In the News: Here's how to meet urgent need for more mental health workers. Start with peers.

March 8, 2025 - Milwaukee, WI - Anna Bobb, MPH, published an opinion editorial in a special to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel where she highlights Farmer Angel Network co-founder Brenda Statz's personal story.

Anna Bobb discusses the urgent need for more mental health workers in the U.S., particularly in Wisconsin, highlighting the impact of mental health issues on families and advocating for a peer-based approach to address workforce shortages. She explains solutions include diversifying the workforce with lightly trained mental health workers from their own communities, integrating mental health into primary care, and expanding telehealth.

Brenda's story underscores the importance of empathy and community-based support in addressing the mental health crisis.

The depression that stole Leon Statz propelled Brenda to do everything she could to help give other families a fighting chance. The rest of us should do no less.

Thank you to Brenda for working through the pain of tragically losing her husband and her willingness to share her experience so we can learn from each other.

Thank you also to Anna Bobb and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for bringing awareness to mental health needs of our community.

Anna Bobb is the founder of Vreds Philanthropy where she brings together capital and innovators to accelerate access to mental health and substance use care.