“Wyoming Needs to Do This!”
“Have you ever been in a situation where you saw something that needed to be done, thought to yourself, ‘Someone should do something about that,’ and then realized YOU are going to need to do something about that?
That’s what happened in 2017 to me and my fellow Volunteer Advocate from Wyoming when we attended AFSP’s Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C., for the first time. Lisa and I looked at each other and said, ‘Wyoming needs to do this!’ Together, we resolved to host our first AFSP Wyoming Advocacy Action Day.
When the big day arrived, we were nervous, but also confident. That year, our legislative “ask” was for Wyoming to establish mental health parity — in other words, ensuring that health insurance coverage was consistent regardless of the health issue being addressed, whether it be physical or mental. We all had butterflies in our stomachs. A few days later, we realized just how large an impact it was: our legislature passed the mental health parity act we had supported, and it was signed into law!
I didn’t expect to embark on an advocacy journey when I flew to D.C. in 2017, but I’ve been following this trail for a decade now. Working with my fellow advocates, we continue to make a difference that is helping save lives.”