Monica works as the Communications Representative for the State of Michigan's Office of Good Government and was previously a reporter and editor for the Michigan newspaper The Oakland Press. Her passion is raising awareness about suicide and working to erase the stigma associated with mental illness. In 2012, she won first place in News Enterprise Reporting by the Michigan Press Association for her series on suicide in the community, and in 2013, was named “Digital Innovator of the Year” by the Local Media Association. She started the blog meant2live.net four years ago to help others by sharing signs of depression, reasons to live, resources, suicide and bullying prevention groups, other people's stories and memorials. She especially wants to show people that they are not alone.