Summer Feature: Melody Pacheco of Suicide Watch Global

08/06/2026

By Kriselle Gabriel

Welcome to our quarterly creator feature and meet Melody Pacheco, the woman behind Suicide Watch Global, a platform providing peer support and resources to people experiencing depression and suicidal behaviors. 

Melody participated in our joint creator program with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to educate creators about housing and homelessness (learn more about the program here). 

As a content creator, Melody speaks out about mental health and empowerment through The Pretty Ugly, peeling back the layers of the “pretty” to reveal the real, raw, “ugly” trauma and grind of life. She includes material about leaving home at 16 and being homeless for a period of time. Here’s what Melody had to say about her participation in the creator program (responses lightly copy-edited).  

What drew you to apply to the Harvard x HNL Creator Program?

The fact that I was seen. Truly seen and given a platform to share my lived-experience in a world that has been conditioned to hide their trauma and pain. Mental health advocacy can be very isolating and, to be honest, I was burning out. I was starting to think that my messages were falling on deaf ears. I get shadow banned due to my handle being @suicidewatchglobal and the content I push out is not what most people want to openly discuss. This program is so needed and I’m thankful I get to be a part of it.

How did this program change the way you think and talk about housing affordability and homelessness in your content?

It really provided me with more education on housing affordability and how I became homeless. It actually made me remember why I left home and how it affected me as a young adult. Sometimes we suppress painful seasons to get through and this topic made me see how far I’ve come. It made me want to share my story even more so people can see that it’s possible to transform your life.

What advice do you have for creators in your niche or similar niches when it comes to talking about serious or difficult topics in ways that still resonate with your audience?

Be vulnerable, super transparent,and, most importantly, it doesn’t have to be a big production. People resonate with real and authenticity. Let your uniqueness come out and the right people that need the message can receive it. Be you!

Check out Melody’s videos here and here and keep in touch with her on Instagram.