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Our Story

Lived experience, not studied experience.

Most orgs in the mental health space studied the issue. FOM was built by humans who lived through it — the suicide attempts, the Baker Act at 13, the 30+ therapists, the Mental Prison, the system failures, the healing that only came when someone finally just listened.

📚
#1 Best Seller
From Mental Prison to Mental Freedom: My Journey Through the Mental Health System — L. Finesse Humxn
"I've spent every second of my life since 2019 making sure young humans across the globe understand they never have to go through isolation or be silenced alone ever again."— L. Finesse Humxn, Co-Founder & Executive Director
Survivor-Led8+ Countries501(c)(3)Free AlwaysMay 28, 2019Lived Experience
LoveFinesseBaggage
Year 7;
Founded May 28, 2019. Still here. Still building. For Humans. By Humans.
8+
Countries
100K+
Reached
30+
Therapists (survived)
Free
Always
L. Finesse's Story

On July 8th, 1998, six-year-old Finesse watched her little sister Jelisa get hit by a hit-and-run driver walking home from the park. She was never the same. She started asking why Jelisa got to go to a better place and she didn't. Her family's response: silence. God doesn't make mistakes.

By age 6 she had her first psychiatrist. By 12, her first suicide attempt. At 13, a school guidance counselor spotted dark writing in her notebook. Baker Acted her within two hours. Her parents were threatened with arrest if they didn't drop her off. Nobody was prepared — least of all a 13-year-old who just wanted to be heard.

Inside the "Mental Prison" — no freedom, medication forced without consent. She learned: smile, comply, fake it to get out. She came out knowing more about how to actually unalive herself than when she went in. One-size-fits-all treatment.

Nearly 30 therapists over 15 years. Same generic suggestions. Nobody took time to know her — until one did. At age 26, a therapist just listened. Consistently. That was enough. That gap between struggling and being truly heard is exactly what FOM exists to fill.

Journey
1998
Jelisa. July 8th, 1998.
At 6, watched her 3-year-old sister Jelisa get hit by a hit-and-run driver. Lost herself on that day.
2001-12
The System Years
Age 6: first psychiatrist. Age 12: first attempt. Age 13: Baker Act. 15+ years in the system as patient and employee.
2013-18
Suffering in Silence
Nearly 30 therapists. Generic suggestions. Never feeling heard. But learning what was broken and why.
2019
🎴 FOM Founded — May 28, 2019
At 26, a therapist finally just listened. Consistently. Finesse found peace. And purpose. FOM launched.
2020-26
7 Years. 8+ Countries. Still Here.
From 3 countries during COVID to Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Kenya, South Africa. 100K+ young humans. App launching Sep 2026.
FOM Language & Lingo

FOM speaks like the young humans we serve. Informal, relatable, no clinical jargon overkill.

Young Humans For Humans. By Humans. SAY SAPPY Mental Prisons 1 Second At A Time I+U=We Matter Life Be Lifing How are you REALLY doing? Are You AF? (Alright, Friend?) 100% Judge-Free Zone Please Don't Suffer in Silence Alone Meeting You Where You Are It's Ok Not To Be Ok Suicide Attempt Survivor Listening With Our Heart Not Our Mouth No One-Size-Fits-All
Core Values
💜
Love. Community. Respect. If we are not doing it with love, we are not doing it at all.
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Healing is simple but not easy. A listening ear and a helping hand. Consistency. That's it.
🌟
FOM is not here to fix you. We're here to support you — consistently, without judgment.
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NOT anti-medication. Just not promoting it. That's a medical professional's lane.
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The Semicolon ; Your story is not over. You chose to continue. That's why we write FOM;
FAQs — Real Questions. Real Answers.

Things people actually want to know.

Why does FOM; have a semicolon?
The semicolon shows that your story is not over. You could have ended the sentence, but you chose to continue. Suicide carries finality — we are here to stay. That's why we always write FOM;
What makes FOM; different from the 50+ other mental health orgs?
Most orgs studied the issue. FOM was built by humans who lived through it — the suicide attempts, the institutions, the 30+ therapists, the system failures. Lived experience, not studied experience.
Is FOM; Peer Support really free? Always?
Yes. FOM Peer Support is 100% free and always will be. No exceptions. Some other FOM services (workshops, professional listings, products) are paid. Donations keep the free stuff free.
Is FOM; a crisis hotline?
No. FOM is the step BEFORE and AFTER crisis. We fill the gap between “I'm not okay” and “I'm calling 988.” For immediate crisis, use our Get Help resources.
Does FOM; give advice?
Nope. FOM does not advise — we support. We listen. We show up consistently. Because sometimes all a young human needs is to actually be heard without someone jumping to solutions.
What is the Baker Act?
A law allowing mental health professionals to involuntarily hold someone for up to 72 hours without consent. Our founder was Baker Acted at 13 for saying “I don't know” to a guidance counselor. Apparently that meant yes. Know your rights. That's partly why FOM exists.
What is a FOM-Space?
Peer support groups — virtual and in-person. Small (3–5 people), confidential, topic-based, every Sun/Tue/Wed. A real space to just exist with other humans who get it.
Does FOM; recommend medication?
FOM is NOT anti-medication — but we do NOT promote or recommend any medication. That's a medical professional's lane. We can connect you with one.
Will my info be shared?
Never. Every human affiliated with FOM signs confidentiality agreements and NDAs. You control your boundaries at all times.
Virtual vs in-person — what's available?
Virtual services are available globally through our GPT, Discord Spaces, and online workshops. In-person services (community center visits, in-person FOM-Talks) vary by location, travel, and accommodations. We're working toward making in-person access as global as virtual.
Can I volunteer or intern?
Yes! No degree required. Monthly interest meetings for onboarding. 3–21 day orientation depending on role. Email contact@finesseourminds.org or check our Partner page.
I had a suicide attempt. Can FOM help?
First — thank you for still being here. Yes. We connect survivors with other suicide attempt survivors who can relate to exactly where you are. Head to Get Help to connect ASAP.
What happens if someone promotes self-harm in a FOM Space?
Zero tolerance. FOM will NEVER allow promotion or encouragement of suicide or self-harm in any form. Our safety policies apply immediately.
Why 'young humans' instead of 'youth'?
Being human means more than just an identity. It speaks to our lived experiences. We want everyone who finds FOM to feel like a full human being — not a demographic or statistic.
Press & Media
Media Inquiry · May 2026
"7-Year-Old Nonprofit Building the Infrastructure for Global Youth Mental Health"
Press Inquiry Received · Mental Health Awareness Month
Press Inquiries →
Asia Tour · 2026
FOM Seoul Founders Day Talk: International Youth Mental Health Advocacy on the Move
Seoul, South Korea · May 28, 2026
Press Kit Available
Mission, Stats, Story, High-Res Assets, Interview Availability — Updated May 2026
Updated May 2026
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