Kali White VanBaale
Author | Creative Writing Professor | Advocate
Mental Healthcare Advocacy
I’ve been a creative writer for nearly twenty-five years, and in 2017, I also become a passionate mental healthcare reform advocate after a shocking mental health tragedy in my neighborhood. As I learned more about the serious mental healthcare issues in my home state of Iowa, I started writing about them and lobbying my state legislature for meaningful changes.
In 2023, I joined a group of fellow Iowa authors and journalists called the Iowa Writers Collaborative and created a monthly column called 988: Mental Healthcare in Iowa. "988"is named for the national suicide and crisis lifeline. I share personal stories, up-to-date information, resources, and other insights from the front lines of Iowa’s still-struggling mental healthcare system.
Thanks for visiting,
Kali
Read my special "988" column about my hurting community:
"An Important Conversation With a Parent After a Devastating Loss."