. The simple action of petting a dog releases all good de-stressing brain chemical. Interacting with a dog lowers our cortisol stress level. This is a comprehensive program utilizing trained and certified therapy dogs for our mental health. Individuals can train with AIR® to certify their personal dog. AIR® also offers the AIR® School Therapy Dog Program to train dogs owned by school staff members to enhance certified therapy dogs' presence in schools.
Image: AIR® Therapy Dogs
