Healing A Broken Mental Health System: Kaitlin Daeges Of LIVIN Foundation On 5 Things That Can Be Done To Fix Our Broken Mental Health System
An Interview With Stephanie Greer
More and more organizations are making mental health a priority and making it OK to have those conversations from the top down. That needs to continue and even expand. Businesses continue to have an appetite for these conversations and programs in the business space. Organizations simply need a partner to come alongside them as they navigate this.
The current state of the mental health system is a conversation that echoes in the halls of policy-making, the corners of social advocacy, and within the private struggles of individuals and families. As we continue to witness an unprecedented need for robust mental health support, the shortcomings of the existing system become more glaring. It is within this backdrop that we seek the insight of those who are at the forefront of behavioral health. In this interview series, we are talking to behavioral health leaders, policymakers, mental health practitioners, advocates, and reformers to share their perspectives on healing our broken mental health system. As a part of this interview series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Kaitlin Daeges.
Kaitlin Daeges knows all too well the impact mental health can have on individuals and families. When she was only 12 years old, she lost her father to suicide. After losing her father, Kaitlin turned her personal tragedy into a driving passion to prevent suicide. Daeges was connected to the LIVIN Foundation, a Minnesota-based nonprofit whose mission is to prevent suicide by creating quality connections through everyday conversations about mental health. She is an experienced operations and mental health non-profit leader as the Executive Director of LIVIN, as well as a mom, wife and entrepreneur.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we start, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your background and your childhood backstory?
My childhood was amazing and “normal” up until losing my father to suicide when I was 12 years old. That tragedy eventually shaped my life’s mission — I went from a 16-year career in health insurance operations to becoming Executive Director of the LIVIN Foundation for mental health, turning my personal tragedy into driving passion to prevent suicide.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“If everything seems under control, you’re not going fast enough” — Mario Andretti
I’m a very driven, goal-oriented person and I like to continually push myself outside my comfort zone. Everyone can do something great; greatness can be achieved. Just keep pushing forward each and every day.
Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. It is often said that “the mental health system in America is broken”. What does that statement mean to you? From your perspective what is “broken” today?
From my perspective, the mental health system isn’t necessarily broken, it was never built correctly in the first place, from the ground up. There are a lot of people across the world that have been and continue to put in effort and work around the mental health system. There is a lot more work that needs to be done around building infrastructure and identifying new, innovative strategies around finding, locating and accessing mental health tools and resources. The biggest problem as it exists today is that the resources and tools are highly fragmented, vary state-by-state, county-by-county and are cumbersome to navigate.
We still need to learn how to collaborate effectively. I believe that the more we unite, the greater our impact will be. According to the CDC, 2023 saw a record high of 50,000 American lives lost to suicide. To reduce this number and prevent future tragedies, we must join forces and work together.
I am a Co-Founder of a new revolutionary mental health support platform with a human touch, called LivinConnected — www.livinconnected.org. This digital platform can be white-labeled and customized by organizations to solve common issues of navigating and accessing mental health tools, resources and support. Not only has the LIVIN Foundation, a Minnesota based 501c3 mental health non-profit, partnered with a tier 1 technology provider, Healthtek Inc., but we now have four mental health nonprofits all working together, via this innovative platform. We are all better and stronger when we work together, by providing a program where the technology connects the mental health resources to a reliable support infrastructure.
What about any bright spots? Do you think there are any elements that we get right in today’s world that we wouldn’t want to reverse unintentionally?
From my perspective, year-over-year, we are seeing people become more comfortable and inspired to start conversations about their mental health. Across the nation, we are seeing trends with people opening up both publicly and privately about mental health. Through the LIVIN Foundation, we are observing this through peer-to-peer support models.
The power of humanity and peer-to-peer support can be powerful and monumental. We have seen this by way of our various programs across our organization. Simply sharing stories and personal experiences inspires others to do the same, in which those conversations multiply.
Within the last two years, we have seen an increased appetite and interest within businesses to start larger conversations and create organizational cultures that embrace mental health. I have personally been part of these conversations, and we have come on-board as a mental health consultant to assist with cultivating a custom community within these organizations.
In your opinion, what are the 5 most impactful things that could help heal the broken mental health system? These could be on any level including training, workforce, policy, culture, equity etc.
1 . Community Collaboration:
Simply put, we are better and stronger when we work together. We have seen a lot of competition in the mental health space that doesn’t need to be there because we are all working toward the same goal of suicide prevention.
2 . Better Access to Mental Health Tools and Resources:
It’s not that there’s not enough mental health tools and resources, it’s that it is daunting and overwhelming to find them. The resource tools are fragmented, vary county by county, state by state and can be cumbersome to navigate. In partnership with Healthtek Inc, we have created a solution to this problem, by way of a revolutionary mental health support platform with a human touch, called LivinConnected –www.livinconnected.org. By way of an avatar named Hope, she will guide you to resources customized for your needs. Hope has three main pathways; I am currently struggling with my own mental health, I am trying to support someone struggling with their mental health and I have lost someone to suicide. These resources can be customized to meet your needs.
3 . Workplace Transformation in Culture, Policy and Community:
More and more organizations are making mental health a priority and making it OK to have those conversations from the top down. That needs to continue and even expand. Businesses continue to have an appetite for these conversations and programs in the business space. Organizations simply need a partner to come alongside them as they navigate this.
4 . Suicide Prevention Training & Education:
Like CPR training saves lives, QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) certification equips people to recognize and respond to suicide warning signs. As the most widely taught suicide prevention training in the U.S., QPR teaches participants how to identify at-risk individuals and connect them with help. LIVIN Foundation offers this free 90-minute virtual training quarterly at www.livinfoundation.org. Recently, a corporate participant used their QPR training to identify and help a suicidal coworker — proving how one person’s training can save a life. This is only one example of how the technology and foundation are working together to save lives.
5 . Youth Empowerment:
Include and welcome our youth to be part of the larger conversations around strategy and improvements that need to be made. Foster environments where individuals feel empowered to take leadership roles within their schools and communities when it comes to mental health and suicide prevention. This is where the true innovation and forward thinking approaches will come from.
If all of the items on your list were magically implemented tomorrow what change might we see in the world? What are the signs (big and small) that would show us that the system is being healed?
In 2023, 50,000 Americans died by suicide, according to the CDC. If all these things are implemented effectively, we would hope to see that number decrease significantly.
What is a project you or others are working on today that gives you hope? How can our readers learn more about this work?
That’s interesting you mention Hope, because over the last year we have quite literally taken “Hope” as an imaginary figure and turned it into an avatar named “Hope.” We’ve launched a revolutionary digital mental health support platform with a human touch, by way of an avatar named Hope. She will take your hand, walk alongside and guide you to mental health tools, resources and assistance. Since we launched, lots of people have resonated with Hope. We see comments like, “Hope, I am so glad you are here.” “Hope, where have you been?” She is providing Hope for a brighter day today and tomorrow for people. We plan to make Hope’s appearance customizable to reflect different communities and cultures.
The best part about this digital platform is that it is completely customizable and can be branded or white labeled according to any organization’s unique needs.
None of this would be possible without a tier 1 technology provider, Healthtek Inc. coming on board as a premier technology partner to help us turn our vision into a reality. Healthtek truly delivers transparent technology experiences to propel health populations forward. To me, that is the epitome of being stronger and better together.
How do you see technology shaping the future of mental health care and its accessibility?
Nothing replaces the power of human touch and humanity, but when you partner human touch with transformative technology, we can reach a lot more people. We’re working on implementing a national wellness warehouse which will have a zip code locator in order to find resources and tools local to you. This can simplify how and where to access tools and resources. The digital world is a great way to reach people where they are at.
In your view, how do social factors like poverty, education, and culture affect mental health care and its effectiveness?
From my perspective, when it comes to mental health, it’s broken into two main factors. First, the environmental and second, the genetic aspect. Environmental factors can happen day in and day out because of financial, socio-economic and other outside factors. Second, where the genetics can be passed down from generation to generation and is out of an individual’s control, just like breast cancer, for example. We need to ensure that everyone has access to mental health support and therapy tools no matter where you live, your culture or your demographic. People need affordable and efficient access to mental health care.
In light of the growing mental health crisis among young people, what innovative approaches or interventions have proven most successful for children and adolescents?
By way of our newly designed mental health platform, LivinConnected, we are working with a tier 1 tech provider, Healthtek Inc. Healthtek is well versed in the gaming industry and has started to look at approaches and strategies to deliver creative digital solutions to youth via gaming platforms. We need to meet everyone where they’re at.
Also, including our youth in the solutions and asking their opinions on how we should move forward. We need to go to the source and ask them what they need. When we include them and make them a part of the solution, we can take a powerful step in the right direction. It will help move all of us forward and toward the greater good.
We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them. 🙂
I would love to meet either Mark Cuban or Simon Sinek. Mark Cuban is not only a genius businessman, but I have also been inspired by his philanthropic nature, specifically with the Fallen Patriot Fund. Simon Sinek has always inspired me for his unconventional and innovative views on business and leadership. I am a true believer in the power of humanity and the “better together” mentality within our day-to-day lives, no matter what we are doing. Specifically, with me being passionate about mental health, many of his thoughts and strategies are exactly what is needed to prevent suicide and help those struggling with their mental health in every facet of life. It would be such an honor to have even 5 minutes spent with either Mark Cuban or Simon Sinek, or maybe even both! The world needs more of what they have to offer.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Kaitlin Daeges
Executive Director, LIVIN Foundation
kaitlin@livinfoundation.org
LIVIN Foundation mental health non-profit with a mission of mental health awareness and suicide prevention:
LivinConnected digital mental health platform with a human touch:
Social Media:
@livinfoundation on social media platforms.
Thank you for your time and thoughtful answers. I know many people will gain so much from hearing this.
About The Interviewer: Stephanie Greer, PhD is the Co-founder and CEO of Akin Mental Health — a company dedicated to guiding families on their journey supporting a loved one with mental health challenges like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and severe depression. Stephanie is passionate about this topic from her own personal experience growing up with a mother who struggled with bipolar 1 disorder and found a path forward to overcome the obstacles and live well. Stephanie’s professional experience includes a doctorate in neuroscience as well as design research roles at Hopelab and Apple. Stephanie brings this personal passion together with her world-class science and technology background to support families across the US in their personal journeys supporting loved ones with mental illness. To learn more about Akin Mental Health and join our community, visit us at akinmh.com.
Healing A Broken Mental Health System: Kaitlin Daeges Of LIVIN Foundation On 5 Things That Can Be… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.