MELISA RUALES, MA

Social Impact Leader in Mental Health, Education, and Community Action

ABOUT ME

I am a social impact leader and clinical psychologist with experience developing and supporting community-based projects in Latin America and the United States. My work focuses on mental health prevention, emotional education, and youth leadership, grounded in direct community engagement and cross-sector collaboration.

Trained in suicide prevention and crisis intervention, I have contributed to initiatives addressing mental health awareness, homelessness, and access to preventive education through both grassroots action and global youth leadership platforms. I am particularly interested in building sustainable, community-driven solutions that align local impact with global development goals.

Community & Social Impact Experience

Suicide Prevention Crisis Counselor – Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services (Los Angeles)

I served as a Suicide Prevention Crisis Counselor with Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, providing frontline emotional support and crisis intervention to individuals experiencing acute distress. In this role, I conducted suicide risk assessments, supported individuals in developing crisis and safety plans, and facilitated access to appropriate community resources.

I completed Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and served as a mandated reporter, strengthening my clinical judgment, ethical responsibility, and understanding of the importance of accessible crisis support systems.

Community Volunteer Leader – American Red Cross (Los Angeles)

As a Community Volunteer Leader with the American Red Cross in Los Angeles, I was part of an ongoing community safety program focused on fire prevention and household risk reduction. My role included coordinating volunteers and supporting the implementation of free smoke alarm installations in residential communities.

This work emphasized prevention-driven public health action, directly contributing to safer living conditions and increased community awareness around emergency preparedness.

Global Youth Leadership – Global Shapers Community

I am an active member of the Global Shapers Community, a World Economic Forum initiative and a global network of young leaders committed to driving social impact through locally rooted and globally connected initiatives.

  • I am currently an active member of the Quito Hub, where I lead recruitment processes for new members and contribute to the ideation and development of projects that respond to the evolving needs of the city. This role involves identifying local challenges, fostering youth leadership, and supporting the creation of initiatives with tangible community impact.

    I also served as the Logistics Lead for Shaping Andes, the first official regional retreat for Global Shapers in the Andean region. The retreat convened approximately 50 participants from multiple countries and focused on strengthening regional collaboration, leadership development, and a shared sense of collective purpose.

  • Within the Los Angeles Hub, I served as an organizer and led community engagement for a Housing Health and Financial Literacy project developed in partnership with The People’s Concern. The initiative focused on housing stability through community outreach, education, site visits, and the development of accessible resource guides. The project has a local impact in Los Angeles and remains ongoing.

  • I participated in SHAPE LATAM in Buenos Aires as part of the Quito Hub delegation, engaging in regional dialogue centered on resilience, adaptability, and innovation in Latin America, and contributing to discussions on the role of youth leadership in shaping the region’s future.

FOUNDER

Lo Que No Se Dice (“What Isn’t Said”) is a social education initiative focused on mental health awareness and suicide prevention in Latin America. The project was created to address the persistent silence, stigma, and lack of accessible information surrounding mental health - particularly among young people and educational communities.

The initiative works to bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and everyday life by translating evidence-based practices into clear, practical, and culturally relevant education. Through conferences, workshops, and educational materials, Lo Que No Se Dice provides tools to help individuals recognize warning signs, respond effectively in moments of crisis, and create safer spaces for open and informed dialogue.

The decision to found Lo Que No Se Dice emerged from both clinical practice and community experience. After working in private practice, I pursued further training in the United States, where I worked on a suicide crisis hotline and received specialized training in suicide prevention and crisis intervention. This experience highlighted the critical role of accessible crisis support systems, preventive education, and early intervention - especially in contexts where timely conversation can save lives.

Upon returning to Ecuador, I founded Lo Que No Se Dice in response to the gaps I observed across Latin America, including limited resources, insufficient prevention training, and the normalization of silence around mental health and suicide. Today, the initiative focuses primarily on working with schools and colleges, engaging youth, educators, and families through educational programming that emphasizes prevention, awareness, and community care.

Currently in its early stage, Lo Que No Se Dice operates primarily online, with plans to expand in-person workshops and institutional collaborations. At its core, the project seeks to transform silence into conversation, stigma into understanding, and isolation into collective support - because prevention begins when people feel informed, supported, and heard.

Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Lo Que No Se Dice aligns directly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through the following priorities:

  • Promoting mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and early intervention through accessible, prevention-focused education.

  • Strengthening emotional education and crisis response knowledge among youth, educators, and schools.

  • Expanding access to mental health information and prevention tools in contexts where resources and services remain limited.

Public Speaking & Media Engagement

  • National TV Interview – Suicide Prevention in Ecuador

    Television interview addressing suicide rates in Ecuador, key warning signs, and risk factors, with a focus on public awareness and the importance of early intervention in mental health.

  • Conference Speaker – Psychological Approaches to Palliative Care

    Speaker at the Scientific Congress on Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases, organized by the Health Department of Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador.

  • Community Webinar – Mental Health, Vulnerability & Public Dialogue

    Open-access webinar featuring a public conversation on mental health, vulnerability, and emotional well-being with Mexican actor Jack Duarte. The session focused on reducing stigma, amplifying lived experience, and creating safe spaces for open dialogue around mental health challenges.

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