In this deeply personal and powerful episode, April Bordeau sits down with Alice Jordan, statewide coordinator for suicide prevention efforts at Purdue Fort Wayne and longtime mental health advocate. With transparency, vulnerability, and an unwavering commitment to hope, Alice shares her personal mental health journey — including surviving a suicide attempt and the realities of intergenerational pain and cultural silence — and how those experiences now fuel her advocacy across Indiana and beyond.
Alice and April explore the difference between talking about change and taking action — especially in churches, schools, and workplaces, where cultural shifts and safe spaces can be truly life-saving. Alice reminds us that hope is not just a feeling — it’s a daily choice and an act of resistance.
🌿 Key Topics Covered:
- Alice’s personal story: surviving, healing, and leading from lived experience
- Cultural and faith-based stigmas around mental health
- The power of storytelling to reduce shame and invite others into healing
- What churches, schools, and businesses can do to make a real difference
- Why “staying in your lane” matters when offering mental health support
- The importance of grace, self-compassion, and community
- Concrete ways to advocate for mental health without a clinical background
- How Alice uses newsletters, bulletin inserts, and local networks to shift culture
💬 Quotes to Remember:
“Hope isn’t just a word. It’s a lifestyle — sometimes, it’s the only thing keeping someone alive.”
“You don’t have to be a therapist to be a safe person. You just have to be willing to see pain, and stay.”
“Churches, schools, and workplaces can change the world if we let them talk about mental health.”
📌 Resources & Contact:
- Connect with Alice:
📧 [email protected]
☎️ 260-481-4184
Ask to be added to her statewide mental health and suicide prevention newsletter for tools, trainings, and updates. - Organizations mentioned:
- Mental Health America of Indiana
- NAMI Indiana
- Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
- Trainings referenced:
- QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer)
- Mental Health First Aid
- ASIST & CALM trainings
