One Mind Lived Experience Council Expands & Launches Blog
At One Mind, we believe that real progress in mental health starts by listening to those who’ve lived it. That’s why we’re happy to share that we’ve added three new members to the One Mind Lived Experience Council.
The mission of the One Mind Lived Experience Council (OMLEC) is to advance mental health science, innovation, and workplace policy by leveraging professional and personal experiences to advocate and advise mental health leaders and program beneficiaries on effectively meeting the needs of people with significant mental health challenges.
The new members will be joining existing council members: Author, Linea Johnson, MHL, Director of Lived Experience at Motif Neurotech, Jon Nelson, and One Mind Co-Founder and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer, Brandon Staglin (Council Chair).
Meet the New Members of the One Mind Lived Experience Council
Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS is an award-winning neuroscientist, science communicator, and mental health advocate. After earning her undergraduate degree as a non-traditional student, she earned her M.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Texas-Dallas. She is currently earning her Ph.D in Neuroscience as a NIH TL1 Predoctoral Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, conducting her thesis research on the neurobiology of OCD and novel therapeutics. Her work is deeply informed by her lived experience with severe mental illnesses, including OCD, PTSD, depression, and bulimia. She serves as the President of OCD Wisconsin, a board member for Society for Neuroscience’s Upper Midwest Chapter, and an advocate for the International OCD Foundation, leading outreach initiatives through science communication projects and advocating for mental health awareness in historically excluded populations. She bridges the gap between mental health research and lived experience as a globally invited public speaker, media contributor, science communicator, and host of the podcast ‘A Chat with Uma.’ In her free time, Uma enjoys music, kayaking, stand-up comedy, and quality time with her husband and their fur baby, Beans.
Scott Kelsey is the Founder & CEO of Shareapy, a platform dedicated to transforming mental health support through peer-driven connections. With over 20 years of leadership experience in the financial and mortgage sectors, Scott has a strong track record of driving innovation and growth. He is also a passionate advocate for reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. In addition to his professional achievements, Scott has served on several nonprofit boards and is actively involved in mentoring emerging leaders. He’s a dedicated volunteer and often participates in initiatives aimed at improving community well-being. Scott is honored to be selected as a member of the One Mind Lived Experience Council, where he brings his expertise in leadership and mental health advocacy to help create accessible resources for those navigating their mental health journeys. Scott lives in Pennington, NJ with his wife, Larissa, and their two children, Greta and Alex.
Alex Sheehan is a passionate mental health advocate, Behavioral Health Program Manager, third-year Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Candidate at Tulane University and Health Policy Research Scholar at John’s Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. His research focuses on the impacts of lived experience on state-level mental and behavioral health policy innovation and sustainability. Alex believes that policy is the lever for change, and it is most successful when it is routed in equity, dignity, and informed by individuals with lived or living experience.
Introducing the One Mind Lived Experience Blog
In addition to the Council’s expansion, we’ve now launched the Lived Experience Blog, a powerful collection of stories, reflections, and insights from the One Mind Lived Experience Council. Recent posts include Uma Chatterjee’s Full Circle: Why Funding Mental Health Research Isn’t Optional—It’s Life-Saving and Brandon Staglin’s Listening: A Superpower for Our Times.
In her compelling blog post, Full Circle: Why Funding Mental Health Research Isn’t Optional—It’s Life-Saving, Uma Chatterjee shares her harrowing journey through severe mental health challenges, including untreated obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), treatment-resistant depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and bulimia nervosa. After years of misdiagnoses and ineffective treatments, she found hope through exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy—a method refined through decades of federally funded research. Uma’s story underscores the life-saving importance of investing in mental health research, which not only transformed her life but also offers hope to countless others facing similar struggles.
In his reflective blog post, Listening: A Superpower for Our Times, Brandon Staglin emphasizes the transformative power of empathetic listening in mental health. Drawing from personal experiences—including a pivotal moment during a wilderness survival course and the challenges of living with schizophrenia—he illustrates how being truly heard can restore one’s sense of identity and purpose. Brandon recounts a significant encounter with fellow advocate Robin Cunningham, whose attentive listening helped him reclaim the meaning of a cherished memory. Through these narratives, Brandon advocates for listening as a vital tool for healing and connection in today’s world.
Learn more about the One Mind Lived Experience Initiative and view all the latest blog posts here.