ABOUT
My name is Nicole Vana and I am the proud founder and creator of Spreading The Love and I welcome you to our website! Spreading The Love is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to fight the stigma, provide support, and spread awareness of the issues that surround mental illness and suicide.
When I was 17 years old I wanted to end my life. I was struggling with issues such as depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. In October 2013 I decided to create an anonymous Twitter account and I used it to connect with others from around the world. Many of these people became close friends to me and I would message them whenever I felt hopeless. In many ways that account and those people saved my life. In 2014 I decided to change the name of the anonymous account and use it to talk to people who were struggling in life. As my account grew I found myself growing a passion for helping people who felt helpless. Many of my family members, friends, and classmates began to learn about my work and the support was overwhelming. In April 2017 Spreading The Love became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the same account that began as an anonymous Twitter account for a depressed and suicidal 17 year old girl is changing the lives of thousands of people around the world.
I have many projects currently in the works including the development of an app. I am using a combination of the knowledge I have learned as a psychology major and my own years of experience of both witnessing and personally dealing with mental illness to help create a safe and helpful world for those who are struggling. The project is currently halted while I am working on raising enough money to get it developed but if you would like more information on the app I encourage you to visit here.
None of this would've been possible without the amazing support of my family, friends, and my supporters from around the world. This is just the beginning of an amazing journey and I would love for you to join it. We will be the generation to end the stigma that surrounds mental illness and suicide. Let's fight it together. Together we are stronger.
Nicole Vana
Founder and President, Spreading The Love