Inspiring Lives with "Mental Is Life " CEO Kyia Sada For Fashion Gxd Magazine
Written By : Samantha Cee
Mental Is Life is a business that has a focus on Mental Health Illness. It’s purpose is to educate parents on mental health, suicide and how to help their child or children seek the best help for them. Also to mentor young adults who live with a mental health disorder, as well as help them seek the best help for themselves and learn how to work with it instead of against it. The vision is to help people in the world understand that living with a mental health disorder isn’t a choice yet a lifestyle. The brain may be affected but the heart still loves the same.
Social Media Accounts:
Twitter: @KayeBlessed // Instagram: @Kyia_Sada
Facebook: Mental Is Life
Fashion Gxd Magazine : How did the idea for your business come about?
Mental Is Life (CEO): Well, before I started Mental Is Life, I was working on a hair business, but due to my schedule at the time, I could not be hands on as much as I would have liked to. So I moved on to the next plan. I happened to be on the news app and I had seen that Kate Spade ( may she rest in peace) had committed suicide, and I told myself that something had to be done because people were saying things that they had no knowledge of. What really motivated me and drove me was the 7-year-old boy who committed suicide in August of 2018 and a 9-year-old girl in Dec. 2018. It broke my heart that this children, these innocent babies who just wanted to laugh and play, are no longer here because of being bullied and no one did anything. It made me mad and from there I told myself that I had to make a change. I have to educate these parents for some don’t understand how school is today and help these young adults because it is hard growing up mentally.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : How do you find people to bring into your organization that truly care about the organization the way you do?
Mental Is Life (CEO): I look for people who are genuine, kind, caring, understanding, but is open minded and willing to learn. They want to learn and understand and help. Also, they have to have the love of God in them and know that having a mental health illness or a mental health disorder is NOT a punishment from God. The best thing that a person can do is share what they have learned with someone they know who has a mental health disorder or that person knows someone who does.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : What three pieces of advice would you give to other children who want to become entrepreneurs?
Mental Is Life (CEO):Stay prayerful, whatever you have your heart set on and it's something you have a passion for, go for it! You will mature through the process, have fun and never stop being yourself.
Fashion Gxd Magazine :If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Mental Is Life (CEO):To be honest, I wouldn't want to start over, for everything that I have been through, has prepared me for this moment and I prayed for God to show me my purpose.
Fashion Gxd Magazine :What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur ?
Mental Is Life (CEO): I would say the ability to learn because it is not hard to learn something yet it is hard to listen. Being persistent and having confidence.
Colored Ribbons For Mental Health Disorders
Green ribbon- Depression, Bipolar Disorder
Orange Ribbon- ADHD ( Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder),Self Injury Awareness
Yellow Ribbon-Suicide Prevention
Purple-ADD ( Attention Deficit Disorder)
Lime Green Ribbon-Childhood Depression
White Ribbon- Postpartum Depression
Silver Ribbon- Schizophrenia
Teal Ribbon-Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, PTSD ( Post-traumatic stress disorder)
Periwinkle Ribbon-Eating Disorders Awareness ,Anorexia, Bulimia
Grey Ribbon (not shown) - Borderline Personality Disorder
( T shirt painted by Kiya)
Fashion Gxd Magazine :What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
Mental Is Life (CEO):I haven’t had the chance to experience any failures yet, but I know that when I do, I will have to pray and push through.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : How many hours do you work a day on average?
Mental Is Life (CEO): Let’s see, with my full time job, I will say 14 hours.
Fashion Gxd Magazine :Describe/outline your typical day?
Mental Is Life (CEO): A typical a day for me would be on a Saturday which is my off day. I am usually up by 11 am. Once I have myself together, I grab my laptop and get to work for about 7 hours. I am responding to emails, scheduling my posts for Instagram and Twitter. I am researching on how to get my brand out, reading up on how to reach out to similar organizations, and what type of products and services to put out. Once I have everything written out, I prepare for church, catch up on social media and relax the rest of the evening.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Mental Is Life (CEO): Honestly, it has grew me and my family closer. I see that they are truly interested in learning about my brand and understanding my business and they want to help me in so many ways. I am really grateful.
Fashion Gxd Magazine :What motivates you?
Mental Is Life (CEO)::Passion, the personal growth that I will endure, and my family.
Fashion Gxd Magazine: How do you generate new ideas?
Mental Is Life (CEO): Sometimes I will write them down in a notebook that is specifically for my business, and once I have them written down, I will reach out to a few friends who have a business or are very good at giving feedback,run ideas by them, and write them down. I will compare and contrast my ideas and their feedback and give it a try. I won't know unless I try.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
Mental Is Life (CEO):: I am not able to do everything and hang out everywhere with my close friends and family. Sometimes I sacrifice my sleep. My love life is on hold because I want to make sure that I am in a place of balance. I don’t want a man to enter into my life, and I am not able to make time for him as well as us.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : Where you see yourself and your business in 10 years? 20 years?
Mental Is Life (CEO):: Let me see, in 10 years, I see myself speaking to thousands of parents, children and young adults at schools and universities across the world not only about mental health but also about saving themselves for marriage and starting a business.I have written a book. I pray to have a health center opened. I pray that I am married and with children. In 20 years, I see myself having at least five health centers in certain cities, three books written, on Tv and just praising God and enjoying life.
