She*t for Brains Evolves Into Bold New Platform for Mental Health

What started as a raw, unfiltered call for honesty in an industry that often rewards hustle over humanity is evolving into something bigger.

She*t for Brains, the mental health and wellness movement created to open space for real conversations in the print industry, is entering its next chapter: The One.  A broader platform designed to provide community, resources, storytelling, connection, and support for the people who keep print moving.

Led by Jessica DeCola (Blooming Color), Chris Minn (Digital Ink), Dave Rosendahl (MindFire), Eric Vessels (Taktiful), and Kevin Abergel (Taktiful), The One represents the natural evolution of She*t for Brains: same mission, bigger reach, more resources, and a renewed commitment to reminding people that they are not alone.

For the past two and a half years, She*t for Brains has challenged the print industry to stop pretending everything is fine. Through candid conversations, community engagement, industry events, and unapologetic truth-telling, SFB has created a space where printers, creatives, vendors, leaders, and operators can speak openly about burnout, anxiety, depression, grief, pressure, recovery, resilience, and the very human weight of showing up every day.

SFB began with four original co-founders, Jon Bailey, Jessica DeCola, Chris Minn, and Dave Rosendahl, and with Jon’s story and spirit serving as the inspiration for the movement from the very beginning. His willingness to be honest about the hard things helped lay the foundation for a platform that would go on to give others permission to do the same.

As She*t for Brains evolves into The One, Jon has made the decision to step away and focus on things closer to home, the very things SFB has always championed: his team, his family, and his personal wellbeing. His departure is not an ending, but a reflection of the mission in motion. From inspiration to example, Jon’s legacy remains deeply rooted in what SFB was, what it became, and what The One will continue to build.

The response to that mission has been impossible to ignore.  Support from organizations and communities including Dscoop, Kornit, Printing United Alliance, and many others has made one thing clear: the print industry is ready. Ready to talk. Ready to listen. Ready to continue its momentum.

“The last two and a half years have proven that this industry is in dire need of a space like this,” said Jessica DeCola, co-founder of She*t for Brains. “The outpouring of support, encouragement, and vulnerability has been immeasurable. People are asking for more than conversations. They are asking for connection, tools, resources, and a place to land. The One is our answer.”

She*t for Brains was never meant to be polished. It was meant to be honest.  It gave language to what so many people in print were quietly carrying: the stress of impossible deadlines, the loneliness of leadership, the pressure to perform, the fear of asking for help, and the belief that struggling meant failing.

Now, through The One, that energy is being expanded into a platform built to serve the industry more intentionally.  The One will continue SFB’s commitment to mental health awareness and wellness while creating new opportunities for education, peer connection, storytelling, events, partnerships, resources, and industry-wide engagement. The goal is not to fix people. The goal is to build a place where people feel seen, supported, and strong enough to keep going.

“This isn’t about turning mental health into a buzzword,” said Chris Minn. “This is about making sure the people in our industry have somewhere to go before they hit the wall. It’s about normalizing the conversations that should have been happening all along.”

As part of this evolution, SFB is combining forces with Eric Vessels and Kevin Abergel of Taktiful, bringing additional strategy, industry reach, creative momentum, and infrastructure to help scale the mission.  Known for their disruptive thinking, deep print industry expertise, and commitment to community-building, Vessels and Abergel bring both heart and horsepower to The One.

“I’ve had my own battles with mental health quietly, like a lot of people in the industry have,” says Eric Vessels.  “For a long time, I thought that was just the cost of doing the work.  It isn’t.  This effort matters time because nobody should have to carry that weight alone.  Kevin and I aren’t here to change what SFB started.  We’re here to help it reach more people who need it.”

Built for the People Behind the Presses

The One is being created for the people who make the print industry what it is: owners, operators, designers, sales teams, production crews, marketers, manufacturers, vendors, educators, event organizers, students, and everyone in between.

It is for the person who looks like they have it together but is barely holding on.

It is for the leader who has no one to confide in.

It is for the creative who has burned out more times than they can count.

It is for the press operator, the shop owner, the road warrior, the entrepreneur, the employee, the parent, the caretaker, the survivor, the overachiever, the exhausted optimist.

It is for anyone who has ever thought, “I can’t be the only one.”

The message behind The One is simple: you are not.

Hope, Honesty, and a Better Tomorrow

While the name She*t for Brains was born from the chaos, humor, and blunt honesty that mental health conversations often require, The One is built around the hope that follows when people finally stop suffering in silence.

This next chapter is not a departure from SFB’s roots. It is a deepening of them.

The One will carry forward the edge, honesty, and humanity that made She*t for Brains resonate, while expanding the ways the movement can serve the print community. The platform will focus on helping individuals and organizations create healthier conversations, stronger support systems, and more sustainable ways to work and live.

“This industry is gritty, creative, resilient, and full of heart,” said Dave Rosendahl. “But resilience should not mean isolation. Strength should not mean silence. The One is about building a healthier future for print, one honest conversation at a time.”

With momentum from industry partners, advocates, and a growing community of supporters, The One is preparing to become a central destination for mental health and wellness in print.  A place where conversation leads to connection, connection leads to action, and action leads to change.

Source: She*t for Brains