Patrick J. Kennedy on The Unifying Power of Mental Health - Chief Influencer - Episode # 087
The Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy is a leading advocate for mental health and addiction. As a former Congressman, Patrick was instrumental in passing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 and has spent years fighting for policy change. After leaving Congress, he founded The Kennedy Forum and co-founded One Mind to advance brain health.
In this episode, Patrick delves into the challenges and stigmas faced by those struggling with mental health and substance use disorders and the impactful decision to share his own story in his book, A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction; and the courageous stories of others in his more recent book, Profiles in Mental Health Courage.
Takeaways:
- Be authentic and vulnerable: Share your own story, including struggles and failures, to create genuine connections and inspire others. Authenticity can turn adverse events into strengths, as people appreciate honesty and are more likely to support you when they see you are genuine.
- Build coalitions: Diverse coalitions can drive impactful change. By bringing together different perspectives and points of view, you can create a broader consensus and develop policies or solutions that are more robust and widely accepted.
- Forge bipartisan support in times of polarization: Build bipartisan support by focusing on shared goals and values, using persistence and personal connections to bridge divides in polarized times.
- Connect with your audience through storytelling: Use stories and analogies to make complex issues more relatable and to motivate people to join your cause or mission. Tailored storytelling can rally support and drive collective action.
- Persist through adversity: Use challenges as learning experiences and opportunities to build resilience. Persistence, even in the face of setbacks, is key to achieving long-term goals and making a difference.
- Leverage personal experiences for advocacy: Use your story to highlight broader issues, fostering empathy and inspiring change.
- There is no health without mental health: Advocate for integrating mental health into healthcare, highlighting its connection to physical health and the need for community-based support to reduce costs and improve recovery.
Quote of the Show:
- "We live in a polarized world, but the shared human experience of our mental health can unite us across all divides. These issues transcend the toxic reactivity between opposing sides."
Links:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-j-kennedy-6821ba165/
- Website: https://www.patrickjkennedy.net/
- Books:
- “Profiles in Mental Health Courage”: https://a.co/d/0kFiw9G
- “A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction”: https://a.co/d/2ObOEdP
Creators and Guests
Host
Anthony Shop
Anthony Shop believes in the power of people-centered branding and marketing to create a bright future. He chairs the National Digital Roundtable, the premier convener of digital innovators, leaders and policy shapers. Anthony also is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Social Driver, a digital services firm that helps companies and non-profits establish winning strategies with social media, websites, creative, and advertising. An enthusiastic presenter and teacher, he has led executive-level training for Amazon, PepsiCo, NASA, The British Embassy and the Bipartisan Policy Center. He has been recognized as an “OUTstanding LGBT Role Model” by The Financial Times, “40 Under 40” by The Washington Business Journal, and Business Leader of the Year by the DC Chamber of Commerce. A former newspaper reporter, Anthony was the first new media professional elected to the National Press Club’s Board of Governors. He currently serves on the boards of Leadership Greater Washington and LearnServe International. He earned his MBA from The George Washington University School of Business, where he teaches as an adjunct lecturer.
Producer
Robert Krueger
Robert is an Executive Director for The Communications Board, an organization with the mission of providing high-quality professional development for every communicator in every location. He is also the Global Lead for Partnership Communications at Gensler, the world’s largest architecture and design firm. Prior to his current role, he performed executive and CEO communications for Gensler, and was the senior director of public relations and social media at the Urban Land Institute. He obtained an MA in Communications and an MA in History from George Mason University. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In addition, Robert has taught communications at universities including George Mason University, West Virginia University, and the University of Florida. Robert currently serves as Immediate-Past President for the Public Relations Society of America’s National Capital Chapter (PRSA-NCC) -- the nonprofit’s largest chapter.