One of Nina Judge’s favorite memories is going with her father on long car rides, with the windows down and the music cranked up.
They’d talk about everything. But the one topic he never wanted to talk about was his struggle with his mental health.
John Malvizzi was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his late 20s. He let Judge know about his disease when she was about 18 years old. “Looking back, there were some obvious signs,” said Judge, who is senior construction administrator–capital projects at UGI in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. “He didn’t discuss it with me that much, and even in his bad moments, rather than talking to me, I just wouldn’t hear from him for a little while. He’d disconnect—and that’s not what you want to do.”
Ultimately, her father’s mental illness caused him to end his life in July 2021 at the age of 57.
A few months later, a friend of Judge’s gently invited her to join a community walk hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She remembers it as a beautiful day and a wonderful event—but she was surprised to see how few supporters there were. “I came home talking to my husband, Bobby, about it, saying, ‘There needs to be more,’” she said—not just more supporters but more conversations about the resources available for people struggling with mental illness.
That’s how the John Malvizzi Foundation got its start. Now about a year and a half old, the foundation honors the memory of Judge’s father through the metaphor of The Clear Umbrella—the idea that we can speak openly with others while remaining protected. And if we speak openly about mental health and our struggles, it allows others to see us, which can help us see ourselves through any struggle.
Since its inception, the foundation has raised $10,000 during its first Tee Up for Transparency golf tournament and funneled those funds into a well-received Community Mental Wellness Fair. Its second golf tournament takes place Sept. 22, and it’s supporting other like-minded nonprofits, including the event that started it all—the community walk by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The John Malvizzi Foundation’s newest initiative is certifying some of its board members as mental health trainers. They can then help teach individuals and organizations how to recognize when someone—a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor—is struggling with their mental health and how to feel comfortable talking with them and pointing them to resources.
Getting people to open up is the biggest marker of success. “We can’t always put it on the person going through a tough time to go to us,” said Judge. “Everyone around them plays a part. … What we’re trying to tell people is that you should talk about [your struggles], and people are here for you. When you’re having a bad day or if you have mental illness, even if you feel like you shouldn’t be around people, that’s the best thing—to have someone to talk to.”