KATE

I am absolutely delighted to be a part of the I'm glad you stayed project. Mental health has had an impact on my life, both personally and with family. I lost my mother to suicide in 2009. I am diagnosed with PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, and Bipolar. I have experienced a lot of stigma throughout my life surrounding my own mental health, and want my story to get out there to inspire change within the approach to mental health, especially in the state. I also believe that working with the I'm glad you stayed project will be a great way for me to inspire hope and change within mental health. I'm looking forward to working with my fellow ambassadors to end the stigma surrounding mental health. 

 am a social work undergrad student, wrapping up my studies online through Western Iowa Tech out in Sioux City before I transfer to Kirkwood. I had also recently became employed as a peer support specialist with NAMI Johnson County here in Iowa City, where I look forward to using the tools I've learned with my lived experience with mental health to help others in their journey. I am also beginning my journey of gaining experience helping others with substance use, as I also struggled with alcohol use a couple years ago. I am proud to be 20 months sober from alcohol on the 26th of November. I currently volunteer at Crush of Iowa Recovery Community center in Cedar Rapids, where I've completed my peer recovery coaching course and am currently working on obtaining my SMART recovery certification.