Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Jackson.
Hi Kelly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My introduction to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) started when a co-worker recommended coming to a Family to Family class in 2017. My husband was having unusual behavior, severely depressed, suicidal, irritable and he was in the process of being diagnosed with a mental health condition. This class was an absolute game changer for me and my family. I learned to understand my husband’s illness as a biological illness of the brain, I learned to build a support system, communicate differently and advocate for his care. Plus, most importantly, I gained empathy and hope! I decided to volunteer with NAMI in a marketing/communication role after attending the class.
In the coming years, both of my teenagers would develop mental health concerns and with the information and support system I built from attending NAMI’s Family to Family, I was able to navigate the system as a more equipped, understanding parent. This organization has been an absolute lifesaver!
In 2022, I got a call from the President of the Board of Directors asking me to apply for the first Executive Director position for NAMI Johnson County. I applied, interviewed and got the job!
Since that time, I’ve aimed to continue to build an organization built on hope and empathy. We offer support groups for those living with a mental health condition and those supporting someone with a mental health condition. We have continued Family to Family classes, year round. We also have expanded our programming to include presenting and resourcing to teenagers, teachers, parents, veterans, police education, justice system advocacy, workplace wellness, and providing culturally cultivated conversations for populations that wouldn’t typically reach out for mental health support. Our goal is 3 fold: All people are aware of their mental wellness, people get help early, people get the best help possible.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Personal Obstacles:
Supporting a loved one with mental illness can be isolating and financially distressing. By accepting my family’s diagnosis, I have learned to share my story, reach out for help and advocate (without shame) for my people.
I can share more in detail about this when together. 🙂
Professional Obstacles:
NAMI Johnson County is one affiliate of 600 in the nation. We are all different sizes, cultures, different funding, yet trying to do the same work. In our region, many people simply don’t know about us – due to marketing constraints, denial/shame or people simply not understanding the benefit of a support system like us. We also have a number of other NAMI affiliates close to us doing similar work- NAMI Greater KC (serving Missouri counties), NAMI Kansas (serving entire state), NAMI Douglas county (serving Lawrence), and more.
We are primarily volunteer ran (besides myself)- with also in the process of expanding our staff.
There’s also the personal challenges of those involved in NAMI. Almost all of us either live with a loved one or live with a mental health condition ourselves. There are crises, relapses, emergencies and sometimes just seasons of healing – this can take our organizational momentum down as we seek to support those near us.
One of the most powerful programs of NAMI is In Our Own Voice presentation. During this presentation, 2 people who live in recovery share their story of their journey from crisis to recovery. It is a beautiful way to put a face on a difficult diagnosis- Their stories are full of grace, discovery and compassion for themselves. We currently have 6 speakers qualified and trained in this presentation – but the demand isn’t there.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am most proud of my ability to build a vibrant community. I am able to identify gifts and talents in people, get them trained and release them to serve in meaningful ways. I can spot leadership gifts in people and place them where they need to be to benefit from their passion and abilities.
I like to present the vision and benefit of NAMI to inspire people to evaluate their mental wellness and seek help if necessary. I also LOVE assisting people to find the right resources for their situation – our community has so much to offer, I enjoy helping people navigate the process.
Lastly, I love speaking to caregivers. Hearing their stories and sharing mine has been a powerful way to see minds change and hearts turn towards their suffering loved one.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We work with all sorts of organizations – primarily through education and resourcing. We have mental health resources for lobbies and training for any people group. We share stories of hope with tips on how to evaluate and get help for mental health conditions. We can also train people to lead in our organization!
Our most celebrated fundraising event is our annual NAMIWalks. This is held in Lenexa on the last Saturday in May. We join with around 300+ people and organizations that support mental health for all and donate to NAMI so we can continue the good work we do in the community! Sponsors, partners and walkers are always welcome!
Of course, we accept financial donations and in-kind donations, year round.
All NAMI support, education, presentations, resourcing is FREE!!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.namijoco.org
- Instagram: #namijocoks
- Facebook: @namijocoks
- LinkedIn: @namijocoks
- Youtube: @namijocoks
