This month, we were excited to interview Lisa Gjerde, who has served on the Carver County Mental Health Advisory Council for the past eight years.

Lisa, could you give us a little bit of background information about Local Advisory Councils and what they do?

While the State Mental Health Advisory Council in St. Paul meets monthly and reports directly to the governor, legislation also mandates that every county in Minnesota has a local mental health advisory council (LAC). Membership represents child and adult mental health concerns, and consists of a variety of people, including those who live, or have lived, with a mental illness; families of people with a lived experience of a mental illness; and mental health providers. LACs review and evaluate mental health needs and services in their communities and make appropriate recommendations to their county commissioners.

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself, and what led you to apply and become a member of the Carver County LAC?

It has been my privilege to serve on the Carver County LAC for the past eight years. To explain where I am today, let me say that knowing a situation through one’s life experiences helps a person better understand its intricacies. For example, a cancer patient will learn more about the disease and how to treat it, and sometimes becomes an advocate for other cancer patients. The same is true for mental health. When you are a person with a lived experience of mental illness, you have been “in the trenches,” and are better able to not only advocate for yourself on your recovery journey, but also to help others on their journey.

I live with both Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Through my experiences with a variety of medications and therapies, hospitalizations and periods of crisis, I have learned that having a strong support network of practitioners, family, and friends is critical; yet, my own contributions toward my personal recovery are equally important. It is this experience with the mental health “system” that inspires me to learn more about it, to educate myself and others regarding what resources and services are available, what needs are being met and which remain unmet, etc., that eventually led me to my local advisory council on mental health.

How did you find out about your LAC and what was the process like to be selected as a member?

Originally, I was unaware that my LAC existed, until my therapist saw an LAC member recruitment ad in the local newspaper and thought I might be interested. Initially, I was more curious than anything, intrigued that elected officials would not only ask for, but place value on my personal experience in mental health. I completed an application and an informal interview with a county liaison, and the county commissioners appointed me to a three-year term. Eight years later, I continue to serve on the LAC, now completing my third and final three-year term (my county permits a maximum of nine years of service on an advisory board).

During my tenure, it’s been an honor to serve with people who have like-minded interests and are extremely passionate about them. The members, both past and present, are vibrant, intelligent, compassionate individuals who are totally committed to improving the status of mental health in Carver County. These individuals, more than anything else during my time on the LAC, have inspired me to continue with my service and work hard toward creating a more equitable and inclusive mental health system in my county.

So you’ve been a member of the Carver County LAC for eight years, and have served in official capacities as secretary, co-chair, and chair! Are there barriers that you’ve had to overcome in order to be an active member and leader?

Fortunately, I have not found that being a person with a lived experience of mental illness is a barrier: like any other group, you prove yourself over time via your commitment and work ethic, and members have voted for me based on merit and not my status as someone with “lived experience.” Yet by its nature, Major Depressive Disorder can present its own barriers in that it’s often difficult to find motivation and energy to complete tasks when one’s symptoms are high. Also, being a perfectionist means that I sometimes work harder than necessary and put in extra hours. Finally, the time commitment itself can be challenging, and even a barrier in its own right: recently, I took a three-month leave of absence to attend to family issues, not having time for both them and my service on the LAC, and the Council and the Commissioners were incredibly supportive in this regard.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in getting involved in their county’s LAC?

If you are truly passionate about mental health issues, have the requisite background or experience with it, and are willing to invest of your time – go for it! It’s critical to realize that being on an LAC is not about what you can get out of it, although you do get plenty, but rather what you can give to it. If you keep that in perspective, you will give and gain a lot during your tenure on an advisory council. Keep an open mind to hear about and learn new thoughts and opinions (not everyone on the council will agree with you or comes from a similar experience!), and practice patience.

A fellow member on my LAC once told the story of the starfish: A person threw beached starfish, one at a time, back into the ocean. A passerby asked him why he did that when he couldn’t possibly save all the beached starfish. Grabbing another one to throw into the ocean, the person replied, “It matters to this one!” (For more information, refer to ecologist and author Loren Eiseley.) That’s how working on an advisory council is – you may not be able to help everyone in your community who is affected by mental health issues, but what you do matters to those whom you positively impact!

In summary, during my time on the LAC I have learned about the legislative and societal pressures that impact mental health services, and I have learned more about myself and my capabilities, especially as I served in various offices. More importantly, I have learned not to let my illness define me – it is an invaluable part of who I am, but it is only that, “part” of me. Finally, I continue to learn that everyone has a story to tell in life, and that listening to those stories makes my life story richer and more complete.

Here’s how YOU can get involved in your county’s LAC:

Go to your county’s website, and look for the page that lists ‘Citizen Advisory Boards’ or ‘Advisory Boards’. These are usually listed under the ‘Government’ tab on the webpage.

Learn more:

Read more about LACs and what they do: https://mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/adults/health-care/mental-health/resources/lac.jsp

Read another story about peers participating in LACs here!

 
 
By: Lisa Gjerde

You ask, our advocates answer. This month our peer advocate, Suzanne, discusses person centered planning.

Meet Julia, a peer advocacy client. She called us because she felt her case manager was not listening to her. Julia’s case manager had never asked her what her goals were for housing. Without asking, her case manager picked out an assisted living facility. Julia did not want to move there. Instead, she wanted her own apartment in a diverse community of people of all ages and abilities.

Julia’s peer advocate wrote a letter to her case manager mentioning her right to person centered planning, community integration, and transition services. The advocate also identified Julia’s reasonable housing goals. The advocate served as a conduit for Julia to be “heard” by her case manager. After the case manager received the advocate’s letter, she called Julia and actively listened to her. Finally, Julia felt listened to and respected. Soon, Julia will be in her own apartment near her grandchildren—integrated into the community.

What is person centered planning?

A recent development in case management services is the requirement that services be provided using person centered care planning. Person centered planning is strength based and focuses on individual capacities, preferences and goals. This means that rather than being told what to strive for and how this should be accomplished, the person receiving services works together with their provider to identify reasonable goals and to decide how these goals can be achieved.

How do I go about identifying my goals?

When thinking about your goals it is important to consider not only what you ideally want but to also think about what is realistic. List the goals you would like to see happen in your life. For example, these goals might include: a) part time employment, b) living in your own apartment, c) having more friends, or d) reconnecting with family.

Can I get everything I ask for?

Keep in mind, you may not get everything you ask for. Your request must be reasonable, and will at times depend on ability of the community to meet your needs/request (i.e. whether the type of housing you request is available in the community you wish to live in). If your case manager thinks a goal is not reasonable, ask them to explain why and what you can do to change the situation. What is impossible today may be a possibility in the future.

How do I approach my case manager about person centered planning?

Before you meet with your case manager, think about how you want to prepare for the meeting and create a list to follow so that you don’t forget anything. To begin the conversation let them know that you have heard about person centered planning and would like to review the goals currently identified in your plan of service and possibly change some of them. Let them know that you have given a lot of thought about your life goals and what quality of life means to you. If you have talked with mental health professionals, friends, or family to gain feedback and support, which is highly recommended, pass that information on as well.

 
By: Suzanne Bachman, Peer Advocate

You ask, our advocates answer.

In our Ask the Advocate column, we will address topics that we frequently receive calls or messages about.

Our advocates often talk with people who have questions about the crisis services that are available in Minnesota. We receive calls from people who are looking for information about crisis services for themselves, as well as from friends and family members who want to support a loved one who may need to access crisis services.

This month, Suzanne, our Peer Advocate, answers your questions about crisis services.

Q: What are the different kinds of crisis services?

A: There are four different kinds of crisis services: phone crisis, texting crisis, mobile crisis and residential crisis. Phone services are the entry point into the crisis system. A phone counselor may be able to provide you with what you need (calming and resources) or they may refer you to a mobile team, residential crisis facility, nearby urgent care or hospital. Texting crisis services assist with resolving distress and providing resources and referrals. Mobile crisis are face-to-face services. Residential crisis involves short-term overnight stays of a few days until the person is stabilized. Phone, texting and mobile crisis services are provided throughout the state, whereas residential crisis services are available in a limited number of counties.

Q: How do I access crisis services?

A: The main way to access crisis services is to call your county crisis number. Use our search tool to find your county crisis number.

Q: Will mobile crisis services meet me in a public location?

A: Yes, mobile crisis services can come to your home or meet you anywhere in the community.

Q: Can I directly access residential crisis services?

A: No, only a crisis team, an emergency room doctor or a mental health professional who has assessed you can refer you to residential crisis services.

Q: Can a loved one who is concerned about me request crisis services?

A: Yes, a family member or friend can call a county crisis line and request a need for crisis services. They should call the county in which the person experiencing the crisis is located at the time of the crisis. The crisis team counselor will ask questions to determine level of need.

Q: What happens if I have no insurance?

A: Having insurance is not a requirement to receive any crisis services.

Q: Is it possible to prepare for a crisis?

A: Yes, you can create a WRAP Plan (Wellness, Recovery, Action Plan), Steps to Wellness Crisis Plan or a Psychiatric Advance Directive. If you would like further information about these planning documents please call Mental Health Minnesota and schedule an appointment to talk with a peer advocate.

By: Suzanne Bachman, Peer Advocate

We’re excited to introduce a new feature, Peers in Action. Each month, we’ll interview someone who has used their own experience living with a mental illness to take action in their community and help others.

Last week, we spoke with Jenna Erickson, an avid mental health advocate and speaker who works as a Certified Peer Support Specialist.

Jenna, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what led you to start publicly sharing your recovery story?

I live with Borderline Personality Disorder. For years, my life was a constant emotional roller coaster filled with self-loathing and self-destructive coping mechanisms. I spent much of my young adulthood in and out of mental health facilities, treatment centers, and hospitals, eventually ending up in the criminal justice system. This was an awakening for me. With the help of some amazing and supportive family, friends, and providers, I was finally able to accept my illness and begin working on recovery.

I began sharing my story publicly in 2014. My current therapist teaches a class on serious and persistent mental illness at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work, and she asked if I would be willing to share my story with her students. Everyone was so kind and welcoming, and I realized that by sharing my story, I could help others. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to share my story with hundreds of students, police officers, professionals, and consumers throughout the metro. There’s a lot of loss that comes with mental illness, and speaking has allowed me to turn my painful past and subsequent recovery into a powerful learning experience for myself and others.

Last year, you shared your story with patients at Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center. Your story was particularly meaningful and hopeful because you were able to talk about your own experience as a patient at AMRTC. Can you talk a little bit about how you felt as a patient at AMRTC, and consequently, how you felt as a speaker there?

I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to speak at AMRTC. As a patient, I remember feeling as though I was a prisoner, not only to the confines of the hospital but to my own mental illness. As someone who has been in both the state hospital and jail, the experiences were not as different as one would hope. Days dragged on with seemingly little regard for my sense of humanity or future health. I did have a few exceptional providers who not only listened to me, but spoke to me like I was a person, not a patient. I fondly remember one staff member who played card games with us, and occasionally brought us treats like puzzle books and sips of coffee from the “outside” world. She treated me like I was a human being at a time when I felt worthless and defeated.

Returning to AMRTC for my speech last year was such a transformative experience. If you had told me when I was a patient that one day I would return to share my story of recovery, I would’ve laughed you out of the room! So, it was a bit like being in the Twilight Zone. The sights and smells of the building definitely brought back memories, and I did feel a sense of kinship with the people who attended the presentation. The strangest part was the realization that I could both arrive and leave without restriction!

What was your message when speaking at AMRTC and what did you want people to know?

This was definitely the most passionate speech I’ve given. I truly wanted the attendees to know that recovery is possible and to give them hope. I remember how hopeless I felt while at AMRTC, and I wanted them to know that this experience didn’t have to define them or hold them back. They, too, could recover and achieve their dreams.

Hope is an essential aspect of the mental health recovery process. It is incredibly hopeful for people who are struggling with their mental health to hear personal stories from others who have been in their shoes, and who are now in recovery. What are your future plans and goals as a public speaker and otherwise?

I plan to continue sharing my story with people around the metro and hopefully beyond. I am a recent addition to NAMI’s Speakers’ Bureau and I’ve had the opportunity to give academic presentations about mental illness too. Someday, I’d love to write a memoir. Thankfully I have years of journals to reference when I’m ready to tackle that!

I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work, and after that I’d like to obtain a master’s degree. Someday, I’d like to work as a mental health practitioner so I can help others who are living with mental health challenges. I don’t like to think too far ahead though, as we never know what twists and turns life has in store for us. Recovery is definitely a process, and I know there are both blessings and hardships still ahead. My biggest goal is to stay true to myself, enjoy the present, and let my life continue to unfold before me.

What piece(s) of advice do you have for someone who is interested in publicly sharing their story of mental health recovery for the first time?

Most importantly, remember you have a voice and your story is important. It takes courage to share the most vulnerable parts of yourself with others, and it is a deeply liberating and exhilarating experience. I can’t tell you the number of times I felt like I wasn’t getting through to an audience, and then someone would come up to me afterward and tell me how my story gave them hope for their sister, son or mother. Your story will touch more lives than you can count. You, yes YOU, can make an impact.

Interested in sharing YOUR story? Here’s how you can get started:

Join Mental Health Minnesota’s Ambassador Network. Ambassadors have the opportunity to share their stories through writing for our blog and/or public speaking. Public speaking opportunities include speaking to students, educators, people living with a mental health condition, friends and family members of someone living with a mental health condition, policy makers, employers, employees, and the general public.

Consider becoming a contributor to The Mighty. The Mighty is a community-oriented online magazine with a site specifically for personal mental health stories.

Have someone in mind that you would like to nominate to be featured as a Peer in Action? Send us an email! [email protected]