LISA CHALKLEY
2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon

Drawing done by Chato Stewart

I’m using my recovery from personality disorders to change into an amalgamation of Miss Marple and Marilyn Monroe. I love laughter, friends and food, all at the same time. If I’m not writing comedy songs, painting or dancing around the kitchen in my pj’s, I’ll be tucked up with a thriller, my cats and a game of scrabble.

Always fighting for mental health services, awareness and training in the new ways we can use social media & the web to disseminate information and aid recovery. I love media and PR – even though they make me feel dirty.

Check out my blog, which is all about working with LifeSIGNS, raising awareness about self injury and using creativity. I’m also on twitter: @living_as_if

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 words, she was,”wild…I tell ya! Wild!”

Crystal goes on to say, “I make myself laugh even when I don’t feel like it. It’s like an adrenaline rush. I focus on humour to lighten my life.”

If you were marooned on an island, name three things you would take with you:

Dang…it’s always only 3 things! One ton of chocolate. Two tons of tea. And then an ax. I’m hoping I will have my glasses so I can start a fire, and I hope there is water, i hate fishy things to eat, but i would eat stuff out of the sea or rivers if I had to survive…yuckkitty..

What motivates you?

Lots of things motivate me. Light, hot, bright sunshine. My parents, children and friends. If I can help just one person, I have done a great job of being a good example. People laughing motivates me. Eating right so I don’t have pain motivates me!

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, and to social media friends and colleagues, via email.

Donna lives life by the biblical example of Matthew 7:12 “All things, therefore, that YOU want men to do to YOU, YOU also must likewise do to them.” She is often the first person to give encouragement and support to her fellow peers, and is one of the most positive people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting! (Online, that is).

Frequently, I get short messages from Donna. You know the type: short but sweet and to the point. It’s comforting when others take the time to be thoughtful enough to send a message to you. It really makes your day! Here’s what I recently got from Donna.

“Chato, Love your cartoons and your style of humor. – Donna Jenkins”

Thank you Donna!

Here is a fun fact: In the 60’s, Donna worked on the Space program and USA’s race to the moon. She says it was “very exciting times – to think we were the first to make this a probability!”