mentally chill

In addition to being one of my favorite instructors, Dr. Erin Kerrison is an Assistant Professor at the UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare. Her mixed-method research approach investigates the impact that compounded structural disadvantage, concentrated poverty and state supervision has on service delivery, substance abuse, violence and other health outcomes for individuals and communities marked by criminal justice intervention. Kerrison discusses what it is like to be an Introvert in this field, and how she manages that with her love and boundaries.  Kerrison is currently working on a book project, Hustles and Hurdles: Law's Impact on Desistance for Job-Seeking Former Prisoners, and has been published in Essence magazine. 

Steven "Sparky" Czifra is an Underground Scholar at UC Berkeley and achieved his undergraduate degree there as well. Sparky was an inmate at Pelican State Prison and spent 8 years in solitary confinement. Today, Sparky is a husband and father to two children. He considers marvling at the ordinary a gift, and was interviewed by Oprah on 60-minutes about the detrimental impacts of solitary confinement in prisons. 

Nisrine Nammour is originally from Beirut, Lebanon. She brings an international perspective to mental health in America, and like many of us, she has loved people who have struggled with mental health and coping difficulties; her kindness extended to helping someone in need outside of a Starbucks, which prompted a conversation about our responsibility to those in our community. She shares her reflections about possible policy changes, and where she believes the root of these issues stem from. 

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Brian Vargas was shot, and almost killed on Jan. 17, 2007, in Iraq's Triangle of Death city of Hīt. Despite 10 surgeries, 188 other medical procedures, persistent insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder, Brian graduated undergrad from UC Berkeley with a 3.5 GPA in 2016 with a Bachelor's in Social Welfare. Brian has since helped Diablo Valley College plan a new veterans resource center with a U.S. Veterans Administration psychologist, and is designing a novel method of deterring veterans from impulsive firearms suicide. Brian also helped VA psychologist Dr. Shauna Springer develop the LIVE-4-BOX concept as a way to prevent veterans from ending their lives.

Melanie is a MSW candidate originally from St. Croix, VI. She has worked as a Program Director for House of Blues Music Forward Foundation, as a Community Engagement Manager at San Diego Habitat for Humanity & has volunteered at Center for Community Solutions as a Sexual Assault Response Team Volunteer (SART). She also worked as an ESL instructor in Sogamoso, Colombia. Melanie talks about the importance of self care, the support of the Spirit and how people can help St. Croix right now. I feel fortunate to be in the same cohort as Melanie, so please enjoy this episode. 

Juliene Schrick is a psychiatric social worker who has worked at an inpatient crisis facility, a residential day treatment program, and is currently a Quality Assurance Improvement Director at a local non-profit in Oakland, CA. She attended UC Santa Cruz for undergraduate studies and UC Berkeley for her Master's. Juliene has worked in Monterey, San Francisco, and Alameda counties.

Sam Hoiland is a Production Assistant on the set of 13 Reasons Why, and a creative comrade. He and I discuss how insidious depression can be, and the realities of suicide. Sam and I went to college together in Oregon, and he speaks to the positive impact nature has on him. Sam and I discuss his film project, RnRx, and how he personally found solace in meditation. We also discuss how mental health issues are becoming more prevalent themes in today's pop culture. Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Dale Potts (DP) is a Bay Area native who has worked in the social service field for over 20 years. He is a highly regarded supervisor at the residential facility where I had my first, real experience in this line of work. Over time, DP became my guide, protector, and at times, guardian angel. He inspired me to pursue my educational goals and follow my dreams. I attribute my foundation and core skills to his teachings, and am eternally grateful I was afforded the opportunity to work with him. DP continues to be a valuable resource and prominent figure in my support system. 

Jesse Roach is achieving his B.S. in Labor Studies at San Francisco State University. He has been the Housing Specialist at our organization since January 2017 and the learning curve has been steep. Jesse explores his personal connection to the work, learns and implements new socially-aware terminology, and speaks to the importance of positive male role models in a young man's life. We also discuss professional goals for the future. 

Margaret Wessner is the Assistant Program Director at our organization in the East Bay. Margaret achieved a Master's in Social Work from the University of Missouri, and is registered as an Associate Clinical Social Worker. Margaret and I discuss: not holding on to preconceived notions, the clinical aspect of finding housing, the power of visualization, popular current research and how we can challenge ourselves to reframe how we view unfamiliar behavior. 

Our all-staff retreat today provided a gentle reminder that self-care is more easily accessible than we might initially think. Make a little bit of space to take of yourself and allow yourself to heal, if only for short periods of time. 

Louiza Livschitz is a dear friend and student at Stanford's Doctor of Psychology Consortium program. In this episode you will see: a bit of insight into a friendship based on a mutual love of caring for others, and a quest to help those in need. Louiza and I explore the depths of our experiences, practices for self care and the future of mental health in our society.   

Here you will receive some insight into what mentally chill is about. You will hear a little bit about my background, my motivation, a few discoveries and hear about what's to come on mc. Stay tuned!