By CSC COLLEGE RELATIONS
CHADRON – Chadron native Jake Danielson will speak at Chadron State College’s Memorial Hall on Sept. 30. The 7 p.m. event will be open to the public, but requires a free ticket at https://chadronstate.hometownticketing.com.
Danielson is a motivational speaker and wellness advocate. After multiple suicide attempts and being diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and psychosis, Danielson looked to speaking and personal development to help others not feel so alone. Danielson received his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota in 2020.
CSC Counselor Chelsea Turner said Danielson is remarkable.
“His advocacy offers hope to anyone who is struggling or knows someone who is struggling with their mental health. Jake understands what it is like to grow up in a rural area with limited access to resources for mental health, making his story relatable to both our campus and our community,” Turner said.
She said Danielson sees vulnerability as a superpower.
“He lives this philosophy through his advocacy and motivational speaking. Jake's message is one of hope, empowerment, perseverance, and vulnerability. Attendees can expect to be moved, inspired, and encouraged to continue on, regardless of where they are in their journey toward mental wellness. We are so excited to have him speak to our campus,” Turner said.
When Danielson was named to a 30 under 30 list of Sioux Falls’ rising young professionals last year, he said it was his greatest accomplishment and proof that his hard work had paid off.
“There is power in everyone's story, and I hope my story can inspire others to believe in their own story,” Danielson said on his website. “I believe everyone is the hero of their own story.
“They must start believing in their superpowers. The hard part about mental health is when you struggle; you truly believe that no one understands you. We hold these feelings in, in fear of not being heard. It’s up to us as leaders to create spaces and bring opportunities and hope to our youth struggling with these issues. It’s my belief that the majority of lives would be saved if we had one person we felt we could talk to.”
Danielson is committed to changing the stigma surrounding mental health. He is the host of the Destroying Depression podcast and founded Jake Danielson Speaks LLC.