Hi, I’m Jason Prinzo – a mental health advocate, public speaker, and living testament to the power of resilience and self-transformation. 

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Born and raised on the west side of Cincinnati, my mental health journey began at the age of five. A simple drawing in kindergarten class drew the attention of my teacher and the school counselor. What was supposed to be a drawing of my family wound up reflecting some of the troubling things that were happening at home. Unfortunately, the events tat led to that moment  was just the beginning of the trauma that would haunt most of my adult life. I never fully accepted or understood the idea that I was dealing with mental illness.  It wasn't until I was at a place in life that I should've been my happiest that I realized there was a problem.

 

By all accounts I was “successful”. Especially considering the hand I was initially dealt as a kid and a lack of formal education. I had a thriving career in the music industry having held executive roles at Warner Bros. and Capitol Records before starting my own marketing and promotion company. I had traveled the world. Attended events that I could only dream about. Whether it was the Grammy’s, Super Bowls, Master’s tournaments. I was living a life that I could only dream about as a kid. The problem was – I wasn’t able to enjoy any of it. Depression, anxiety, anger, and imposter syndrome violently chewed at my very core. I woke up every morning wondering if it would be the day that everything I had worked for would be taken away …

 

As a public speaker, I now fearlessly stand before audiences to tell my story, and how I live and deal with my mental health challenges on a daily basis. I’m fortunate to be in a situation when I can not only shed light on the realities of mental illness (and the devastating impact it can have on both individuals and the workforce) – but also share the transformative potential of seeking help. 

 

I’ve found that by doing this, I can challenge the many misconceptions surrounding mental health – as well as foster empathy, promote self-care – and inspire individuals to embark on their own paths of coping and discovery.