Rick served as Executive Director for National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Kansas from 2005-2018. Most recently, he directed the Behavioral Health Tobacco Project for NAMI Kansas from 2016-2022. He spent 27 years in advocacy and human services in Virginia.  Rick has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Princeton University and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Virginia Commonwealth University.  He is a graduate of the Sunflower Advocacy Fellowship, the Kansas Health Foundation Fellows VIII, and the Johnson and Johnson Head Start Management Fellows Program at the Anderson School of Business at UCLA.  He is a recipient of the Samuel Crumbine Medal for Meritorious Service presented by the Kansas Public Health Association.  Currently retired from paid work, he continues voluntary work related to mental health, criminal justice, and tobacco cessation.

This is an important episode to me because my family has dealt first hand with severe mental illness, particularly schizophrenia. I am grateful for the conversations I've had with Rick and the work he has done to improve Kansas regarding mental health services. If you or a loved one you know is struggling with mental health, I would strongly urge you to look into NAMI. There are local chapters everywhere and it has been a lifegiving resource for my family. The sooner illnesses are treated, the better the outcomes. It is hard to articulate the feelings of helplessness you experience when a loved one is in a mental health crisis. I hope this episode finds seeking families just in time. 

EPISODE LINKS: 
National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://nami.org/Home
I'm Not Sick and I Don't Need Help by Dr. Xavier Amador: https://amzn.to/3JMuWQr
Crazy: A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness by Pete Earley: https://amzn.to/3FzWjvL
What is anosognosia? https://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/key-issues/anosognosia
The NAMI hotline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

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