Emma Benoit

Emma Benoit is an uplifting, nationally recognized speaker who became deeply committed to suicide prevention after surviving a suicide attempt in 2017, the summer before her senior year of high school. At the time, she was a popular varsity cheerleader with a supportive family and many friends, but she quietly struggled with anxiety and depression and felt too ashamed to share her pain with family or friends. Her attempt resulted in a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed, an experience that helped her find faith and purpose and propelled her on a mission to use her painful experience and miraculous recovery to help others. Benoit’s recovery and advocacy are rooted in that faith and purpose.

A few months after her attempt, Benoit started the blog Life Rejuvenated to share her story and recovery journey in an effort to help other teens who are struggling. In early 2018, Benoit began working on a documentary film, "My Ascension", which was released for limited audiences in 2021. "My Ascension" chronicles Benoit’s recovery journey and advocacy work while addressing the youth suicide epidemic. Benoit has served as an ambassador for Living Works, the world’s leader in suicide prevention training, and has been featured on numerous news programs, radio shows and podcasts. She has been a featured guest on "Red Table Talk", and the nationally syndicated programs "Ask Dr. Drew" and "The Dr. Phil Show."

Benoit has been sharing her powerful story and message with thousands of people since 2021 at both in-person and virtual conferences and events, including Living Works and California Department of Education Youth Summit, National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health Conference, LSU School of Social Work Conference, Arkansas Youth Mental Health Conference, Hope Rising Suicide Prevention Summit, Wyoming Office of Attorney General and Victim Services Joint Symposium, The Nebraska School for Mental Health Conference, Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations Conference, Florida Behavioral Health Association Conference, David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health, and the Hope Squad National Conference.

Benoit is a 2025 recipient of the Program of Research and Evaluation for Public Schools Dan Merritt Courage Award and a 2026 recipient of the Junior Chamber International Ten Outstanding Young Americans Award, TOYA. Benoit is a 2018 graduate of Dutchtown High School in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, and her strength and motivation are rooted in her strong faith, supportive family and all those who work together to Let Hope Rise.