April Simpkins is a mental health advocate, a C-suite executive, and a highly sought after keynote speaker on the topics of DEI, mental health in the workplace, leadership, and culture. As an ambassador for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) she is committed to overcoming the stigma of mental illness and promoting mental wellness in the workplace. The mother of six children, she makes her home in South Carolina.

On January 30, 2022 her daughter, Cheslie Kryst— the 2019 Miss USA, licensed attorney, Emmy nominated, and respected TV correspondent— passed away by suicide at the age of 30.

By the Time You Read This: The Space Between Cheslie’s Smile and Mental Illness is Cheslie Kryst’s story of the hard work, relentless drive, and complicated feelings—anxiety, loneliness, and insecurity, as well as pride and joy—behind her achievements, which she left for April Simpkins, her mom and best friend, to share with the world. “As you instructed me in your final wishes, I’m seeing to it that your book gets published,” Simpkins writes in her preface, a heartfelt letter to her daughter.

In this heartfelt episode, April Simpkins shares how she copes with loss by pouring her efforts into mental health advocacy and ways to support the ones you love who are living with mental illness. 

Follow April Simpkins:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprils_hr/?hl=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aprils_hr/video/7360004964866903342?lang=en
Website: https://www.aprilsimpkins.com/
Foundation: https://www.CheslieCKrystFoundation.org
Book: https://www.bythetimeyoureadthisbook.com/


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Disclaimer: You may want to consider your individual mental health needs with a licensed medical professional. This page is not medical advice.