NAMI Announces New Cheslie C. Kryst Memorial Fund for Mental Health

Jan 30, 2023

Today, one year after Cheslie Kryst’s passing, NAMI is announcing the new Cheslie C. Kryst Memorial Fund for Mental Health. Created in partnership with Cheslie’s family, the fund will help honor her life and legacy while providing help and hope to others experiencing mental health challenges.

“Just because someone tells you they are fine, doesn’t always mean they are fine,” said April Simpkins, Cheslie Kryst’s mother. “We hope this can be an opportunity to shed more light on the challenges of high-functioning depression that Cheslie experienced and so many others go through every day.”

“There are many faces of depression,” added Daniel H. Gillison Jr., NAMI CEO. “That’s why we have to get past the surface and ask how people are really doing. It’s not always obvious when someone is struggling, and mental health conditions can affect anyone.”

If you are experiencing depression or thoughts of suicide, you are not alone. To reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to use the online chat. To find local mental health resources near you, visit nami.org/help.

To learn more about Cheslie Kryst or support the Cheslie C. Kryst Memorial Fund for Mental Health, visit our website here.