Today we are doing something different, but perfectly aligned with Dear Family’s mission. We are having a father and son together as Dear Family, guests.
Tim Davis was just 11 when he lost his mother. Never properly dealing with the trauma, he ended up struggling with substance abuse throughout high school and got into a lot of trouble. But high school wasn’t all bad because Tim fell in love and married his high school sweetheart and had two children before getting divorced.
Tim is sober now and has an amicable relationship with his ex-wife, which allowed him to successfully co-parent his son, Ryder, and his daughter, Tess in Santa Monica, California.
In 2018, when Ryder turned 18, he had a manic episode while in high school that put him in the hospital for three days. Ryder was diagnosed with bipolar and that was when everything changed.
Grateful to be introduced to the amazing resources of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Tim soon joined the NAMI Westside Los Angeles team, becoming an Education Coordinator. The role offered him the opportunity to be of service to an expanding community impacted by mental illness by connecting them to classes and support groups. Tim’s diverse background as a TV writer and a communications director for a tech startup made him well suited to help spread the word about NAMI and all its programs so families don’t have to wait until they’re in crisis.
Ryder took a gap year before starting college to work on treatment and his mental health. Ryder is now a 20-year-old freshman at Boston University and like his dad, he’s now advocating for mental health awareness by presenting to students through NAMI’s renowned “Ending the Silence Program.” It’s quite a treat to sit in on a middle school, high school, or family presentation where Tim is the lead presenter and his beloved son is the youth presenter as they share their personal story about mental health warning signs and resources to get help.
Tim is filled with pride and gratitude as he watches his son handle his challenges and communicate about them with grace, humor, and courage, knowing he will inspire a younger generation to ask for help if they need it. Together, this father and son duo’s tireless advocacy is driven by their mission to end the shame and stigma that continue to surround mental health conditions by speaking out so others know it can and will get better. Tim and Ryder are here to remind us how the love and support from our family and our loved ones can make all the difference in the world.
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