Our Founder Story
“Sometimes, the most powerful mission is born from the moments when we needed support ourselves.” – Celencia G.
Hello, my name is Celencia Gladden, and I am the Founder and President of Mental Health Support For Families (MHSFF).
The journey toward founding Mental Health Support For Families began long before it had a name. From a young age, I experienced overwhelming anxiety. As I got older, my mental health journey became more complex, and I was later diagnosed with PTSD, depression, and bipolar disorder.
Living through these challenges taught me something I will never forget: no one should have to struggle alone. There were times when I didn’t need someone to tell me what to do. I needed someone who would listen, understand, encourage me, and remind me that my experiences mattered.
My personal experiences have shaped the heart of our organization. They taught me that mental health support is not simply about providing information. It is about creating connections, building trust, reducing isolation, and reminding people that they do not have to face their challenges alone.
One of my main motivations for founding MHSFF is that I know what it feels like to need support. I realized how important it is to have a safe place where you can be yourself, speak openly without judgment, and know that someone genuinely cares.
That realization became the foundation of Mental Health Support For Families—a place where no one has to feel alone and everyone has somewhere to turn.
Through MHSFF, we provide virtual and in-person support groups, group discussions, self-care activities, and Therapeutic Art activities. Our goal is to provide practical tools, compassionate support, and meaningful connections that help individuals develop healthy coping skills, strengthen emotional resilience, build confidence, and navigate life’s challenges.
I turned my personal struggles into a purpose: to help others know that they are not alone.
That purpose continues to drive MHSFF’s mission—to make supportive resources more accessible to families, teens, and young adults experiencing mental health challenges and other barriers. We are committed to creating opportunities for people to connect, learn, grow, build confidence, and develop the tools they need to move forward.
Creating a Stronger Community
MHSFF is working to build a community where seeking mental health support is met with compassion instead of judgment, connection instead of isolation, and hope instead of feeling alone.
I believe every individual deserves an opportunity to be heard, everyone deserves access to meaningful support, and every community benefits when its members have the tools and resources they need to thrive.
Through our support groups, group discussions, self-care activities, and Therapeutic Art activities, we are creating spaces where people can connect, express themselves, learn, grow, and discover their strengths. Our goal is not only to support people through difficult moments, but also to help them build skills, confidence, and connections that can contribute to healthier families and a stronger, more connected community.
Thank you for your interest in Mental Health Support For Families (MHSFF). I hope that sharing my personal experiences has helped you feel comfortable enough to give us a chance to support you.
My hope is that MHSFF can make your journey a little easier by providing a safe place where you can feel heard, understood, supported, and never alone.