COMING SOON!

🌟 Becoming a Mental Health Champion

A Father's Journey Through Grief to Mental Health Advocacy

By Reggie Burton — Coming July 2025

📖 Why I Wrote This Book

This book was born from heartbreak—and transformed into hope.

After the tragic loss of my son Avery to suicide after a struggle with depression, I found myself navigating unimaginable grief. But from that pain came purpose. Becoming a Mental Health Champion is the story of how I turned personal loss into public advocacy, how I chose to speak up when silence was easier, and how I learned to lead others through mental health challenges with compassion, courage, and clarity.

This book is for every parent, coach, friend, or colleague who has ever wondered what they could do to help someone in crisis.

🔍 What You’ll Discover

🧠 Mental Health Lessons from the Field – Real-world insights from my experiences in sports, PR, and nonprofit leadership.

🏈 Athletic Mindset Meets Advocacy – What professional athletes teach us about resilience, recovery, and pushing through pain.

🧭 Stoic Philosophy for Everyday Life – How ancient wisdom shaped my healing process and can guide yours, too.

📘 Reflections from “This Is Depression” – Building on my first book to offer deeper tools, stories, and support.

🛠️ Resources and Tools – Tips from Mental Health First Aid training, plus practical ways to take action today. Whether you're struggling with grief, supporting someone with depression, or simply seeking a deeper understanding of mental health, this book is for you.

Pre-Order Coming Soon

🔗 Inspired by My First Book: This Is Depression

My first book opened the door to raw conversations about mental illness, and its reception humbled me. Readers found validation, comfort, and strength in its pages—and asked for more.

Becoming a Mental Health Champion is my response. It goes beyond awareness to action. It’s about what we do after the diagnosis, after the funeral, after the silence. It’s about building systems of support and becoming the voice someone else might desperately need to hear.

🏆 The Symbol Behind the Cover

In the publicity photos for the book, I’m wearing my Avery Burton Foundation scrubs and my Stanley Cup Championship ring.

The scrubs symbolizes mental health and wellness in my role with the Avery Burton Foundation.

That ring represents years of work in professional sports—and the pinnacle of success. But now, it means something different.

It’s a reminder that winning hurts. That even the greatest victories can be shadowed by deep personal loss. And that true champions show up, speak out, and keep going, especially when the journey gets hard.

📅 Available July 2025

Pre-orders open soon! Proceeds benefit the Avery Burton Foundation.

Be the first to know when the book drops.
👉 Join the Email List: info@reggieburton.com
👉 Follow on Instagram: @reggieburton.com
👉 Learn More About the Avery Burton Foundation: www.averyburtonfoundation.org

📍 About the Author

Reggie Burton is a father, storyteller, mental health advocate, and founder of the nonprofit 501c.3 Avery Burton Foundation. A veteran of the sports PR world and author of This Is Depression, he brings both professional insight and personal experience to the conversation around grief, resilience, and healing.