Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Rockymore-Bess.
Hi Jamie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Creating Helpful Living Magazine stems from me not having anyone to talk to and feel safe about it afterwards. It took me a long time to say that which is life changing for me. I realize for some people when you grow up, you attend to be the person you wish you had growing up.
I initially took psychology classes in college because I was interested in understanding why people act the way they do. Listening to stories and allowing people to be heard was always interesting to me. Not because I wanted to know their business, but because when people tell their story, they light up or you see a sign of relief. It’s as if they are being heard. I soon realized everyone has a story and there’s something powerful when someone shares it.
Post undergrad, I worked at a psychiatric hospital here in Maryland where I had the desire to work with individuals with behavioral health challenges. During my time there, I learned about the gap and the misconception about mental health. I had conversations with clients asking what mental health looked like for them and not to my surprise the answers are always different. But one common comment always stood out: they did not want to be known by their diagnosis. This caused a lot of hesitation when it came to treatment, resulting in repeated hospital admissions and delayed support services.
I knew something had to change. Too many people lacked mental health education, missing life-changing elements from talking to a therapist or being consistent with medication management. That is when the idea of a mental health magazine came to mind. I wanted to provide resources for people to read at their leisure, and provoke conversation to help individuals connect with mental health providers, family, and loved ones. I wanted conversations to start in the home and providing a magazine with valuable information was where people can obtain information about mental health.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Entrepreneurship has so many bumpy roads and it takes grit to keep striving. I faced multiple challenges when the idea of creating a magazine came to mind. I just did not know how or what to do to get it out there. But I knew deep down in my heart that something had to be done. I understood the importance of what can change if I took my time to figure out how to make this magazine come to life.
I started from the bottom, reaching out to people who loved mental health and shared the same desires as myself. I did a lot of research on ways to put a magazine together, along with finding a distributor and understanding the needs and contents of creating a magazine.
Most importantly, I wanted to provide reliable resources and my goal is for each reader to receive just that!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Helpful Living Magazine launched its first issue in 2019. As the founder, I was determined to provide a platform for people to learn more about mental health. I also was aware that individuals wanted to advocate for those dealing with mental health challenges, especially those with lived experience. I want readers to know this: mental health is real and it does not discriminate, and we are all one tragedy away from dealing with a mental health crisis. My priority as founder is to create a resource for individuals looking for support and to let them know they are not alone when it comes to dealing with mental health.
What sets me apart from other individuals is that our magazine is a minority base. We want readers to see representation due to the mental health stigma that occupies the homes of many of our minority communities. The pandemic displayed the importance and the realization for many families, however knowing what resources to partake in becomes a challenge. I use this information and make it a mission to find local programs that are not easily accessible by a Google search and feature them for readers to read and get to know. Some articles will have QR codes to view while other articles will have contact information for readers to reach out for additional information. My goal is to connect people to the resources they need, by creating a platform where people who have the resources can be seen.
What I am most proud of is our quarterly issues. For the past four years, Helpful Living Magazine issues have been consistent with providing content and creating a space where people can talk about mental health. It’s a major accomplishment and I am ecstatic to see what the future holds for Helpful Living Magazine.
We have subscription services for our readers where they can decide to have a magazine delivered to their desired address or inbox. Each magazine has vibrant colors and resources from cover to cover for their enjoyment. In addition to the magazine, we have self-care boxes and cups to help boost your self-esteem and confidence in mental health.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One most important lesson I have learned is to be yourself. People want the real you, not someone they’ve seen or heard.
We can have a goal in mind, especially when it comes to a product or service, however, it is critical to plan out what you can. Not everything will happen in one day, but consistency is key!
Pricing:
- Physical Magazine Issues $12.99
- Digital Magazine Issues $7.99
- Physical Magazine Subscription Service $45.00
- Digital Magazine Subscription Service $25.00
- Self Care Products $17.99 – $49.99
Contact Info:
- Website: HelpfulLivingMag.com
- Instagram: @HelpfulLivingMag
- Facebook: Helpful Living Magazine
Image Credits
Belle Imagery Photos
