Joseph Penola on Clubhouse

Bio

Founder of @YouRockFNDN🤘
yourockfoundation.org
Suicide Attempt Survivor 💔
Mental Health Advocate 🧠
Public Speaker 🗣
Husband & Father 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧
Lover of Music & Film 🎶 🎬
Comics Nerd 🤓
Graphic Designer 💻

I'm the Founder and Executive Director of The You Rock Foundation (YRF), a music-based mental health 501(c)(3) nonprofit I created as a result of my battle with depression and subsequent suicide attempts. YRF instills a sense of self-worth in others while using music and the artists behind it as a way to help people express themselves and overcome mental health struggles.

Despite being surrounded by supportive family and friends, I couldn't confide in anyone when I was experiencing suicidal thoughts. I felt like music was able to speak for me, and it eventually allowed me to find my own voice, talk about my illness, and get the help I needed. YRF’s video interviews with bands like Slipknot and Korn have given music fans the same kind of inspiration that was instrumental to my healing. And YRF's social media campaigns have helped its followers find a value for themselves that I lacked.

I've previously organized a mental health support group at School Of Rock and volunteered as a counselor for Crisis Text Line. In addition to all my responsibilities at YRF, I currently speak at trade shows like NAMM, public schools, private schools like Fusion Academy, mental health conferences, and other events.