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Be Brave and Grow in Community
Every member of society acts responsibly in understanding the knowledge, attitude, and skills needed to promote mental wellness in oneself and others.
Feeling confident in recognizing poor mental health in mental illness prevention and knowing how to connect to information, earliest treatment, care, and resources is vital to community wellness.
Feeling more confident when initiating a sensitive "Conversation of Concern" and minimizing any tension while interacting with co-workers, family members, friends, or any person with mental health issues, addiction, or in crisis builds community.
Encouraging First person language
Example: People live with mental illness; People are not mentally ill. People complete or die by suicide; they do not commit suicide. Speaking this way helps decrease the shame and stigma associated with mental health care; it helps increase the amount of individuals willing to seek treatment and care.
Our Courses
We believe:
We can custom design an interactive workshop for your organization which will promote optimal mental wellness by equipping participants with the knowledge, attitude, and skills needed to increase resilience while learning about poor mental health, mental illness, 988, resources, self-care activity, and how to build resilience.
Create your own or utilize any of our specially designed past presentations:
Journey into Mental Health: What Illness and Wellness look like (MHL)
Self-Care for Personal Wellness
Words Matter - First Person Language
Building Resilience; Self-care Activity for Optimal Wellness
Grief and Loss
Community Action and Suicide Prevention
El Camino de Santiago - Lessons learned walking 500 miles
Challenging Perspectives: Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity
Previous Training Events:
St. Peter Catholic Church, Deland, FL
Illinois State Medical Society, Virtual presentation
Illinois Department of Human Services, Chicago, IL
Hartgrove Hospital, Virtual presentation
Illinois Dental Hygienist Association, Wheaton, IL
Raindance Resort, Apache Junction, AZ
Village of Arlington Heights, Arlington Heights, IL
Who We Are
Rebecca Ogrodny, Founder
Empower Mental Health, LLC
Becky is an energetic, empowering, and solution focused educator who is passionate about equipping people with the knowledge and skills they need to enhance their overall health and wellness. Professionally employed as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team in a state funded psychiatric hospital for 27 years, she has mastered the skills to create empowerment opportunities. Rebecca received recognition for her work in Cultural Diversity and was presented a IDHS Service of Excellence Award in 2018.
Engaging in a variety of community service, including assisting patrons at the world's largest soup kitchen in Italy, volunteering at the Boabab rvefugee camp in Rome, and serving as a emotional/spiritual care first responder here in Chicago, has validated her pursuit to challenge the status quo. Rebecca believes when we Empower Mental Health it becomes as important as physical health; automatically liberating brain health from shame, stigma and the shackles that prevent us from asking for help.
Rebecca holds a Master's Degree in Education; bachelor degree in Public health and Recreational Therapy. She serves on the board of directors of Mental Health America of Illinois and remains active in her pursuit of continuing education; with special emphasis in diversity, inclusivity, and coaching. Currently she is working to author a book that compels society to view people living with mental illness from a different perspective.
Roger Callese
Roger Callese is a law enforcement practitioner, educator, and researcher with a passion for community caretaking and wellness. He is a Policing Fellow with the National Police Foundation, a nationally recognized education and law enforcement subject matter expert (Department of Justice and Bureau of Justice Assistance), an adjunct professor, and a statewide instructor for the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute. He has presented original research in decision-making, tactics, procedural justice, mentoring, and mental health at regional and national conferences.
Roger is a certified Crisis Intervention Team member and a Mental Health First Aid USA volunteer instructor with endorsements for teaching Adult, Military/Veteran, Public Safety, and Higher Education. He has been a panel guest for the Lake County (IL) Suicide Prevention Task Force and Mental Health First Aid USA Instructor Panel. He is a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and has been a presenter at past conferences.His education includes an associate degree in Criminal Justice, and bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in Education. In addition to over 25 years of law enforcement experience, he is a veteran of the U.S. Army and combat veteran of the U.S. Navy.