AmandaGrace Krier is a retired Irish dancer, avid fried pickle enthusiast, and lover of philly sports. She is also a suicide loss survivor, youth mental health professional, and person in active recovery with mental illness. After losing her cousin to suicide in 2017, she found a passion for youth and young adult mental health. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Behavioral Health from the Community College of Philadelphia and a peer support certification. AG has over five years of experience in both direct support and peer support with transition-aged youth. In her free time, she likes to volunteer with her local National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) chapters and engage with legislators on state and federal policy in her home state of Pennsylvania. Amanda Grace is a fierce advocate of “Nothing about us without us” and hopes to continue to empower the next generation of youth to advocate for themselves anywhere from the doctor’s office to the Oval Office.
What inspired you to start the Sean Flynn Foundation?
"After losing my cousin Sean to suicide in 2017 I was determined to channel my grief into something positive and create an outlet for my family. I wanted to honor Sean’s beautiful life while also educating others on the impact that concussions can have on a person's mental health. Since launching in 2019, we have raised thousands of dollars for mental health education, suicide prevention and concussion research as well as provided several college scholarships. Thousands of people have heard Sean's story and countless lives have been saved as a result. There will forever be a Sean sized hole in our hearts that time will never heal. But with every opportunity I have to talk about Sean I remember that one life lost is one to many and when we break stigma around mental health conversations we can save lives. Sean was an amazing friend to so many and he was so much more than his mental health struggles or the way that he died."
What are some ways you support your mental health?
"I am a person in active recovery living with complex post traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). I utilize something called a WRAP (wellness recovery action plan) that helps me maintain mental wellness. In my WRAP I have things like going to the gym, taking walks, eating healthy meals as well as a list of my safe people that I can go to when I am not having a good day in my recovery."
What are some resources people could use if they are suffering with mental health?
"My favorite thing that I utilize is warmlines. A crisis line would be considered a “hotline”. A warmline is a step down from a hotline and is a free phone service that anyone can use for emotional support. A warmline is typically staffed with people who have lived experience with mental health conditions. Warmlines are a great preventative tool you can use to reach out for support before a situation escalates into a crisis. Some warmlines only serve specific areas or states. To learn more about available resources in your area I recommend reaching out to your local NAMI affiliate."
How can we support people that are dealing with a mental illness?
"Empathy and active listening. When someone is struggling with their mental health it can oftentimes feel isolating. By providing an empathetic ear and the space for someone to talk openly about what they are going through you can show that person that you are a supportive and safe person that they can talk to. It is also important to remember that we cannot fill up other people's glasses with our empty cups. This means although you mean well please do not try to support others at the expense of your own mental health. If you are not in the space to support someone that is ok! Instead try to offer them a resource like a warmline number that they can turn to in the meantime."
What was the process in becoming Miss Red Rose City?
"Luckily my preparation for Miss Red Rose City came pretty easy to me. Because I work as a youth mental health professional I bring a lot of my professional experience into my activism. The largest thing that I do within my preparation is to continue to remind myself of my “Why”. The reason that I do what I do is for the 1 in 3 youth in Pennsylvania who are struggling in silence. So I walk into each competition reminding myself that no matter what the outcome is, if I am able to make one person in the audience feel less alone that I have achieved my goal whether I leave with a crown or not."
Do you plan on competing in different pageants once you give up your crown?
"I do plan on competing this year one last time for the opportunity to become Miss Pennsylvania 2024. After the 2024 season I will be retiring from pageants as I have some other goals in life that I would like to pursue. But one thing is certain just because I won't be the one with the shiny hat on my head in the 2025 season does not mean that I will be very far. I hope to have my own local competition one day."
What was something you wish you knew when competing for Miss Red Rose City?
"One thing that I wish I knew was how hard it was going to be to say goodbye to such an amazing community like Lancaster County. I will never be able to articulate what this opportunity has meant to me but it has been one that I will forever keep close to my heart. Whoever the next extraordinary women are that will join the Lancaster family my piece of advice for you is if you love and serve Lancaster the way that they deserve they will love you right back."
What are your plans for 2024?
"My plans for 2024 are to make the most of every second the Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Foundation has awarded me alongside of my favorite people in the whole world. The past 2 years I have made lifelong friends and even met women who will one day be my bridesmaids and for that I will be eternally grateful. This year I plan to embrace joy and see what the future has in store."
✰ Follow AmandaGrace Krier✰
- Instagram: @NoShameInBrainPain
- The Sean Flynn Foundation - https://www.facebook.com/SeanFlynnFoundation
- The third annual Sean Flynn Memorial Scholarship is now accepting applications
on @bolddotorg through April 2nd!
Apply Here:
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