Ban.do Founder Jen Gotch Opened Up About Her Mental Health and Inspired a Valuable Change at Her Brand
'We've got more to offer than just cute cups,' she says about being focused on products that promote personal betterment.
By Stephanie Schomer •
Jen Gotch was diagnosed with depression when she was 23, and she's always been open about it. "I never felt a stigma and didn't keep it private," says Gotch, now 47. "There was just no social media, so I didn't have a platform." Two years ago, that changed: Following a divorce, Gotch started talking about her feelings and struggles -- sometimes to the point of tears -- on Instagram. She didn't think she was doing anything special; it was just a cathartic activity. But it proved powerful for her audience, too -- and her follower count grew to more than 200,000.
Related: The Best Place to Support Mental Health? The Workplace.
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