Everything Under The Sun: Honoring San Francisco's Champions of Mental Health

One of this year's honorees, Jane Kim, SF Supervisor.

When I think about the issues of mental health, about which I was quite familiar as a health care professional, I am generally drawn back to society's tendency to stigmatize those who have been diagnosed with mental illness. It isn't that these people are broken or defective, they aren't mean or hostile or likely even to shoot you, although that is how the media characterizes them. They are average, ordinary people, who happen to have more than their share of challenges. Yet, they live their lives the best that they can, even with those challenges.

Maybe one way to challenge societal views is to celebrate those with mental illnesses, those who have reached beyond their deepest dreams and made a contribution. That's certainly what an organization like THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF SAN FRANCISCO (MHASF) does when it holds an annual event, NORTH STARS - CELEBRATING INNOVATORS & CHAMPIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH.

This year, this wonderful event is being held on May 19, 5-7 PM at Farella Braun + Martel LLP, in the Russ Building. This event recognizes those mental health leaders that have assisted in MHASF's mission to fight the stigma of mental illness. The event provides hors d'oeuvres and is also holding a silent auction, with proceeds going to MHASF.

The emcee for the evening is Dave Clark, the co-anchor of The KTVU Channel 2 Morning News since 2007. Kevin Hines, the featured speaker, is an author, documentary filmmaker, recognized speaker, and mental health and suicide prevention advocate. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after he tried to take his own life.

Named as Outstanding Government Leader is State Senator Mark Leno. He is well-known for backing legislation to support better schools, single-payer universal health insurance, safer streets, and equal rights. This year he introduced legislation to establish a peer and family support certification program.

Outstanding Community Leader is Jane Kim, San Francisco Supervisor. She is the first Korean-American to be elected to office in San Francisco. Since her assuming office, she has championed better access to affordable housing, better protections for renters, and reducing gaps in income. She is now running for State Senate.

The Outstanding Mental Health Leader is Eve Meyer, Executive Director of San Francisco Suicide Prevention, a position she has held for more than 20 years. Under her leadership, the suicide prevention line has been expanding its services and offering innovative approaches. She continues to be an outspoken advocate in the field of suicide prevention.

Dr. Mason Turner, MD, has been named Outstanding MHASF Champion. He serves as Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco.

The Outstanding San Francisco Community Leader recognition is being extended to Dr. David Elliott-Lewis, who has been a mental health advocate his entire life. He has focused on helping himself through helping his community, democratic participation, and the spread of social justice. He is one of the speakers with MHASF's S.O.L.V.E. Speaker's Bureau.

Jo Robinson, the former Director of Behavioral Health Services at the San Francisco Department of Public Health, has also been named Outstanding San Francisco Community Leader. During her thirty years in the Department of Public Health, she has worked towards transforming the mental health system into a leader in providing recovery and other integrated services.

The Outstanding Community Champion is Estela Garcia, DMH, who is now Executive Director of Instituto Familiar de la Raza, Inc., and also supervising clinical psychologist. During her many years in the field, she has worked and led tirelessly in the effort to provide integrated services to Latino children, families, and adults.

Onsite registration table for Propel Peer convening session.

Finally, another Outstanding Community Champion is Jennifer Friedenbach. She has spent much of her life's work fighting for those who are homeless. Some of her efforts have prevented people from losing their homes, or provided easier transitions back into more permanent dwellings. She has worked to develop more substance abuse treatment programs, leading to a reduction in overdose cases and shorter waits for services. Her work has resulted in benefits for many, including a number of saved lives.