Meet the Editors
of Mental Health World...

EDITOR IN CHIEF KAREN WELCH

From Buffalo, NY, Karen has a BA from Le Moyne College and received her J.D. from the University at Buffalo School of Law. She has been a recovering alcoholic for 12 years. She was the Western Regional Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union for three years and is currently working as a staff attorney at Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. She is also a member of the Stutzman Addictions Treatment Center Advisory Board, and the Erie County Department of Mental Health Community Advisory Board.

EDITOR JAY GILPATRICK

From Buffalo, NY, Jay was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1978. Learning of the Buffalo consumers’ movement in 1993, at the Phoenix Club Self-Help Group and the Elmwood Clubhouse, he has been getting more involved. In 1995, he was trained at Buffalo Psychiatric Center as a Program Aide. He was President of the Elmwood Clubhouse in ‘96-‘97 working on empowerment issues, was Treasurer Action for Mental Health in ‘95-‘96, and a Peer Advocate Specialist at the Independent Living Center in 1997. Currently, he is also a member of the Erie County Mental Health Subcommittee, Restoration Society, Inc. Board of Directors, and a volunteer at the Peer Support Phone Line.

EDITOR DIANA NIELSEN

From Rochester, New York, Diana graduated from Brown University and holds a Certificate in Gerontology from St. John Fisher College. She worked as a crisis intervention counselor for Parents Anonymous, a self help group for parents. She was the supervisor of the temporary division at Executive Placement Corporation, the clothing room coordinator at Hillside Children’s Center and the administrative assistant to the regional director of the National Coalition Building Institute. At Alternatives to Battered Women, she taught secondary students in the city and suburbs about dating violence. She now serves lunch at St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality (a soup kitchen).

ANN PALMER:

From Buffalo, NY, Ann has a BA in Humanities and has done graduate work in Political Science and Communications. A recipient of mental health services since 1989, she has advocated on housing and vocational issues.

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