Breaking the Stigma: Jessica Galo on Leading the Be a Mindleader Movement for Kids and Families

On this episode of the She Believed She Could™ Podcast, host Allison Walsh sits down with Jessica Galo, Director of Specialty Care at AdventHealth for Children and the inspiring leader behind Be a Mindleader — a movement designed to empower children, parents, and communities to speak openly about mental health.

With research showing that half of all mental illnesses begin by age 14 — and that only one in three parents regularly discuss mental health with their children — Jessica and her team knew something had to change. Through Be a Mindleader, powered by AdventHealth for Children and Heart of Florida United Way, she’s helping families start early, stigma-free conversations that can literally save lives.

Jessica Galo serves as the Director of Specialty Care at AdventHealth for Children, where she leads programs focused on holistic health and family well-being. With a degree in social work and over 16 years of experience supporting children and families, Jessica’s leadership has been instrumental in creating compassionate, community-driven healthcare initiatives.

As the driving force behind Be a Mindleader, she is transforming how families, educators, and community partners approach mental health — creating a movement that encourages connection, courage, and care.

Jessica’s journey began long before the campaign’s creation. With a background in social work and 16 years of experience supporting children and families, she’s witnessed firsthand the emotional toll that illness and stress can take on both patients and parents.

That experience inspired her to take action — to not just care for the physical needs of children, but to prioritize their mental and emotional well-being too. As she explains, “We wanted families to have conversations early — before a crisis — so that bigger challenges could be managed later.”

Through community partnerships, bilingual resources, and programs in schools, Be a Mindleader is building a culture of awareness, education, and empathy.

As a working mom herself, Jessica understands how busy life can be. Yet she reminds parents that the most meaningful connections often happen in the smallest moments — in car rides, late-night chats, and simple “how was your day?” check-ins.

“Car rides and late-night talks are the times when kids open up. Being intentional and present makes all the difference,” Jessica shares.

By offering parents tools, conversation starters, and coping strategies through BeAMindleader.com, her goal is to make these moments easier — and more impactful.

The Be a Mindleader initiative isn’t just about awareness — it’s about action. Jessica and her team are expanding their reach by embedding counselors in primary care offices, training school leaders, and ensuring resources are available in English, Spanish, and Creole.

“I’m proud that AdventHealth and Heart of Florida United Way made Be a Mindleader available in three languages — it’s the first campaign in AdventHealth history to do so,” she notes.

This commitment to inclusion and access ensures that families across Central Florida can find the support they need, regardless of background or language.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• Half of all mental health challenges begin by age 14 — early conversations save lives.

• Parents don’t need all the answers; they just need to be present, open, and intentional.

• Be a Mindleader helps normalize mental health discussions across schools and communities.

• AdventHealth for Children and Heart of Florida United Way are expanding access with multilingual resources.

• Mental health is everyone’s responsibility — and connection is the foundation of healing.

✨ Ready to learn how to spark meaningful mental health conversations with the kids and families in your life?

Tune in to this heart-opening conversation with Jessica Galo on the She Believed She Could™ Podcast.