Speech Topics
Crowning Confidence
You don’t need a stage to have value; you define your own crowning moment.” Brooke centers her message around the "Crowning Confidence" initiative, a powerful program designed to uplift and empower youth in their journeys toward self-esteem and resilience. She shares her personal journey to the title of Miss Alaska USA, emphasizing how she discovered her true self along the way by embracing the aspects of herself that she once struggled to love. Brooke reveals "Crowning Confidence", where youth can celebrate their individuality and achievements in a supportive environment, fostering a positive self-image and a sense of crowning glory. She also empowers youth and adults with her Crowning Confidence Kits equipping them with the tools they need to recognize and celebrate their own unique crowning moments and to share with others.
Breaking the Stigma After My Therapist Broke Up with Me
Brooke shares the importance of self-advocacy in mental health care whilst navigating mental health challenges, including her experiences with depression, anxiety, ADD, and CPTSD, particularly after being unexpectedly left without support from her therapist in an unfamiliar city. As a National Ambassador for NAMI, she passionately emphasizes the critical need to destigmatize mental health issues and to foster open discussions about the often-overlooked realities faced by individuals seeking help.
Having survived suicidal ideations and attempts, Brooke’s experience of feeling dismissed by a system designed to provide assistance highlights the urgent necessity for a more empathetic and supportive mental health framework. She stresses that many individuals, particularly in underserved and marginalized communities, often find themselves facing their struggles alone due to a lack of accessible resources and validation from the mental health system.
Resilience: Finding Light in the Darkness
After almost succumbing to her own mental health struggles, Brooke shares her deeply personal journey through the complexities of depression, anxiety, and ADHD. She opens up about the moments when she felt completely overwhelmed, particularly during her teenage years, when her mental challenges felt insurmountable. Despite seeking help through various therapists and medications, there were times when the weight of her thoughts seemed too heavy to bear.
Yet, in the midst of this darkness, Brooke discovered an incredible reservoir of resilience within herself. Brooke’s message is one of hope: even during the bleakest times, life is filled with potential and worth. She aims to inspire others who may be facing similar battles, illustrating that with inner strength and a support system, it is possible to navigate through tough times. Brooke encourages her audience to recognize that resilience can provide a guiding light on even the darkest paths, leading to brighter tomorrows.
Black Mental Health and Racism within the Mental Health System
Brooke addresses the unique mental health challenges faced by individuals at the intersection of race and cultural identity. Drawing from her experiences as a Black woman, she highlights how systemic racism and historical trauma shape mental health perceptions. Brooke advocates for the necessity of representation in mental health discussions, emphasizing that Black individuals cannot rely on a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, therapists must recognize the additional layers of struggle that arise from issues like police brutality, microaggressions, and generational trauma. Through her passionate insights, she encourages audiences to prioritize inclusivity and understanding in addressing Black mental health needs.