From Crisis Lines to Billboards: How Unsinkable is Changing Mental Health Narratives

From Crisis Lines to Billboards: How Unsinkable is Changing Mental Health Narratives

Author: Cherry Chan June 19, 2025 Duration: 26:28

In this episode of the Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast, Cherry Chan speaks with Hailey Hechtman, Executive Director of Unsinkable, a national nonprofit mental health organization founded by Olympian Silken Laumann.

Hailey shares how Unsinkable launched a national campaign, Fragments: Stories That Heal, using in-kind contributions and partnerships instead of large funding. The campaign featured:

  • 25 billboards across the GTA, including Dundas Square

  • Audio stories broadcasted via radio, podcasts, and digital ads

  • A 45% increase in direct website traffic in a single month

This conversation is packed with ideas for nonprofit leaders who are navigating lean budgets, trying to grow their audience, or build partnerships.

What You'll Learn:

  • How a nonprofit mental health leader built a crisis line in the Yukon from scratch

  • How to use in-kind donations and local partnerships to create national impact

  • Why storytelling is a critical tool for advocacy, fundraising, and brand-building

  • Why it's okay if your career path isn't linear—and how to lead through uncertainty

Hailey's Quote to Remember:
"Some of our biggest wins came from someone we met at a conference or a LinkedIn post we followed up on."

If you're leading a nonprofit mental health organization or any nonprofit with a powerful story, this episode is full of practical, creative takeaways.

 


Hosted by Cherry Chan, The Unfiltered Non-Profit: Leaders Share It All pulls back the curtain on what it truly takes to run a mission-driven organization. This isn't a series of polished success stories; instead, each conversation goes deep into the operational realities that leaders grapple with daily. You'll hear about budget crises that threatened to shut doors, the complexities of team dynamics under pressure, and the strategic pivots that saved programs. Chan guides these discussions with a focus on practical management and the less-glamorous, behind-the-scenes work that sustains impact. The result is a candid resource for anyone involved in the business of change, from seasoned executives to board members and aspiring founders. Tuning into this podcast feels like gaining access to a private roundtable where honesty is the only policy, offering lessons that are immediately applicable. It captures the full, unfiltered journey of non-profit leadership-the setbacks, the hard-won victories, and the relentless pursuit of making a difference.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 39

The Unfiltered Non-Profit: Leaders Share It All
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