REXBURG – When Bradee Gordo lost her teenage son, Eliah, to his fight with mental health last summer, there were moments she couldn’t breathe, let alone imagine the future.
For Kenzie Erikson, surviving postpartum psychosis meant checking into a mental health facility and confronting thoughts she never thought she’d have.
Now, these two women are sharing their pain and their purpose through a podcast and apparel brand called Just Stay.
“We named it after the words that saved us,” Erikson said. “There were times I truly believed my only option was to not be here anymore. But hearing other people talk about their darkness gave me hope. It reminded me I wasn’t alone.”
They never wanted to do a podcast, never wanted to be a content creator or influencers. In fact, they had to Google everything on how to even get started, but they knew they needed to do something to help people struggling with mental health.
They are trying to help change the stigma that surrounds mental health, but they also realize that this problem is so big. They question how to even touch the problem when it’s overwhelming almost everyone.
Gordo got the idea for it as they were talking about what they were going through over lunch one day. When she told Erikson, she just looked at her and said, “What?”
“From that moment, we didn’t have a choice. We had to do it,” Gordo said. “We sit down, say a prayer, and start talking because this isn’t coming from us, it’s bigger.”
The impact was immediate. Students started listening. Parents reached out. Apparel orders, which have the messages “Just Stay,” and “The World Needs You,” have rolled in. People are listening and hopefully, healing.
T-shirts with the phrase “Just Stay” imprinted on them. (Photo: Courtesy photo)Reaching teens in unexpected ways
When they started Just Stay, they assumed their main audience would be women in their 30s to 50s. They were stunned by the number of high schoolers reaching out.
“It blows me away,” Erikson said. “When I was their age, I don’t think I would have had the courage to open up like that.”
The pair say each message from a teenager feels sacred. It’s a glimpse into the quiet struggles many are carrying behind smiles and social media posts.
“We’ve been really fortunate to hear some of their stories and also try and be some sort of strength for them,” Erikson said.
Students speak out
Two of the teens involved in a photo shoot for the Just Stay apparel line were Eliah’s classmates and friends. Cam Eysser and Clay Sutton listen to the podcast to help them heal from losing their friend. They wear their shirts with pride.
“I wear my shirt every week,” Sutton said. “Someone even asked me about it in an airport, and it gave me a chance to share what it means: that you’re needed, that you matter, that even if you’re struggling, Just Stay.”
Though some might feel alone in this world or that they have nobody to talk to, Eysser says there are people who love you no matter what.
“This podcast reminds people they have a place in the world,” he said. “Even in your darkest times, you might feel that you’re trapped and there’s nowhere to go, but there is a community that’s around you (and) people who love you. They’re the people you should turn to, and they’ll be able to help you in any way they can.”
After losing a friend to suicide, Sutton says the grief still lingers, and it’s made her more compassionate and aware of what people might be hiding.
Eysser has similar feelings, and though he is still healing, he is starting to see things differently.
“I still struggle with the thought that I could have done more. But what’s helped is knowing he’s still watching over the people he loved,” Eysser said.
Both students said the message of Just Stay goes beyond preventing suicide. It’s about realizing that someone who seems happy can be hurting.
“Eliah had it all,” Gordo said. “He was captain of the baseball team, had friends, a girlfriend, a family who loved him. But depression doesn’t care about any of that.”
“We need real conversations. Real tools. And if we ever monetize this, it’s going to a nonprofit that makes that happen,” Gordo adds.
Until then, they’re doing what they can: talking, sharing, showing up with all their imperfections.
“We cry through most episodes,” Gordo said. “We mess up the audio. But we’re here to be human. And if that helps someone ‘Just Stay’ one more day, it’s all worth it.”
Suicide prevention resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Crisis hotlines
- Huntsman Mental Health Institute Crisis Line: 801-587-3000
- SafeUT Crisis Line: 833-372-3388
- 988 Suicide and Crisis LifeLine at 988
- Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ teens: 1-866-488-7386
Online resources
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.