Bio: Pat Risser 2008 & 2009 speaker
Patrick Risser, Mental Health Consultant/Advocate
“I believe that each of us yearns for freedom, independence and self-determination. I believe that we seek and must have a sense of pride or else we walk through life soul dead. Our spirit yearns to be proud and free.” |
Pat Risser has extensive experience as a trainer, facilitator, presenter, author and consultant. He has been a human rights activist and mental health advocate for over twenty-five years. His lived experience includes working as an Intensive Case Manager, work as a therapist on a locked, acute inpatient unit, over ten years as a “mental patient,” developing self-help groups, building and directing a statewide consumer network and directing a patients’ rights/advocacy/self-help program. His special expertise is training on trauma issues, recovery, self-determination and on employing consumers as part of the mental health workforce. He has served as a Board member for the Mental Health & Recovery Board from June 2006 to July 2009.
Pat currently serves on the Ohio Legal Rights Service Commission.