Hi! My name is Martina Kelades, owner of Life Out Loud — a Black-owned, creative sole proprietorship centred around mental health promotion and personal narratives as a way of encouraging connection, growth, resiliency and overall mental wellness. 

Located in Halifax Regional Municipality, Life Out Loud is a business established from my personal and professional experiences and mental health challenges. Accepting a new journey, I am committed to being a change agent by exploring and challenging the way we talk about mental health and the many ways it impacts us in life. My work is focused on encouraging personal and relational connections through living on purpose to support and enhance mental wellness for all.

With over ten years of professional experience working as a Personal Development Counsellor and Instructor, I have had the opportunity to work with some wonderful non-profit groups over the years— providing training and support for individuals with identified barriers to gaining employment, primarily mental health issues. 

My role was to support the development of life skills and employability skills to assist clients in achieving their employment goals and reaching their full potential in life. In addition to my experience, I have completed a diploma in Human Services (Addictions Counselling concentration) from the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) and a BA (Hons) in Psychology from Mount St. Vincent University.

In 2018, I left the career I had known for ten years due to medical reasons related to burnout and mental health issues. Suffering from depression and anxiety, I came to a point in my life where I reframed my situation and made a commitment to live intentionally and refocus my life to ‘living on purpose’ — which was the inspiration behind Life Out Loud - Mental Health Consulting & Creatives.

Vulnerability was the starting point of this journey for me—the understanding and acceptance that meaningful change and connection are created through authenticity, vulnerability, and empathy. I had no idea where this journey of pain would lead me, but I held the vision and trusted the process. Now, years later, I look back with amazement not only at the growth of Life Out Loud but also at my own personal growth and development as the vessel behind this business.

In 2018, I became a finalist in the Halifax Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year category and was recognized for my entrepreneurial and leadership endeavours in mental health. I am thankful for the business community, family members, friends, and others who have advocated and encouraged me on this journey. It has been a whirlwind over the past several years, but I am grateful I leaned into my struggles—because my pain brought me purpose and started this new journey called Life Out Loud.