Sean Perry
Founder, President & Executive Director We R H.O.P.E., Inc.
Bio
Sean Perry is the Founder, President, and Executive Director of We R H.O.P.E., Inc., an innovative organization reshaping youth mental health by embedding proactive, daily support directly within schools. Driven by his own lived experience as a suicide survivor who carried silent shame for more than twenty years, Sean founded We R H.O.P.E. to ensure no child faces mental health struggles alone. As a father of five, he passionately believes that quality mental health care should not be restricted by income.
Under Sean's visionary leadership, We R H.O.P.E. has grown from a local initiative in Vermont to a replicable model poised for national expansion. Sean personally designed a sustainable Medicaid and insurance billing framework that supports this pioneering in-school approach. His model has produced extraordinary results, with published research showing a 45–50% reduction in student anxiety levels within 90 days.
Internationally recognized as a leader in mental health innovation, Sean was among the first to introduce Emotional CPR (eCPR), a transformative technique emphasizing connection and emotional support to 23 countries across Africa and Southeast Asia, including Kenya and South Africa. He frequently speaks at prestigious conferences and universities across the U.S., addressing equity, innovation, and the urgency of proactive mental health care.
Sean is the author of four impactful books on anxiety, ADHD, autism, and educational advocacy, with three more forthcoming. He co-authored the youth Emotional CPR curriculum and serves on the Board of Directors for the National Empowerment Center and the Advisory Board of the Mental Health Literacy Collaborative. Recently, Sean completed his Executive Global MBA from the University of East London, further strengthening his strategic vision.
Personal Quote:
“We need to shift from reactive to proactive care, ensuring every child feels valued and supported daily. Mental wellness must be a right for all, not a privilege tied to income. - Sean Perry”