Big Steps - Our Inspiration

Pete Jones

He was a loving, vibrant, popular young man who’d graduated from college and with multiple options for a promising future. Even so, Pete struggled with depression for 10 years, a struggle he largely hid from his many friends and loving family, in part because of the stigma associated with acknowledging mental health challenges. Pete ultimately lost his struggle, taking his own life in December of 2016. He was 23.

In the wake of this devastating loss, the Jones family established The Pete Foundation to help those battling mental health disorders overcome the stigma that prevents too many people from seeking the lifesaving help they need.

“Mental health is the elephant in every room,” says Molly Jones, Pete’s mom, co-founder and CEO of The Pete Foundation. “We want to equip people with the tools to understand, express, and find support for themselves and others struggling with their mental health.”

The Pete Foundation works to create a greater understanding of mental health and mental illness. That means improved mental health education for the general public—parents, children, families, co-workers, and friends, so everyone has a better understanding of what mental illness is, what signs to look for in ourselves and our loved ones, what resources are available to overcome mental health challenges, and how we can create supportive environments that eliminate stigma, enable healing, and save lives.

This work is critical. A recent report (September 2025) issued by Louisville Metro Government stressed the urgent need for collaborative, community-wide action to prevent suicide and increase understanding around mental illness. The report calls on all residents to learn about suicide prevention, recognize warning signs, and support those in crisis. Business and community leaders are urged to incorporate suicide prevention education and mental health resources into their workplaces.

Every life lost to suicide deeply impacts families, communities, and workplaces. Employers are increasingly feeling the effects of depression and other mental health conditions among their employees. According to the American Psychiatric Association, depression among U.S. employees reduces productivity by 35 percent and results in lost time, medical expenses, and absenteeism that reduce revenue as well.

The good news is that you have the power to change this. You can support your employees, and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, by partnering with The Pete Foundation’s Knowledge of Wellness Program. Knowledge of Wellness educates employees on the basics of understanding and responding to mental health issues, that often go undiagnosed and untreated.