From Diagnosis to Advocacy- Finding Empowerment in Mental Health
March 29, 2016
Hosted by Jessica Pirro
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Guest Information
Episode Description
Mental health is critical to our success in life, love and work. When a person is diagnosed with mental illness, it is the beginning of a journey of uncertainty and questions. People can learn to embrace and understand their own mental illness, and can determine a path to a fulfilling life. This show highlights the amazing story of Karl Shallowhorn and his journey of living with bi-polar and his recovery from addiction. Karl will share his life story, and how he turned the impact of his experience as a mental health consumer into a mission to help others by advocating for the voiceless, working to reduce stigma and to improve access to help and support. We will discuss Karl’s book, “Working on Wellness- A Practical Guide to Mental Health” and hear his personal message of empowerment to others: you are not alone, and the power from within can help turn your diagnosis into advocacy for others.
The Journey- Stories of Crisis and Hope
Archives Available on VoiceAmerica Health and Wellness Channel
When crisis occurs there is an emotional and physical impact to ones wellbeing. As a crisis first responder I have seen firsthand the impact of not dealing with crisis and trauma can have on a person’s sense of self, purpose and belief in happiness and hope. The Journey- Stories of Crisis and Hope will provide education and real life experiences dealing with various issues including mental health, rape, domestic violence, suicide. We will talk about the signs and symptoms of these types of crisis, how you can help yourself, a friend or loved one in order to save a life and restore a sense of hope. My goal is to have an open and honest dialogue to help you know that you are not alone, empower you to seek help and begin your road to a life you want and not be defined by crises that have occurred to you. We will share information on effective interventions, cutting edge programming and awareness of services that you can reach out to in order begin their process of healing.
Jessica Pirro
Jessica C. Pirro received her undergraduate degree in Child and Family Studies and her Masters of Social Work from Syracuse University. She is a NYS Licensed Master Social Worker. Ms. Pirro moved to Buffalo in 1997 and worked for Erie County to set up the Domestic Violence Unit, under the direction of the Wellstone/Murray Amendment Family Violence Option. She began working at Crisis Services in 1999 as the Supervising Counselor of the Advocate Program, the NYS Dept. of Health Rape Crisis Center, and a NYS licensed non-residential domestic violence provider. She was promoted to Coordinator in 2001. In 2006, Ms. Pirro was promoted to Associate Director, charged with overseeing all agency clinical operations 24 hours a day.
In September 2014, she was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and leads the agency’s crisis first responders helping those impacted by crisis with specialty areas around suicide prevention, mental health, domestic violence, rape, elder abuse and homelessness. She was recognized as one of Buffalo’s Business First’s 40 under Forty in 2010 and honored as an Advocate for Change by the It Happened to Alexa Foundation in 2008. She is Co-Chair of the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Erie County, serves as the Project Champion for the Millennium Collaborative Care DSRIP Crisis Stabilization project and is a member of the Health Foundation of Central and Western New York’s Fellows Program. She resides in Buffalo, NY with her husband, step-son and 2 fur kids.
