Jennifer Randal-Thorpe has faced her share of tribulations, but her lived experience has made her a fierce advocate for others struggling with their mental health. When Louisiana reformed state mental health care, it left many with nowhere to go The state has taken a backseat in providing inpatient care, relying on outpatient services and private acute-care hospitals instead. And although she’s overcome years of trauma and tragedy, including a second failed marriage, as with many confronting mental health struggles and domestic abuse, her journey has been anything but linear. Today, her nonprofit organization Meaningful Minds offers a myriad of paid courses and provides a free support group for individuals confronting traumatic issues. “I then realized how important and precious life was.”In June, Randal-Thorpe represented Louisiana with the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery when it advocated for more funding for certified peer specialists at the Capitol in Washington, DC.