How Dr. David Hunnicutt, President of WELCOA, left me speechless. (Or, why I wrote a book about Stress.)
Updated: 2012-05-31 23:05:43
I first met David Hunnicutt, the President of WELCOA at the American Journal of Health Promotion Conference in Hilton Head South Carolina. Dr. Hunnicutt was giving the keynote address and I was really impressed by it. I happened to bump into him the next day, and I introduced myself, told him a little about what I did, and I told him how much I liked his speech. A year later when I ran into him again at another conference, he surprised me by saying that he remembered meeting me the year before and that he planned on stopping by my booth the next day.
Crystal D Choate 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart Crystal D Choate grew up in Brea, CA, 10 miles from Disney Land (I LOVE Disneyland). She was always hitchhiking all over, or taking the bus, skipping school and getting bus transfers to places like San Diego and Big Bear. In her [...]
Donna Mae Jenkins 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart Donna Jenkins is a dynamic advocate for the subject of mental health here in Florida. Continuously ahead of the curve on the latest mental health legislation affecting Florida peers, Donna distributes mental health information/news (with positive and encouraging messages) to her friends, [...]
Karen Gross 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart Karen Gross – NAMI High Country – won the 2010 NAMI Connection Hall of Fame Award. Story to be posted soon. ——Sponsors—— Friend me on Facebook @chato B Stewart. ——————————————— Subscribe to my Newsletter —————- View previous Newsletters. Bonus My kids Drawings: [...]
Muffy Walker 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart Muffy Walker was born and raised outside of Philadelphia, PA. She currently resides in Rancho Santa Fe with her husband John C. Reed and their three sons. In 1983, Walker graduated with a Master’s of Science in Psychiatric Nursing from the University of [...]
Electroboy – Andy Behrman 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart Electroboy – Memoir Mania Andy Behrman Electroboy Behrman Andy Behrman is the author of Electroboy: A Memoir of Mania, published by Random House. His book has been translated into six languages. He is a mental health advocate and speaker who promotes [...]
Don MacMannis & Debra M. MacMannis 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart Don MacMannis & Debra M. MacMannis are a husband and wife team at home and at the office. Celebrating over thirty years together, they have simultaneously served as directors of the Family Therapy Institute of Santa Barbara, a non-profit [...]
Tracy Love 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart Tracy Love has transformed her life experiences in mental health and the criminal justice systems for positive change. Her passion for her work as an advocate and wellness educator began 10 years ago after being misdiagnosed for over 25 years. Since then, she [...]
I just finished a 8 hour cartoon-a-thon marathon – drawing and inking 9 Mental Health Hero caricatures. Now all I have to do is scan each one then clean up the black and white images and start to color them. It will be another 8 hours before that is done. Nonetheless, the fact is I’ve [...]
Mary Ellen Copeland 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart Mary Ellen Copeland is an author, educator and mental health recovery advocate. Her work is based on her on-going study of the day-to-day coping strategies of people who experience psychiatric symptoms, and how people have gotten well and stayed well. She undertook [...]
Chato’s Wife 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart Hi! I feel so privileged and honored to be included, however, I am no hero…just an ordinary woman relying on her faith to help her cope with extraordinary family circumstances. My thoughts, prayers and “respect” go to all True Heroes–those living with the [...]
Barry Erdman 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart Barry Erdman, LCSW, DCSW, licensed clinical social worker, has provided assessment and practical therapeutic solutions for difficult life problems with adults, couples and families in Boulder, Colorado since 1979. He specializes in using both conventional and alternative therapeutic modalities for resolving depression, anxiety, [...]
As a motivational speaker, I get the privilege of being there for people in their times of brokenness. They share their pain with me, and we talk about how to see, believe, and do our way to a happier ever after. One of the recurring issues shared is from single women longing for a companion. Women ...
Day Lou – Chato’s Sister 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart She has supported me, listened to me when I’ve been balanced and heard me when I needed help; even calling the police once when I was suicidal and saved my life one night back in June of 2004. Yes, this [...]
Amy Ebbeson 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart I have the honor and privilege of teaching Mental Health at Worcester State University. It is amazing to me that for many of my students, this is the first time mental health issues have been talked about in an educational setting. This is [...]
Lee Horbachewski 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart “You are not alone. You are loved.” Words that Lee Horbachewski lives and breathes, to let others know they are not alone through the journey of depression and anxiety. Lee’s book, “A Quiet Strong Voice – my journey through depression, anxiety and attempted [...]
Dr. John Grohol 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart I had the privilege to meet Dr. John M. Grohol, Psy.D. at the Alternatives Conference in Orlando this past winter. It was the first time we actually talked in person, although we have communicated via e-mail since 2008. I can truly tell [...]
Which do you think is the best path to success – being nice or being mean? Just another wacky motivational speaker’s perspective. http://motivational-speakers-review.com/2012/05/16/building-relationships/nice-or-by-who-wins
Tod Juke 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart Tod Juke uses a combination of education, doctor-patient communication, medication compliance, journaling, mood charts and “never” giving up the hope, to stay well. Tod Juke was diagnosed with depression in 1996. He was finally diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder in 2002. After 6 [...]
Dear Suniverse, What is our purpose for living on planet Earth? Wondering, There’s Got to Be a Point, Right? Dear Pointy, Of course there’s a point. If we weren’t on planet Earth, we’d be stuck on one of those ridiculously underpopulated and barren planets like Mars, where the monsters are and there is no [...]
Amanda Lucks 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart “I AM PROUD TO SHARE with my friends and family that MY campaign GO LIME Awareness for Mental Health (GLAMH) has been recognized and published in 2 online articles (HERE and HERE) I JUST WISH IT WOULD GET MORE AUSSIE RECOGNITION! But thanks [...]
Julie Fast 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart Julie Fast received the Mental Health American Journalism award for writing the best mental health column in the United States Julie A. Fast is a world-leading mental health expert on the topics of bipolar disorder, depression, seasonal affective disorder and mood management. She [...]
Natasha Tracy 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart Natasha Tracy is an award-winning writer and social media strategist specializing in the area of mental health. Natasha routinely writes on bipolar disorder, depression, psychopharmacology and other mental health issues. Her expertise has been sought by academics and reporters and she is to [...]
Ever notice unsightly debris near your running path and had a strong inclination to pick it up? Then you might be drawn to eco-running. What is eco-running exactly? We chat with an expert in the field of running green to find out more. 
Alfred Jefferson 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart I’m an advocate with epilepsy and situational depression. I don’t like to sit around doing nothing when I feel something needs to happen, so I joined a NAMI affiliate’s board of directors, 3 committees, 2 councils and I used to be a member [...]
The inevitable occurred tonight on the elimination night of “American Idol.” Hollie Cavanagh, who had been in the bottom three so many times previously, was finally kicked off. Just before the announcement was made, you could see in her eyes that she knew she was being cut from the competition. The remaining three contestants [...]
Julie Hanks 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart A self-proclaimed “social media junkie,” licensed psychotherapist Julie Hanks, LCSW was recently recognized as the #1 online depression influencer by ShareCare for her extensive work promoting mental health resources online. Hanks has over 20 years in the mental health field, providing outpatient psychotherapy [...]
National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week: Chato’s Kids 2012 Mental Health Heroes Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato’s kids, ages 6, 9, 10 and 13 This being National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, I thought it was only fitting to feature my children as the next four heroes. They decided themselves that they wanted to draw [...]
John McManamy 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart John McManamy is the award-winning author of “Living Well with Depression and Bipolar Disorder: What Your Doctor Doesn’t Tell You That You Need to Know” (HarperCollins, 2006), and editor and publisher of “McMan’s Depression and Bipolar Web.” He also contributes as an expert [...]
Summer Beretsky 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart In twelfth grade, I wrote an essay called “Thinking Too Deeply About Over-Analyzation.” The topic was pretty self-explanatory; I picked apart (or, rather, over-analyzed) the very manner in which I over-analyze. I got an A on the essay. I also got a comment [...]
Dr. Ryan M. Niemiec 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart Dr. Ryan M. Niemiec is an author, licensed psychologist, and educator. He is Education Director of the VIA Institute on Character (www.viacharacter.org), a nonprofit organization where he leads workshops around the world on the science and practice of character strengths. Ryan [...]
Maureen Fifer 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart Maureen was diagnosed with bipolar disorder over 10 years ago and underwent brain surgery for a large brain cyst. Even though Maureen is not a mental health professional, she does play a very important role in peer support. She is Secretary and on [...]
Eat This! on Funny not Slutty – Real recipes, made real funny. by Heather Davis I would really like to be one of those chicks who gardens all spring and summer long and shares her bounty with neighbors and starving children. But, I’m not. I grow dandelion trees. Trees. And you can’t eat dandelion trees. [...]
Our guest contributor from across the pond takes a closer look at a running shoe offered by outdoor company Karrimor. How will the rucksack company's footwear stack up to other more established running brands? Find out. 
Steve Moeller 2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon Drawing done by Chato Stewart Steve Moeller, High Country NAMI President, Boone NC is such a nice guy and I’m privileged to draw him for this year’s cartoon-a-thon for Mental Health Heroes. Steve’s Story: No matter where you go in Boone with Steve Moeller, he sees people he [...]