Kali White VanBaale is an author, teacher, coach and now a new writer with the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. She is a popular Okoboji Writers’ Retreat speaker on the topic of memoir.
Kali is planning to focus her column on mental health care issues in Iowa.
The origin of her passion for the issue, she says, took root when her neighbors were murdered by their son, who earlier had sought treatment for his mental illness but was turned away due to a lack of hospital beds available. He is now getting treatment, but in the penal system, and his mother, father and sister are dead. And, Kali White VanBaale is on a previously unforeseen path to fix a broken system.
Please tune in starting at noon, Monday, October 30.
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87134854624
Okoboji
Early Enrollment for the Okoboji Writers’ Retreat is now open. Save your place (it has sold out each of the past three years):
https://okobojiwritersretreat.com
Iowa Writers’ Collaborative
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I would be surprised actually if someone in everyone's family has not had an issue with mental illness. My brother had schizophrenia and was never able to function as an independent individual on his own and passed 3 weeks after his 54th birthday, dropping dead on the sidewalk coming back from getting candy at the QT when he was on pass from his facility. My first job when I got married in 71 was in the office at what is now known as the Sands Center at Broadlawns and was privileged to know Dr. Sands personally. Naive when I went in there, not when I had worked there two years. The heartache for the individuals and families is not for the faint of heart.
It’s hard for me to believe there’s an Iowan who hasn’t been affected by mental health issues! Whether it’s children being bullied, workplace harassment, alcohol or drug dependency and addiction, anxiety issues, who has been the fortunate one to escape mental health issues for themselves or those they love? Thank you for this focus. Looking forward to hearing more from you.