Pablo Campos

Pablo Campos was born the year his parents came to the US from Guatemala and grew up in Alexandria, VA. Despite grandparents on both sides struggling from depression, addiction, and anxiety, he grew up without any discussion of or education on mental health. Juggling the norms of both the Guatemalan and American cultures was a challenge for Pablo, particularly when it came to emotional expression and seeking help. Lacking healthy coping skills, Pablo engaged in risk-taking behaviors including using and abusing substances, which led to an attempt to take his own life while in high school. After multiple stays at inpatient facilities for depression and addiction, with unsuccessful results, he learned he had undiagnosed ADHD; he eventually found proper treatment and began his road to recovery. He now talks publicly about how stigma and a lack of education made seeking help more difficult, but by finally finding a strong network of professionals and loved ones, he was able to grow from being his own worst enemy to a powerful participant in his recovery.

Pablo gained further stability by adopting a strong work ethic, which began at the front desk of a health club. There he learned a great deal about having a healthy body and a healthy mind, and is a strong advocate for good nutrition, physical fitness and self-care. As a result, he is a self-proclaimed foodie and enjoys cooking and eating a wide variety of cuisines. He is also a huge Harry Potter fan, enjoys the beach and indie music, and lavishes affection on his dog Kingsley. These all contribute to his mental well-being.

After taking time off from school to lay a strong foundation for his recovery and continued mental health, Pablo moved to Pensacola, FL to begin his undergraduate degree in social work at Pensacola State College. He served as a founding member and president of the Active Minds chapter at PSC for three semesters and also worked at the Crisis Action Referral Effort for Students or CARES office at Pensacola State. After receiving his AA in Social Work from PSC he moved to Raleigh, NC where he earned his Bachelor and Master of Social Work degrees from North Carolina State University working towards obtaining his LCSW.

Pablo has been in recovery since May of 2008 which he defines for himself as being free from drug and alcohol use while maintaining stable and strong mental health.

Pablo has been celebrating sobriety since 2008.

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