I've read that public speaking is the most common fear, which explains why most people are shocked to hear when, why, and how I began public speaking on mental health. My name is Alex Bush, and I was born and raised in Denver. My early years were what every child wants and deserves. However, the Great Recession severely impacted my dad's real estate company, and he leaned on alcohol to cope. He battled his addiction for 9 years until taking his own life in October 2017 during my junior year in high school. In the following 2 years, I lost 3 friends to suicide who were all within years of graduating.I gave my first presentation 5 months later and volunteered to speak for 2 reasons. One motivator was my responsibility to share an accurate portrayal of my family's story after several articles were published. Even more so, I was especially influenced by my experience at a school mental health presentation. I observed how my peers remained disengaged and uninvolved during the lecture, revealing a drastic need for youth participation in these conversations due to the disconnect between young listeners and adult speakers. So, I later began contacting local schools and speaking to students.My outreach has grown exponentially in the last 6 years. I have spoken to over 13,000 people located in 16 states and worked with various groups, ranging from fraternity members to corporate employees to middle schoolers. Additionally, I serve on the NAMI Mississippi Board of Directors, continue my advocacy work online, and appeared in the Emmy-nominated "Teens2Teens PSA campaign." The hundreds of face-to-face and online interactions with people of all ages have opened my eyes to how many struggle in silence and feel completely alone. By sharing my story, I address the topics people often avoid because it's uncomfortable and difficult. My story includes subject matter that is unpleasant, painful, and, sadly, very prevalent in our world. However, the strongest impact comes from authentic storytelling that people can relate to in some way. Therefore, I will continue openly sharing my story because significant change stems from a message that resonates and makes people feel something.As for the future, my top 3 goals are to write a book on my life, create a blog, and continue public speaking. Post-graduation life has been difficult because I am not taking a conventional career path. Nevertheless, I have zero doubts about my ability and certainty to create greatness and worldwide impact.