his month, Fete
Lifestyle
Magazine
brings you one of the most important and personal features we’ve ever published—a look at mental health through the eyes of someone who has lived its devastation. Ryan Chiaverini, a former Division 1 football player turned Chicago sports anchor and TV host, has built a career in the public eye. But behind the charisma and on-air charm lies a deeply personal story shaped by tragedy.
Ryan’s younger brother, Zach, battled mental illness and tragically took his own life at just 20 years old. For Ryan, his twin brother, and their mother, the loss was shattering—made even harder by a time when speaking openly about mental health was rare, and resources were scarce.
As someone who has spent years advocating for mental health—from my early days as a pharmaceutical hospital representative for a schizophrenia treatment, to supporting close friends, teammates, and family members battling—I know firsthand how mental illness impacts not just the individual, but every person who loves them.
In today’s climate of layoffs, deportations, tariffs, political division, and the relentless noise of social media, our mental health is under attack. And yet, our system often fail those who need help most. Even in the wake of tragedies like mass shootings—too often linked to untreated or poorly managed mental illness—society’s reaction is to vilify the perpetrator rather than confront the complexity of their mental state. The media’s coverage is minimal, and public compassion is rare.
Ryan’s story is a reminder that breaking the silence is the first
step toward change. By sharing Zach’s story, his family’s journey
through grief, and his own mission to advocate for awareness, Ryan is helping shift the conversation from stigma to understanding. We are deeply grateful for his openness and courage—and for using his platform to shed light on an issue that affects millions but is still too often pushed into the shadows.
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