M Abeo

M Abeo (they/he/she) is a mental health advocate, speaker, podcast host, producer, photographer, and creator of the Faces of Fortitude movement, which began as a series of portraits documenting the healing for those affected by suicide – providing a safe, stigma-free space both virtually and in person for mental health and suicide to be discussed. After losing their brother over a decade ago to suicide and surviving their own severe attempt as a teen, M started this movement initially for their own healing.

The portraits caught fire online, and they quickly saw a need for others to have a safe space to share their stories. They now travel the country to capture portraits of those affected by the epidemic in any way (be it loss, attempt, or first responders) as a step towards their healing and to educate people as both a mental health advocate and suicide loss and attempt survivor.

M’s Faces of Fortitude project has grown exponentially, and is now considered by many in the mental health field, as an essential healing space for anyone who has experienced the trauma of suicide. They single-handedly manage all the projects under the Faces of Fortitude umbrella; the portrait work, traveling interactive photography exhibits, and a podcast entitled Behind the Lens – A conversation series that provides a platform focusing on the LGBTQ+ & POC communities and their allies in the areas of activism, politics, mental health, arts & entertainment, and community – discussing the human experience in our ever-changing world. Faces of Fortitude has a rapidly growing social media fan base, followers and fans growing into an organic community of people creating safe spaces for each other across the world. In their spare time, M lives in the heart of the city in Seattle, Washington, and is working on a first-edition fine art book.