I am the Lead Peer Specialist at MHCGM, working out of Emergency Services. My role involves educating and advocating for our Peer Specialists and supporting our patients in attaining their goals. As an evidence-based practice, I believe that Peers play an essential role in the health and well-being of our patients, and I am passionate about educating anyone willing to listen about the roles and responsibilities of a Peer Specialist.

My “why” for working at MHCGM is to empower individuals who are struggling, feeling weak, unable, or unworthy to live a self-directed life and to support them in reaching their full potential. I want everyone to feel significant, worthy, and connected, so they do not feel alone.

One thing I am incredibly proud of since joining MHCGM is how much our Peer Program has advanced, and I am constantly inspired by the dedication of our Peer Specialists to build connections with patients and support them in their recovery.

If I could share one mental health tip with everyone, it would be to try to hold someone else’s perspective as well as your own. It can lead to boundless positive outcomes.

My two favorite mental health/motivational quotes are “I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become” by C.G. Jung and “Who then can so softly bind up the wound of another as he who has felt the same wound himself” by Thomas Jefferson.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, I want the world to remember that we are all more than the illnesses we live with or what has happened to us. Life is too difficult for prejudice and discrimination, and a little love can go a long way and always conquer hate.

Finally, I want to share that no matter what struggles you are facing, don’t give up. There was a time when suicide was on my mind every waking moment, but through perseverance, self-growth, and surrounding myself with supportive people, I have been able to achieve my dreams and create meaningful connections with others.