WISCONSIN UNITED
for MENTAL HEALTH

December 4, 2008

Dear WUMH Advisory Board and Steering Committee Members:

A qualified and energetic person has come forward to serve as Co-Chair of Wisconsin United for Mental Health. Patty Branton has agreed to serve as volunteer Co-Chair alongside Rebecca Cohen. The open position has been advertised for several months and notice was distributed widely throughout the state. WUMH is fortunate to have found such a capable leader.

Patty Branton is the Wisconsin Disability Program Navigator Project Coordinator with Employment Resources Inc. Her past experiences include event coordination, promotion and outreach; experience with individuals with both physical and cognitive challenges; disability employment solutions and job placement. Welcome Patty!

Also, two new people have expressed and interest in serving on the WUMH Advisory Board. WUMH welcomes Jonathan Kanter and Lisa Roehl to the Advisory Board.

Jonathan Kanter is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Over the last several years Dr. Kanter has engaged in research on the behavioral theory of depression and has focused on the implications of this theory for treatment and for understanding and reducing stigma. He is also evaluating the effectiveness of different depression stigma reduction programs in the community.

Lisa Roehl is a psychotherapist and Licensed Professional Counselor with the Medical College of Wisconsin at their Tosa Center Clinic in Milwaukee. She worked for several years at MHA of Wisconsin as Director of Programs. Her particular areas of interest are women’s mental health, trauma-informed care, mental health care for families within child welfare, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) mental health and suicide prevention.

At the December 12, 2008, Joint WUMH Advisory Board and Steering Committee Meeting these three will be formally introduced and accepted.

Thank you all in advance for your willingness to be an active participant in WUMH. We look forward to our work together to eliminate the stigma of mental illnesses.

Rebecca Cohen, Co-Chair
Marilyn Duguid, Project Coordinator