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colorado's first lady to speak at conference at the shrine

Story by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

What do the first lady of Colorado and the Diocese of Belleville have in common? More than you would think.

First lady, Jeannie Ritter, will be one of the keynote speakers at Erase the Stigma of Mental Illness Oct. 1-2 at the shrine in Belleville.

This year the theme “Out of Isolation … Into Wellness” will focus on how to use family strengths and resources to generate hope in dealing with mental illness.

Ritter, who has a history as an activist in the mental health field is quick to say she’s not an expert in the field, but she does have background in special education and her sister has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

While she and her husband, Gov. Bill Ritter, spent time as lay Oblate missionaries in Zambia where they worked in nutrition, AIDS awareness and food transportation, Ritter already had experience in service work. She spent time in the Peace Corps in Tunisia, North Africa, helping to establish centers for the disabled.

When her husband was elected governor of Colorado in 2006, Ritter saw this as an opportunity to focus attention on mental health.

“As the first lady, I had the chance to step out and champion something,” she said in a telephone interview from her home last week. It was an area that “desperately needed” advocacy.

Judy Williamson, adult spiritual programs coordinator, said she couldn’t be happier about having Ritter as one of the presenters at the conference.

“Her reputation with the mental health field is firmly established nationally,” Williamson said. “She’s considered a great mental health advocate.”

Ritter has been described as “a good listener” as she began advocating in the field of mental health as Colorado’s first lady.“When you start to talk about behavioral health, the spectrum is quite large,” Ritter said. “Mental health impacts absolutely everything.”

Ritter said she has visited large and small communities across the state of Colorado and knows “mental health affects everything across the board.” Meeting and listening to mental health professionals as well as those who need services has been “hugely rewarding,” she said. “I’m very comfortable with clients, families and advocates,” she said.
These days, she is spending time with researchers because “that will change the landscape” of mental health.
At the shrine, Ritter said her message will be about the concept of recovery where real strategies can be put in place that can change lives.

For Williamson, having Ritter at the conference “will bring hope to people and that’s what we want to do.”
Father Joe Nassal CPPS, the author of eight books, involved in retreat, renewal and reconciliation ministry, will also be a keynote speaker.

Father Nassal also has experience with family mental illness. His brother, a schizophrenic, died by suicide a number of years ago.

Other sessions will be presented on a variety of topics with continuing education units available for Illinois and Missouri residents as well as a seminar and workshop specifically for professionals attending the conference.

For more information and/or registration, go to www.snows.org/erase or call 397-6700, ext. 6270.