These videos feature real, honest, and inspirational stories of mental heath recovery – all told by consumers or family members themselves. Viewers learn how a different person has defied the odds and thrived in spite of mental health challenges. They come from two series of videos: Faces of Hope and Resilience, and Stories of Recovery.

Producer: Rev. Barbara F. Meyers

Recovery Videos

To view a video, click on the name

Rebekah Elowyn, Pastoral Counselor, mother

Rebekah Elowyn was in her 40’s when she realized that there were other personalities within herself. The other personalities had formed to shield her from abuse she suffered as a child. She speaks of how they emerged when she began remembering the abuse, and how with the help of a therapist, she was able to integrate them and become whole.

Linford Gayle – Director of the Office of Consumer and Family Affairs in San Mateo

While he currently plays an integral role in advocating for and empowering consumers on a county and statewide level, Linford was not always in such a position. Learn how he overcame a suicide attempt, bullying, and a co-occurring diagnosis of bipolar and substance abuse to help improve the mental health system and change society’s views of those who struggle.

 Jessica Hendricks – Has overcome trauma and abuse

Jessica Hendricks is a young adult of Korean-American heritage. She endured trauma and abuse and developed Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) which was former known as multiple personality disorder. She speaks of her experience, and the positives and negatives of living with DID.

Kathryn Lum – Math tutor, Recovery speaker

In her late teens, Kathryn Lum started hearing disembodied voices and became very depressed. Hear how she navigated her life and how she has now found peace and a fulfilling career.

Jay Mahler– Consumer Relations Manager, Alameda County Behavioral Care Services

Renowned advocate Jay Mahler shares his decades-long relationship with the mental health system. Hear about his first encounter with treatment and how that experience catalyzed a lifelong commitment to consumer rights activism

Rev. Barbara Meyers – Minister, Author, Weaver, Video Producer

Rev. Barbara Meyers changed her profession from a computer software engineer to an ordained minister. Recovering from a serious bout of postpartum depression, she learned how to live a more balanced life. After she experienced the importance of spirituality in her recovery, she eventually retired from her previous career and became a minister who focuses her ministry on mental health issues. Hear her story and her path to recovery

Lorenzo Quan – Retired social worker and mental health worker

Lorenzo Quan has overcome a variety of life challenges – adoption, assimilation to a new culture, a suicide attempt, and homelessness. Today he serves on the board of the Alameda County Network of Mental Health Clients and is an active advocate in the mental health consumer movement. Hear more about his story and how he discovered his own path to recovery.

Christina Murphy – Housing Specialist, Student

First hospitalized at the age of 6, Christina Murphy has overcome sexual abuse, hospitalizations, misdiagnosis, drugging, and several stays in jail to become a college graduate, and an employee working to help others. Hear her inspiring story.

Peggy Rahman, Family Member, Teacher

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a family member of someone with severe mental health challenges? Peggy Rahman, President of NAMI Alameda County, discusses the stigma she faced as the mother of a child with schizophrenia. Hear how she advocated for her daughter, why she thinks hope is so important to recovery, and how her experiences made her a better parent and wife.

Roberto Roman – Mental Health Community Support Worker

Roberto Roman is a mental health community support worker with Contra Costa Behavioral Health Care Services. After experiencing traumatic losses early in his life, Roberto discusses when and why he decided to seek treatment, his experience with hospitalization, and the oft-forgotten dangers of being misdiagnosed. Hear the lessons he gained from his mental health struggles, his thoughts on his diagnosis, and why he believes recovery is possible for anyone.

Monique Tarver – Minister, Mother

Minister Monique Tarver shares how she first discovered she had mental health issues and the roles her faith and family played in helping her through hard times. Tarver is a leader in building bridges between the mental health and spiritual communities by encouraging the two systems to work together in supporting the whole person.

Brian Wetzel – Comedian, Speaker

Brian Wetzel is a public speaker and comedian who has struggled with depression since the age of 20. Learn how Brian uses comedy and performance to educate society about mental health issues and heal from his own experiences. Hear the lessons he learned from his suicide attempt and how he is able to spot the silver linings in even the most dire of situations.

Felicia Williams – Family member, Healthcare provider

Meet Felicia Williams, a loving mother of a son with mental health challenges, talk about her lived experience. She tells of finally finding adequate resources and making lifestyle changes that enable her and her son to begin to thrive. Consumers, have your family members watch this; Felicia is a role model for family members in similar situations.

CC Wynn – Mother, mental health worker, student

CC Wynn has had to deal with addictions to drugs and alcohol along with mental health difficulties. Pregnant in high school, her young son was raised by her sister and her mother when she was in rehab. Her life started to turn around after the birth of her second son, when she decided that she wanted to be able to raise her children. Now clean and sober for 18 years, she is a role model showing that lives can be turned around.

Sally Zinman – Consumer/Survivor Activist

Learn about the story of Sally Zinman, a pioneer in the consumer movement who has been doing advocacy work for more than 30 years. Discover how she recovered from abuse on a farm in the name of treatment and the pivotal role she has played in groundbreaking mental health legislation.

Here are some other on-line collections of stories told by consumers and family members:

Faces of Hope and Resilience is a project of The Life Reaching Across to Life Organization 3833 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, CA 94536 510-745-9500 A member organization of The Alameda County Network of Mental Health Clients Contacts: Alameda County Network of Mental Health Clients Inquiries: (510) 652-5891 Reaching Across Inquiries: 510-745-9500 Faces of Hope and Resilience Inquiries: com_minister at mpuuc.org

Stories of Recovery is a project of PEERS Peers Envisioning and Engaging in Recovery Services www.peersnet.org 333 Hegenberger Road, Suite 250, Oakland, CA 94621 510-832-7337 Contacts: General Inquiries: info at peersnet.org Stories of Recovery Inquiries: mhm at peersnet.org