The Fresh Start Award, created by Metabolic Mind, honors the courage, resilience, and strength of individuals who have reclaimed their mental health through ketogenic therapy. For many, the years lost to illness make restarting life a daunting task. Fresh Start helps these individuals pursue goals that once seemed out of reach—whether it’s starting a new career or earning a college degree. This award celebrates the often invisible hard work required to overcome mental health challenges and encourages society to recognize these journeys. 

I want to emphasize that the selection process was not based on the merit of an individual’s recovery journey; every story was equally inspiring, relevant, and powerful. Being on the team of reviewers to select the awardees from such a pool of inspiring candidates was an immense privilege and one of the most challenging tasks I’ve faced in my career. Each story touched us and was outstanding in its own way. Submitting to this award was a triumph in itself, and we celebrate each and every applicant who honored us by submitting an application. The number of exceptional applicants far exceeded the number of awards we could grant. As someone who has experienced mental illness and now has a passion for metabolic psychiatry advocacy, I gained an even deeper appreciation of the critical work individuals with lived experience are currently doing to raise awareness and inspire others.

“The most beautiful souls are those who walked out of the fire, then returned with water for those still in it.” -Anonymous 

This quote came to mind many times as I read the incredible stories of people who have not only reclaimed their lives but are now dedicated to supporting others on their journeys to do the same. We discovered that many individuals in our community share common advocacy goals, such as writing books, building YouTube channels, launching coaching businesses, or obtaining formal certifications related to metabolic psychiatry. These efforts are vital to the future of mental healthcare, as those who have experienced living with a mental illness have an invaluable role to play in educating and supporting others and driving systemic change. While we were only able to grant a limited number of Fresh Start Awards, learning about the aspirations of our community has inspired our team at Metabolic Mind to contemplate new strategies to support advocates in the future.

Many of our awardees are already advocates making a significant impact in the field of metabolic psychiatry. You can learn more about all ten of our incredible awardees by visiting our website. Neseret Bemient, Robyn Dobbins, Dyane Harwood, Shannon Harwood, Donika Hristova, and Mia Mendez all recovered from bipolar disorder and are now supporting others on their journeys. Caroline Beckwith is in remission from anorexia, and is helping peers find success as well. 

Others are newly recovered and this award will serve as a springboard to the next chapter of their lives, free from the constraints of debilitating psychiatric symptoms. This includes Oliver Seligman who treated bipolar disorder and will now go on to complete his Master’s Degree, Nina Carbone who is going back to college now that she has recovered from anorexia, and Isabella Hyatt, our youngest winner, who is just 18 years old.

One of the main reasons I am so dedicated to raising awareness about metabolic psychiatry is my hope for young people to achieve remission and reach their full potential, without enduring the years of struggle that I, along with countless others, have faced. It was so moving to learn about Isabella, and how she was able to find recovery at such a young age after her father discovered Brain Energy by Dr. Christopher Palmer. I wanted to share a bit of her story to inspire other young people to reach for fresh starts of their own. Isabella endured a childhood plagued by anxiety and depression. In middle school she experienced psychosis and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She survived a suicide attempt. Now, she has put her serious mental illness into remission using ketogenic therapy and is preparing to pursue a degree in forensic science—something she once believed would be impossible. She describes how deeply isolating serious mental illness can be, especially when it feels like no one around you truly understands what you are experiencing. For Isabella, discovering this award and connecting to our community provides reassurance and encouragement:

“I am so honored to share my story. Seeing that I can even apply for this award and knowing that there are others out there like me strengthens me, and it is already an encouragement that I am not alone.”

One of the most inspiring aspects of metabolic psychiatry is the solidarity within our lived experience community. This sense of connection was profoundly evident throughout the award application process. Some applicants even took the time to provide thoughtful recommendations for others, showcasing the meaningful support that makes this movement so powerful. I know our whole community will enthusiastically congratulate the awardees and recognize what this moment represents: a message to the world that recovery from serious mental illness is not only possible but worth celebrating. 

In my own life, I’ve experienced both personal and professional ups and downs following remission. Yet, even in challenging times, I remain in awe of how the world continues to open up to me with new possibilities following remission. I am so proud of each person’s journey embracing therapeutic ketogenic nutrition as a cornerstone of their recovery and well-being, and view every application as a tremendous achievement. If you were not selected, I urge you not to give up on the dreams you shared in your application. The ability to articulate goals that once seemed unimaginable and now seem within reach is priceless and something to be proud of. There are many potential paths to achieving your ambitions, and future opportunities will arise. The perseverance you’ve already built through implementing ketogenic therapy is an incredible asset, and there is no limit to where it can take you now. Your story of hope, resilience, and strength is inspiring. Your dreams and aspirations are incredible, and I believe in your ability to bring them to fruition. No matter where you are on your journey, I encourage you to stay connected, stay involved, and continue pushing for the change we all need. Together, we are reshaping the future of mental healthcare.