Advocacy & Awareness | Just E Productions
Advocacy is at the heart of my work at Just E Productions. Through storytelling, visual art, and public dialogue, I work to amplify voices that are too often overlooked and bring attention to trauma, mental health, gender-based violence, and recovery.
For me, advocacy begins with visibility. When real experiences are shared openly, stigma starts to fade. In its place, we create understanding, compassion, and a stronger foundation for meaningful support.
This page is designed as a living resource hub. Here, you’ll find information on national awareness months, trusted organizations in the St. Louis area offering support services, and updates on legislation impacting survivors and mental health communities.
Whether you’re looking for resources, hoping to support advocacy efforts, or simply wanting to better understand these issues, this space is here to connect you with information, insight, and support.
Advocacy Focus Areas
The advocacy work connected to Just E Productions centers around increasing awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging compassionate systems of care in several key areas.
Mental health awareness and access to treatment
Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Sexual violence prevention and survivor support
Domestic violence awareness and intervention
Substance use disorder and recovery advocacy
Reducing stigma surrounding mental illness
Creative expression as a pathway toward healing
Advocacy is not only about raising awareness. It is also about ensuring that survivors are believed, supported, and given the resources necessary to heal and move forward.
Advocacy Awareness Months
National awareness campaigns throughout the year highlight issues affecting millions of individuals and families. These campaigns provide opportunities for education, community engagement, and policy advocacy.
January
Mental Wellness Awareness Month
March
Self-Harm Awareness Month
April
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
May
Mental Health Awareness Month
June
PTSD Awareness Month & Pride Month
September
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and National Recovery Month
October
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
November
National Family Caregivers Month
Just E Productions recognizes these awareness months through storytelling, artistic expression, community programming, and collaboration with advocacy organizations.
St. Louis Advocacy & Support Organizations
The St. Louis region is home to a strong and deeply committed network of organizations working to support survivors, expand access to mental health care, and respond to the realities of homelessness, trauma, and recovery. I share these resources to help connect individuals and families with confidential support, crisis intervention, and ongoing advocacy.
Safe Connections
provides crisis intervention, counseling, and prevention education for individuals impacted by domestic and sexual violence, with a focus on safety, healing, and long-term support.
The YWCA St. Louis Domestic Violence Center
offers comprehensive services for individuals and families experiencing domestic violence, including emergency shelter, legal advocacy, counseling, and support designed to help rebuild stability and independence.
BJC Behavioral Health
delivers a full continuum of mental health and addiction services throughout the St. Louis region, supporting individuals from immediate crisis response through long-term care.
Provident Behavioral Health
provides counseling, crisis support, and community-based mental health services that strengthen emotional wellness and expand access to care.
NAMI St. Louis
offers peer-led support groups, family education programs, and advocacy initiatives, helping to reduce stigma and build stronger, more informed mental health communities.
BJC Behavioral Health’s Shelter Outreach
team focuses specifically on individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness who are not currently engaged in care. Their outreach connects people to immediate resources and helps facilitate access to mental health services.
STL Winter Outreach
is a volunteer-led effort that mobilizes during extreme cold weather to prevent deaths among individuals experiencing homelessness. Their work is urgent, responsive, and rooted in direct community care during the most dangerous winter conditions.
Urban City Services
provides essential support for individuals experiencing homelessness, including free Missouri IDs and birth certificates. Through the Bounce Back Project, they also offer job readiness training, resume support, and career development resources to help individuals re-enter the workforce.
The T
is a holistic harm reduction program serving individuals at risk of overdose related to trauma-driven substance use. Their approach focuses on meeting people where they are and addressing critical gaps in care with compassion and accessibility.
The Bullet Related Injury Clinic (BRIC)
provides trauma-informed care for individuals recovering from gunshot injuries after hospital discharge. Their work addresses the often-overlooked aftermath of violent injury by offering accessible, culturally competent support and continued care.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
is a leading national organization dedicated to suicide prevention, education, and research. They provide resources for those in crisis, support for survivors of loss, and opportunities for advocacy and community engagement.
TransParent STL
Peer support, family education, and advocacy for transgender and non-binary youth and their families.
Gateway Transcendence
Gender-affirming health referrals, mental health support, and community programming.
Tranzmission STL
Case management, housing support, and emergency resources for transgender and gender-diverse adults.
Recovery Connections STL
Provides peer support, treatment referrals, and community programs for individuals recovering from alcohol or drug addiction.
Gateway Foundation
Offers residential and outpatient treatment programs for substance use disorders, including specialized services for co-occurring mental health conditions.
BJC Behavioral Health Addiction Services
Part of BJC Behavioral Health, these services include detox, outpatient counseling, and long-term recovery planning.
Al-Anon / AA St. Louis
Peer-led support groups for individuals and families impacted by alcohol use, fostering connection, accountability, and sustained recovery.Together, these organizations represent a network of care that meets people in moments of crisis and walks alongside them through recovery. Whether you are seeking immediate help, long-term support, or ways to get involved, this space is here to connect you with the people and programs working every day to make a difference.
If you are experiencing a crisis, contact 988, the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or dial 911 for immediate assistance.
Legislative Updates & Advocacy News
Public policy directly affects access to mental health care, survivor protections, and recovery resources. Just E Productions follows legislative developments at both the Missouri state level and nationally that influence:
Mental health treatment access and funding
Domestic violence prevention and survivor protections
Sexual assault reporting laws and victim advocacy
Substance use disorder treatment and recovery programs
Community mental health initiatives
Updates and relevant advocacy news will be shared here as legislation evolves and new policy initiatives emerge.
Remaining informed about policy developments is one of the most powerful ways individuals can participate in advocacy and help shape more compassionate systems of care.
How You Can Get Involved
Advocacy belongs to everyone. Individual voices and community engagement play a vital role in creating lasting change.
You can support advocacy efforts by:
Educating yourself and others about trauma and mental health
Supporting local survivor advocacy organizations
Attending community awareness events and exhibitions
Sharing trusted resources with those who may need them
Advocating for policies that expand access to care and survivor protections
When communities speak openly about trauma, mental health, and recovery, stigma begins to fade and healing becomes possible.
Advocacy Through Art
At the heart of Just E Productions is the belief that art has the ability to communicate experiences that words alone cannot fully capture.
Through visual art, writing, and immersive exhibitions such as Aria Rising, Turbulence Behind Tranquility and Waterfall of St. Louis Stories, advocacy becomes experiential. These works invite viewers to witness the complexity of trauma, resilience, and healing in ways that statistics and reports cannot convey.
Art creates space for conversation, empathy, and deeper understanding.
Stay Connected
Advocacy is an evolving effort. As conversations grow and policies shift, this page will continue to expand with new resources, organizations, and updates.
By staying informed, supporting advocacy initiatives, and participating in community dialogue, each of us contributes to a more compassionate and responsive society.
Just E Productions remains committed to using storytelling, art, and public engagement to raise awareness, support survivors, and encourage meaningful change.