I have known Denise since the days I did digital marketing for Diamonds by Lauren of NY. Denise handled customer service. I posted I would be in Huntsville, AL and Denise lives near there and came to meet me and hear me speak. It was so exciting meeting her in person. And I had noticed an uptick of Alabama visitors and I’m sure it has to do with Denise!
So she called the marketing director, Kallie, about tickets and the fact that Denise has an English accent threw her off as it does a lot of people. An English accent is quite uncommon in Alabama.
And my inlaws drove five hours to support me. It was so nice to see friendly faces in the audience.
I love the programs that Wellstone has started. So many are really bold initiatives and the continuity of care is unbelievable. They’ve reduced suicide rates of teens in one particular area by 80% in the last year, instituted a jail diversion program saving the sate tens of thousands of dollars. So many great things they are doing.
The room was packed with a lot of legislators, judges, stakeholders, passionate advocates, NASA engineers, and parents of children suffering mental illness/substance abuse.
What I love most is that they treat mental illness and SUD together. No separate silos. When we were trying to get treatment for Charles, he was supposed to go get his drug abuse fixed and then they’d address then mental illness. But that slow process left him jaded. How does one put their depression and suicidal ideation on hold?
Below are pictures I took with the attendees. I spent over an hour after the event talking to everyone, hearing the stories, learning what they are doing to support mental health.
I felt Charles with me today. I love that feeling. Love it.
Wonderful! I hope their ideas and programs spread quickly.
Me, too