Greg Dicharry is an award-winning filmmaker, mental health and substance abuse recovery advocate and youth mental health expert, who served as the National Youth Empowerment Director for Magellan Health from 2007 to 2022. In that role Greg developed and implemented Magellan Health’s MY LIFE program, which became one of the nation’s leading programs for youth who experience mental health, substance use and/or foster care- related challenges.

After establishing MY LIFE in Arizona, Greg worked with communities in Pennsylvania, Florida, Louisiana, Nebraska and Wyoming to implement 27 additional MY LIFE programs, which have impacted thousands of youth participants. He also specializes in producing events related mental health and substance abuse awareness and recovery, which have attracted over 60,000 attendees and reached thousands more via social media and news coverage from Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC affiliates, numerous radio networks and print media outlets.

Greg is also the founder of SmileStyle Entertainment, where he produces and directs mental health related documentary films to reduce stigma and help others find recovery. He co-directed and produced the 2018 Award winning film Suicide the Ripple Effect, and he recently produced and directed the documentary feature, My Ascension, which focuses on youth suicide prevention. Both films received Media Awards from Mental Health America and numerous other awards. His third film “Big Infinite’s Power of Expression” also addresses mental wellness and suicide prevention and will be released in the fall of 2024.

Greg was introduced to the world of mental health while living in Hollywood pursuing his dream of working in the entertainment industry. It was there he experienced his first manic episode while directing a music video and was hospitalized and diagnosed with co-occurring bipolar and substance use disorders. He spent the next 10 years in and out of denial about his diagnosis, which resulted in over 10 forced hospitalizations, a one-month stay in Orleans Parish Prison’s psychiatric unit, two stays in drug rehabilitation and many hopeless depressive states.

In 2004 Greg became committed to recovery and completed a Certified Peer Support Training Program. Soon after was hired to oversee that same program and trained over 100 individuals to work as peer support specialist. He also started 12-step recovery groups at the Arizona State Mental Hospital Forensic Unit and at two juvenile detention centers in Arizona.

In recognition of his work, Greg was awarded Mental Health America’s top honor, the Clifford Beers Award in 2019, a 2021 Media Award from the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, a SAMHSA Voice Award, the Howie the Harp Award for Advocacy in the Arts, a National Council Reintegration Award and an award from the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health.

Greg currently serves on the board of directors for DBSA (Depression Bipolar Support Alliance) and The Bridge Center for Hope. He works in Louisiana and nationally as a consultant on issues related to mental health, substance use, wellness and youth engagement. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communication from Arizona State University and lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with his 8-year-old daughter Gracy.