18percent: How I Built a Mental Health Community on Slack

By Zach Schleien

After losing a close family friend to mental illness, I built an online community that grew to 18,000+ members and nearly 2 million messages. Here's the story.

At any given moment, 18% of the U.S. population suffers from some form of mental illness. That statistic became the name - and the mission - of the community I built after losing someone I loved.

Losing Louis

My close family friend Louis passed away after struggling for 3 years with schizoaffective disorder / bipolar type 1. The onset of his psychosis occurred at 19, and he was first hospitalized in October 2014.

Through high school, Louis was happy, athletic, musically gifted, made friends easily, and achieved outstanding academic success. He was subsequently hospitalized three more times for durations of weeks to months.

In March 2017, Louis rejected therapy due to medication side effects and non-acceptance of his condition. Two months later, in the throes of psychosis, he did not understand the danger posed by a nearby river. He is presumed to have perished on June 4, 2017.

Raising $9,640 for NAMI

In his honor, I raised $9,640 on CaringCrowd in just over 2 weeks. The proceeds went to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to fund the NAMI Basics Program - a free, 6-week education program for parents and family caregivers of children and teens experiencing symptoms of mental illness.

Why Online Mental Health Support Matters

Access to mental health support is primarily in-person. But teens and young adults - the generation most in need - often resist face-to-face help.

As Mike Likier, PhD noted: "I've heard many college students say 'I don't want to be seen walking up those steps to the counseling center' out of fear of being judged. Online support groups could serve as a bridge to get those folks the help they need."

Crisis Text Line reports that 75% of its users are under 25, with the majority between 14 and 17 years old. The data is clear: young people are seeking help online. The mental health community needs to meet them there.

Building 18percent

After the CaringCrowd campaign, I wanted to do more. I teamed up with a friend who had already grown a large digital marketing community, and together we built 18percent.org.

We hosted it on Slack, which offered channels for conversation, hidden emails for anonymity, and a familiar interface. Moderation was critical - we recruited volunteers to keep watch around the clock, and we partnered with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

As Wendy Feinman, School Psychologist, noted: "A suicide prevention group coupled with a suicide hotline may be one vehicle to help youth who experience suicidal ideation. This site would need to be carefully monitored and provide appropriate guidance."

What 18percent Became

To our excitement, 18percent became more than a mental health community. It became a place where people built real relationships, shared emotional challenges, and - to our delight - discussed their favorite artists, Netflix shows, and weekend plans.

The community grew to 18,000+ members and facilitated nearly 2 million messages. Our partners included Crisis Text Line, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and the National Eating Disorders Association.

Community building is one of the most impactful things I've done. If you're a founder looking to build something meaningful - whether it's a community, a brand, or a growth engine - I'd love to help.