violagirl

I work as a mental health peer specialist at a housing agency in NYC. I myself am diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, and I use my lived experience to help others with empathy and understanding. I am also now getting a Masters in Social Work degree, again to further the peer cause. My mission in life is to advocate for mental illness awareness and acceptance. This includes fighting stigma and prejudice against those afflicted.

I also am a writer. I write essays, poetry and fiction about the mental health experience. I also create artwork, usually collages, and I am a singer/songwriter. As a child and young adult, I played the violin and viola, and previously was preparing for a professional career as a violist.

I founded and currently run a mental health wellness discussion group on Facebook. We have 2,500+ members and have been around for 3.5 years! The URL is:

https://www.facebook.com/groaps/whatiswellnessforpeers/

Please join!

Classical music is my favorite. I love Gilbert and Sullivan operettas most, as well as Beethoven and Mozart played on period instruments. In general, I like hearing classical music performed on baroque instruments. This would be considered "Early Music."

I also like various artists in different genres, including Queen, the Beatles, Eminem, Sean Paul, Bloodhound Gang, Alice in Chains, Billy Joel, etc. My boyfriend likes reggae a lot, so that has become another music of interest :)

I like to swap postcards! I use the postcards I buy and receive for collages. I cut them up and create art! I have this scrapbooking project going, where each page features a country's flag, and then the page features cards that come from that specific country. Or if the postcard features artwork of a person from a specific country, that would go on the specific country's page. Once the pictures are selected, then I cut up other cards to then embellish on what's there.

Therefore, I love cards that feature writing in foreign languages, or artwork by artists from different countries. Especially of interest are cards and artwork from those from Africa, Asia, South America and non-western European artists.

I also love postcards that have German words, whether it's text on the front, or a message written on the back. My dream is to go to Germany some day, and I always love practicing my own German! I want to be fluent some day.

I like using "found" materials. I go to yard sales and buy little knick knacks and other things to use for projects. My bedroom wall also features a lot of art I've created as well.

My Facebook Mental Health Support Group: "What is Wellness? A Mental Health Discussion Group."

https://www.facebook.com/groaps/whatiswellnessforpeers/