Help Veronica Pearl Get Mental Health Treatment

t/w: depression, mental health, suicidal ideation, eating disorder

On Monday, April 3rd, Veronica Pearl, a treasured member of many communities (queer, trans, coffee, generally fabulous people) checked in for inpatient treatment to address an ongoing and deepening mental health crisis. To say that she has given so much of her time, creative energy, and empathy to her communities could never be overstated. Those of us closest to her would like to ask for help from these communities and beyond so that Veronica can focus on her mental health without worry of financial difficulties.

Veronica has given permission to share details of her current state. Last week, she informed her therapist and close friends that she was unsafe to be alone and that a seemingly endless series of difficult life events over the past six months was becoming too much to bear. Veronica has struggled with her mental health for her entire life and has been open about her history of eating disorders and depression. She was fortunate enough to find an inpatient treatment facility that could admit her immediately and that insurance will cover some of the large bills for her initial 30-day stay.

She takes a small salary for running Glitter Cat Barista and has had to freelance since being laid off from her full-time job earlier this year. The funds raised here will go toward covering the out-of-pocket portion of her treatment and anything beyond will go toward helping her with living expenses as she continues in her recovery. Being able to focus primarily on her mental health will make a world of difference once she can safely leave treatment.

For those of you who don’t know her personally, Veronica is a shining light for so many people who have met her and many more people who have directly or indirectly felt the impact of her hard work and generosity. For the past five years, she has run Glitter Cat Barista, an organization that has provided free competition and professional development resources in the coffee industry for people of marginalized identities including communities of color, 2SLGBTQIAP+, disabled, neurodivergent, and people of marginalized gender. The program has had over 100 participants, many more volunteers and instructors, and countless supporters watching on and drawing inspiration from Glitter Cat’s quirky and effective programming, which has changed US coffee competitions and the industry at large in meaningful and enduring ways. Veronica has run the program on a large and growing scale, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars and planning and executing dozens of training programs and community events all the while dealing with her mental health struggles.

As a friend, daughter, and sister, Veronica is fierce, outspoken, devilishly fashionable, and terrifically chaotic. She is a proud trans woman who has shared so much of herself and her journey in hopes of helping others. Any help is greatly appreciated as we work as a community to give Veronica the best opportunity to build sustainable health, safety, and happiness.