Active Minds

Melissa Ann Hopely is an accomplished international motivational speaker and mental health advocate. In addition to her work with the Active Minds Speakers Bureau, Melissa is a face and a speaker for the organization, Minding Your Mind. Melissa also serves on the board of the Philadelphia chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and has been recognized for her advocacy work with numerous awards including the honorable mention Jerry Greenspan Student Voice of Mental Health Award given by the Jed Foundation of America at a gala in June 2009 in New York City. Melissa has appeared on several local radio and television programs including 99.5 WJBR’s Sunday Morning show, the CW Philly’s Speak Up and a NBC 10 special on bullying. She was also featured as Mark Wahlberg’s science student in M. Night Shyamalan’s film, The Happening and is involved with numerous national mental health organizations, which have given her the chance to host and attend many events where she has worked with celebrities such as Brittany Snow, Joey Pantoliano, Ron Howard and Glenn Close.

Melissa is currently working on a memoir about her battle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Depression and a documentary film following the fight for mental health. She just started performing and writing music paralleling the topics she speaks on and also just landed a role in the suicide prevention film, “Power of Purpose” and completed the role of Whitney in the suicide prevention and anti-bullying play, “When the Smoked Cleared.” For more information visit Melissa’s website at www.melissahopely.com.

Topics: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Self esteem, Bullying, Peer pressure, Advocacy