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 you that he is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met – and I’m not just saying that cause he’s my boss!  Okay, maybe I’m saying a little of that because he’s my boss, but the truth is he’s one down to earth guy and extremely intelligent individual! Yet he does not talk down to you. He treats you like an equal and peer.

That is a very rare personality trait among extremely intellectual people.  Dr. John has been a mental health hero since I started blogging here at Psych Central (May 2010).

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Month’s Cartoon-A-Thon will be Dr. John Grohol’s 3rd Caricature ( Cartoon-A-Thon’s May 7 Mental Health Hero: John Grohol and Dr John M Grohol Mental Health Hero). I want to thank Dr. John for having me here at Psych Central.  I hope to continue to draw many, many, many more caricatures of my hero Dr. John Grohol!

Dr. John Grohol is an expert in online psychology and behavior, researcher, author and CEO & founder of the leading mental health and psychology network, PsychCentral.com. Since receiving his doctorate in clinical psychology from Nova Southeastern University in 1995, Dr. Grohol has worked tirelessly as an online patient advocate and publisher of independent, objective mental health information designed to reduce the stigma associated with these concerns.

Read his …

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 be featured in an upcoming documentary on bipolar disorder.

Getting to Know You:

What makes you laugh? John Stewart and Steven Colbert make me laugh. I’m all about intelligent humor. If you can make me think and laugh at the same time, I’m yours forever.

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 services to children, adolescents, adults, couples and families with complex mental health and relationship problems.

In addition to providing therapy and serving as Executive Director of Wasatch Family Therapy, she writes for PsychCentral’s Ask The Therapist and Private Practice Toolbox, and for her own site JulieHanks.com. Mrs Hanks’ down-to-earth professionalism makes her a sought after TV and media contributor.

She recently appeared on TLC and Discovery Health and has been quoted in national publications including Women’s Health, Parenting, Cosmopolitan, E!, Social Work Today, and others. Ms. Hanks also consults with private practice therapists around the world to help them embrace technology and create a practice that is good for their own mental health. Her most valuable experience has been in the trenches of family life for 23 years as wife and mother of 4 children.

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 their own caricatures.

I have featured my children in a lot of “The Family Stew” cartoons and they continue to inspire me! While each of my children are unique in their own way, they all have Daddy’s funny bone and sense of humor. Needless to say, we laugh a lot!

Below are my girls’ self-portrait, and my middle girl “Precious” was the one that added her “loopty-loops.” That is what she calls the Go Lime/Lime-Lighter support ribbons.

I thought it would be fun to ask each of my children to share what mental health month means to them.

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 patient on “HealthCentral” and has his own blog, “Knowledge is Necessity.” (FACEBOOK)

John has just self-published a new book on the funny side of mental illness and life in general, “Raccoons Respect My Piss But Watch Out For Skunks: My Funny Life on a Planet Not of My Choosing That I Now – Sort of, Maybe, Well Okay – Call Home.”

Says John: “When you’re both depressed and crazy, life has a way of becoming hilarious.”

Read more about John McManamy