Hearing Our Voices: Peer Support and Mental Illness | Stefanie Kaufman | TEDxBrownU

When trying to solve this problem of lack of support for college students with mental illness, many people look to outsiders with specific credentials; but Project LETS believes that a solution lies with the very people who experience the problem. During this talk, Stefanie will discuss: the founding story of Project LETS, developing the Peer Mental Health Advocate (PMHA) program model at Brown, her experience with psychiatric disability and sexual assault, and integrating a social model of disability into mental health care treatment. Stefanie Lyn Kaufman is an alumni from Brown University, where she studied Medical Anthropology and Contemplative Studies. In 2013, she founded Project LETS after the suicide of Brittany Marie Petrocca; a non-profit organization committed to centering the voices of folks with lived experience in mental health care treatment, while delivering peer-led and socially competent services. At Brown, Stefanie is an Engaged Scholar, Social Innovation Fellow, and WORD! poet. She has recently been awarded the Embark Fellowship to continue Project LETS full-time after graduation, and was also named a 2017 Fulbright Scholar. Stefanie approached her work with various lived experience, including: psychiatric and physical disability, sexual assault, and suicide. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx