Guts, Grit & The Grind: Men and Mental Health (#ElevateTheConvo Twitter Chat)

When: June 18, 2020

8:00PM ET/7:00PM CT

6:00PM MT/5:00PM PT

Where: Twitter #ElevateTheConvo

What: 1-hour conversation. Just follow the #ElevateTheConvo hashtag on Twitter and join in as our panelists -- all contributors to the men's anthology series "Guts, Grit & The Grind" -- share their perspectives on storytelling and men's mental health.

Feel free to join in the conversation. If you are new to participating in a Twitter Chat here is a brief  "how to" article. At the time of the chat just put the hashtag #ElevateTheConvo in the Twitter search field, then hit the "latest" tab and you will see the most recent posts. When you refresh the search tab new posts will emerge.

Who: All those interested in learning about storytelling and men's mental health.

Overview:

Humans have been healing and teaching through storytelling for as long as we’ve been on the planet. When we put our experiences into a story structure - with a beginning, middle, and end, heroes and adversaries, trials and tribulations, and great reward for overcoming obstacles - the process helps us impose structure on the chaos of our lives. When we organize our experiences in this way, we gain mastery over our own narratives and feel a better sense of self-empowerment, rather than just feeling like life is happening to us.

Stories also build community. When one person stands up and says, “This is me. This is how my life and others like mine have been systematically destroyed. This is how I see that change is possible.” Others, who thought they were all alone, lean in and say, “Me too.”

In our men's anthology series "Guts, Grit & The Grind," we asked our storytellers to take us with them on their hero’s journey. We needed them to set the stage for us of what life was like and what was lost in the downward spiral and darkest days. We wanted them to take us with them into the daunting darkness and the moment they knew something had to change. We encouraged them to share with us the guides who went with them on this trek, the incredible lessons recovery taught them, the obstacles they encountered, and finally, the great reward they now get to experience from their journey.

In this #ElevateTheConvo twitter chat you will hear firsthand from our storytellers, how they transform our wounds into sources of power, and made meaning out of their despair. The path they blazed through their darkness becomes illuminated for others to follow.

Questions:

1. Tell us a bit about your Hero's Journey into living through a mental health challenge like depression, anxiety, trauma or addiction. What is the gist of the story you shared in the book "Guts, Grit & The Grind"?

2. Why does storytelling make a difference in mens mental health? How did the process of telling your story help you? How have you been helped by others' stories?

3. What was helpful to you during your hero's journey of living through tough times? What were the lessons learned? What resources and tools did you find most helpful?

4. What would you like to tell other men who are suffering in silence? What do you wish you would've known before you found a pathway back to a passion for living?

Featured Panelists: 

Peter Dudley

@PeterJDudley

Peter Dudley is a fundraising executive and author with extensive expertise in corporate social responsibility, marketing, and software development. Prior to joining the Cancer Support Community as Chief Development Officer in 2018, he ran Wells Fargo’s Global Employee Giving and Volunteerism for over 15 years. Peter is a member of the Community Health Charities National Board of Directors and has served as a scout leader, a youth soccer coach, and a school crossing guard. A 30-year resident of the Oakland area, Peter is the proud father of two grown children and a fierce advocate for equality. 

Guy Giard

@LaughterArts

Guy Giard, author of Squeaky Swings, An Autobiographic Novel, is a dynamic speaker and engaging artist. After exhibiting his contemporary installations across Canada, giving dozens of concerts as a singer musician, and becoming a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, he volunteered as a humanitarian clown with Dr. Patch Adams. He has performed in hospitals and orphanages in Russia, Guatemala, Peru, Mexico, and India. Patch Adams writes of him — “I truly feel his passion to live radiantly, using clowning as a tool to help midwife a loving world. To hear of his own transformation to being a loving soul will inspire others to try it on.” www.guygiard.com 

Rick Strait

@rickstrait777

Rick Strait, MS, LPC, CRDAC is the Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders (ITCD) Program Manager and the Zero Suicide Team Leader for the Community Counseling Center which provides services in five counties in Southeast Missouri. He is a suicide attempt survivor, which drives his dedication to providing education and awareness for suicide prevention and intervention. He has helped organize seven community suicide prevention conferences. Rick is faculty with Zero Suicide, and an adjunct instructor at Central Methodist University. He is a member of the American Association of Suicidology. Rick works to combine his lived experience with his professional training to help others. 

Efrem Epstein

@EfremEpstein

Efrem Epstein is the founder of Elijah’s Journey, a 501c3 (nonprofit organization) focused on Suicide Awareness/ Prevention in the Jewish community and a member of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Faith Communities Task Force. He lives in NYC and is the CMO of WalkThru, Inc. His blood type is also his mantra is—BE POSITIVE!! 

Ted Bonar

@TedBonar

Ted C. Bonar, PsyD is a clinical psychologist and a nationally-recognized subject-matter-expert and trainer for suicide prevention, trauma treatment, and military/veterans/civilian concerns. He is also a National Trainer for Mental Health First Aid. Dr. Bonar has spoken at over 200 universities and national conferences, and was the recipient of the 2013 Distinguished Alum award by the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University/Chicago. Prior to his career as a psychologist, Ted was a professional musician, educator, writer, and business professional after earning his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Miami – Coral Gables. He, his wife, and their best-dog-in-the-world, Trooper, live in Columbus, OH, and Ted can be found at www.tedbonar.com. 

Cam Stout

@cameronstout14

A practicing securities attorney, Cam Stout is passionate about speaking to professionals and students about mental health and substance abuse in academia and the workplace. The hallmark of Cam's talks is an engagingly candid description of his own journey through, and resilient recovery from, a major depressive episode in 2013. Using his lived experience as a springboard, Cam explores ways to identify mental health and addiction issues, and discusses strategies for supporting others who may be struggling. Finally, Cam outlines techniques for effective self-care and the mindful resilience necessary to work and live with a light heart and a focused mind.  

Mark Gottschalk

@drmjg1_mark

Mark Jon Gottschalk spent 42 years as a teacher at the high school and college levels. He was a choral, orchestral, and band conductor. Through music he got to know students not just as performers, but as individuals with unique ideas and lives worth understanding. After this career, which took him to Europe, South America, Asia, and the width of the United States, Mark thought he would “slowdown” into semiretirement. After a brief conversation with Sally Spencer-Thomas, he became totally involved with suicide prevention. Mark has had his own life-altering personal struggles with depression; he understands both the resistance to seeking mental health care and the miraculous release from depression that comes with professional care. He knows, as well, there have been far too many deaths by suicide and attempts at suicide among the students he has taught. These experiences have resulted in his new focus—helping others who are struggling with suicide ideation. 

Chris Jachimiec

@cjachimiec

Master Sergeant Chris Jachimiec is an inspiring Air Force Wounded Warrior from Las Vegas, Nevada. His has served in multiple military capacities at Creech and Nellis Air Force Bases and in overseas assignments including Osan Air Base and Ramstein Air Base. Chris is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan and deployed to other locations in the Middle East. Additionally, Sergeant Jachimiec was one of thirty Airmen selected to augment the United States Secret Service during the 2012 Presidential Campaign, is a certified Master Resilience Trainer and leads peer support groups in the local community. He is a two-time 12 Outstanding Airman of the Year nominee and was the 2016 Air Combat Command First Sergeant of the Year.  Chris is an advisor to the Las Vegas Mayor's Challenge team on preventing suicide among servicemembers, veterans and their families. He holds a Master of Public Policy and Administration degree from Northwestern University and has been certified as a peer support specialist by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. Chris is in recovery from substance abuse, depression and moral injury. He is the surviving brother of Lance Corporal Adam Jachimiec, United States Marine Corps.

Jason Holzer

@Coach_Holzer

Jason Holzer is the author of "Shattered by Suicide, Renewed by Resilience: How to Move Forward After Being Left Behind." Growing up in Taos, Missouri, Jason was raised in a loving family that gave him every chance to succeed. His parents were supportive and provided everything this 17-year-old boy desired. That is until his life changed forever on May 8, 2003, when his dad unexpectedly died by suicide and left him, his mother and two younger sisters behind. Through hard work, dedication and a strong faith, Jason is now a certified teacher, accomplished basketball coach, and up and coming author and transformational speaker. His dedication to positively impacting the lives of those around him inspired the hashtag #ACT2IMPACT which serves as a reminder that we all can make a difference. Jason is a dedicated and loving husband and father who strives to help others overcome the lasting effects of suicide. Along with others around the world, they are raising awareness that suicide doesn’t stop life from getting worse, instead, it eliminates life ever-improving.

Frank King

@mhcomedian

Frank is a standup comedian and storyteller who was born into a family with the gift of humor and the curse of generational depression and suicide. He’s doing what comedians since the time of the court jester were born to do—speak truth to power on behalf of the powerless. He speaks truth to the power of mental illness on behalf of people often powerless in its grip. He’s combined his familial gift of humor and curse of mental illness to bring hope to the often hopeless. 

Steve Lomelino

@steven_lomelino

Suicide attempt survivor, Steven Lomelino, lives with a passion to help others through their darkest days by sharing his lived-experience. His book, Insane Success, follows him through success, losses, injustice, despair, and multiple job failures; redefining success he discovers hope was always there. He has volunteered at events for multiple organizations including SAVE and AFSP. He hopes to become more involved with the Illinois Suicide Prevention Alliance, local organization Rattle The Stars, and the Discover Wellness Summit. G3 is the latest opportunity to fulfill his passion. Steven lives in Springfield, IL with his wife, Brenda, the heroine of his story.