Jessie Close

Jessie Close is a speaker, author, poet, and advocate for mental health reform known for her work addressing the stigma surrounding mental illness. Close experienced symptoms of mental illness from a young age, which developed into severe bipolar disorder in her early adulthood. She was not properly diagnosed until age 50, after years marked by addiction, multiple marriages, and suicidal ideation. With support from her sister, Glenn Close, she sought treatment and received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Close began her advocacy by publicly sharing her personal story, aiming to educate the public and encourage others to seek mental health resources. She serves as an advocate at BringChange2Mind.org, a nonprofit organization founded by Glenn Close to address stigma related to mental illness. Alongside her son, Calen Pick, who lives with schizophrenia, Close works to challenge stereotypes about mental health conditions.

As an author, Close has written "The Warping of Al," published by Harper & Row, and contributes a regular blog for Bring Change 2 Mind. Her memoir, "Resilience: Two Sisters and a Story of Mental Illness," was co-written with Pete Earley and includes contributions from Glenn Close. Her third book, "Silence You," co-authored with Calen Pick, documents their experiences with psychosis, bipolar 1 disorder, and alcohol addiction.

Close has received recognition from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mental Health America, the Jed Foundation Award, and the McLean Award. She and Glenn Close appeared in the Apple TV+ documentary series "The Me You Can't See," furthering their mission to raise awareness about mental health. Close continues to speak on mental health, recovery, and advocacy, sharing her experiences to support individuals and families affected by mental illness.