Remembering Justin: Finding Healing and Hope Through Fitness

My big brother and only sibling, Justin Arthur Wall, was the kindest soul I have ever known. His beautiful smile often hid the pain behind his dark brown eyes. When he laughed, it was contagious. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to hear that laugh again. And he gave the best hugs. If I close my eyes and concentrate hard enough, …

Remembering, Reflecting, and Raising Awareness

Losing someone to suicide is devastating. Losing two close friends is an ache that words cannot fully describe. For me, the grief was heavy, disorienting, and long-lasting. I remember walking through days in a fog, struggling to understand why I felt the way I did. Maggie was like a sister. We first connected in high school through an after-school mental …

It’s Okay Not to Be Okay: Reflections on Identity, Trauma & Hope

I’ve come to believe that silence isn’t always golden, especially the kind that wraps itself around trauma and pain. Sometimes, it’s a weight. Heavy. Suffocating. And far too often, fatal. I’m a storyteller, a brother, a son, an uncle, a friend, and a proud creative born and raised in Northern Kentucky. But before any of those identities found room to …

From the Mat to the Mind: Supporting Student Athletes Through Yoga

Can you start by introducing yourself—your name, title, and how you got started Teaching yoga to student athletes? My name is Audrey Hamilton, and I’m the Founder of AudiMae Yoga. I first began teaching yoga by visiting inner-city schools, offering students tools to help release mental stress during State Testing. One afternoon, as I was leaving a session, I was …

Permission To Be R.E.A.L.

There’s an adage that says, “time heals all wounds.” I find that saying to be incomplete, not inaccurate. Time will most definitely heal the fleshy part of the wound, but the wound itself will still be felt through every ripple of time. How we feel that wound is totally up to us.  I wrote a book called Yes, But I …

Breaking the Stigma, Saving Lives

Hello everyone, my name is Nia Forrey, and these words are to help remember and honor my dear cousin and best friend, Kassidy Marie Wilk. Kassidy heartbreakingly took her life 5 months ago. Kassidy struggled in silence, too afraid to speak out on how she was feeling, and all she was struggling with. We need to break the stigma surrounding …

Living with Anxiety and OCD: Learning, Coping, and Growing

I’ve lived with an anxiety disorder for most of my life. But about a year and a half ago, everything started to change in ways I didn’t understand. My anxiety became more intense, and it began to affect every aspect of my daily life. I was barely holding it together, and I didn’t know why. Eventually, I was diagnosed with …

Life Is Not Only About Helping Other People – It Is Also About Helping Yourself

Hello everyone! This is Tista, the new general intern for 1N5. I am currently a senior at Northern Kentucky University, majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Public Service. As my graduation is approaching (December 2025), I have realized one thing. I have lived most of my college life helping other people. I have always been there for people whenever …

Men’s Mental Health Month: You Are Not Alone 

At the start of June, many people celebrate the arrival of summer — the warm weather, school breaks, and all the joy the season brings. In recent years, though, Men’s Mental Health Month has gained the much-needed attention it deserves during this time, helping to raise awareness about the unique mental health challenges that men face.  Each year, this month …