Our Mission
Equipping all members of society with the knowledge, attitude, and skills needed to promote mental wellness in oneself and others.
Promoting how to recognize poor mental health so earliest care and connection to resources can bring optimal results.
Teaching how to start a Conversation of Concern, to decrease the fear and discomfort associated when interacting with co-workers, family members, friends, or any person with mental health issues or addiction, is a vital skill that must be mastered.
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:
Our 2 hour specially designed interactive workshops Journey into Mental Health and Journey into Mental Wellness promote optimal mental wellness by equipping you with the knowledge, attitude, skills needed to increase resilience while learning about poor mental health, mental illness, resources, self-care activity, and how to build resilience.
The Mental Health Leadership Training Journey into Mental Health course helps organizations prioritize employee wellness. In this 4-hour interactive workshop management becomes proficient in Mental Health Literacy and is introduced to a variety of workplace activities which promote a culture of mental wellness through trust, growth, events, and connection.
The 8-hour Mental Health First Aid (in-person) course will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to better prepare you for wellness in life’s journey. Spend a day with us (or two 4 hour days) becoming certified in Mental Health First Aid skills. Our class offers interactive group activities, class discussion, exemplary videos and practical role playing exercise to allow practicing of MHFA skills. This class is also offered in a 2-hour self taught online class followed by a 5-hour in person training session.
Our Step into Mental Health online 60 minute course instructs individuals in the basic knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to identify Mental well-being, poor mental health, mental illness. How to recognize mental health crisis and how to connect and locate a myriad of resources for screening tools, information, treatment, care, and support - Available at Outschool.com
Take advantage of any or all of our Past Specialized Designed Presentations:
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
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 degrees 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.
Lynne Pettis
Lynne Pettis is an enthusiastic, dedicated, deeply spiritual ordained minister who currently coordinates an outreach program for people living with mental illness or in homelessness. On a weekly basis she offers a free lunch, secures personal items for them, leads skill building groups, and connects people to the services they need. Lynne is a certified Mental Health First Aider and has extensive training in suicide intervention, survivor support and suicide prevention.
Since 2014, Lynne holds a certificate of Ordination and leads the 12-step Celebrate Recovery group in her local church. She also works as a Hospice Chaplain comforting individuals and their families sometimes during the most difficult time of their lives. She is passionate about assisting seniors in anything they need to live a fulfilling, healthy life; spending any part or sometimes most of her day cleaning homes, delivering groceries, buying depends, picking up medications, and connecting people to the services they need.
Lynne lives, works, and volunteers her time with others in Apache Junction, Arizona.
Charla Waxman
Dr. Charla Waxman is the Community Liaison at Lake Behavioral Hospital. She has served in many roles in the mental health field over the years, including overseeing several clinical programs in both inpatient and outpatient settings as a program director and an administrator. Charla is passionate about developing relationships, strategizing and problem solving, and ultimately working to meet the needs of patients and clients. Charla also enjoys presenting and training on a variety of mental health topics and has trained nationally and internationally on topics related to aggression and youth counter cultures. Charla is a published author in the fields of mental health, gangs and adolescent behavior. She has been awarded locally and nationally for her work with gang-involved and difficult to reach youth. Her work has been featured in the Charthouse book, School of FISH!, as well as on radio and television. Charla is a regular featured health and wellness writer for BOImagazine and a published book reviewer.