Heart Forward Conversations from the Heart
The American mental health system is broken beyond repair. Rather than trying to tweak a system which fails everyone, it is time to commit to a bold vision for a better way forward. This podcast explores the American system against the plumb line of an international best practice, recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), in Trieste, Italy. The 40-year old Trieste model demonstrates how a community-based treatment system upholds the human rights of the people served. The Trieste story is anti-institutional and models the therapeutic value of social connection. Topics will address contemporary challenges in the American failed mental health system as contrasted with the Italian approach toward accoglienza – or radical hospitality – as the underpinning of their remarkable culture of caring for people. Interviews will touch upon how the guiding principles of the Italian system – social recovery, whole person care, system accountability, and the human right to a purposeful life – are non-negotiable aspects if we are to have any hope of forging a new way forward in our American mental health system. This podcast is curated and hosted by Kerry Morrison, founder and project director of Heart Forward LA (https://www.heartforwardla.org/). Heart Forward is collaborating with Aaron Stern at Verdugo Sound as the technical partner in producing this podcast (https://www.verdugosound.com). Kerry Morrison is also the author of the blog www.accoglienza.us.
Heart Forward Conversations from the Heart
From Strength to Strength: A glimpse into what defines resilience with Georgette Darby in Hollywood
Meet Georgette Darby in this interview. She is one remarkable woman who has endured so much and has emerged strong and resilient. Georgette has a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration with an emphasis in Criminal Justice from California State University at Dominguez Hills. She graduated in 1996. She also has an AA degree in Science, Computer Information Technology from Los Angeles Trade Tech College. She was awarded that degree in 1988. These are accomplishments that she doggedly pursued and was the first person in her family to earn a college degree.
Georgette worked as a junior legal secretary in the law firm Manatt Phelps and Phillips for nearly 10 years. In the fall of 2008, as the world began to reel from the downward slide associated with the financial crisis that sparked the Great Recession, the law firm laid off all staff who did not have at least 10 years tenure. Georgette was just a few months shy of that.
According to this January 2009 article in the New York Times, the United States lost 2.6 million jobs in 2008, the worst year since 1945. By early 2009, more than 11 million Americans were unemployed and the unemployment rate jumped to 7.2 percent.
This was the world that Georgette had to navigate all by herself. As she says, her sorority is “Me Fi Me.” She is a survivor.
Georgette is currently extremely involved in her community, serving on the Board of the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council and as an ambassador member of the new clubhouse in Hollywood which is being created as a part of the Hollywood 2.0 mental health pilot.
Georgette is the personification of the word tenacious. Her lived experience falling into homelessness and navigating our county mental health system is not to be overlooked. She does not give up easily and is a wonderful mentor for anyone who thinks their life is hard. Listen to this interview and see if you could’ve walked a mile in Georgette’s shoes and ended up here!
Links:
Article in LAist re the new LA Clubhouse forming in Hollywood
Our World in Data re/ Covid death rate since 2020