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Advocate for mentally ill wins state award By Bill Kettler Viveca Walnum knows firsthand the problems that people with mental illness face in the working world. Many Jackson County residents know Walnum for her efforts on behalf of people with mental illness. Now the Medford woman has won statewide recognition. The Oregon Disabilities Commission has bestowed upon Walnum its Distinguished Service Award. She was honored for producing a video to help mentally ill people overcome barriers to employment and for her work on a mental health issues committee for the Rogue Valley Council of Governments. Walnum, 46, works in the parking department at Southern Oregon University. For years, she has been a volunteer advocate for people with mental health problems. "My mom�s real political and real strong," she said, "and that�s been something I�ve had all my life." Walnum�s video explains the problems that mentally ill people encounter on the job and suggests strategies to help them find work and reduce on-the-job stress. She took a class to learn video production and produced the video with her own money. She was later reimbursed when the project won a grant. The video has been aired on community access television and made available to mental health groups across Oregon. Walnum�s work takes on added significance because she has overcome bipolar disorder (manic depression) to advocate for others with mental health problems, said Connie Saldana, of RVCOG. "She�s one of the most effective speakers I�ve ever seen," said Saldana, who worked with Walnum on RVCOG�s mental health issues committee. Walnum has been a strong voice for people who often get overlooked in political discussions, said Rich Rohde, of Oregon Action, formerly Oregon Fair Share. "She has an incredibly human way of connecting people," Rohde said, "not just to provide services but to involve them in all aspects of community life, including political life." Walnum said people with mental illness can succeed on the job, but they need to find the right kind of job and a sensitive employer. "Things can get very scary for people (with mental illness) sometimes," she said. "They feel really uncomfortable. "If employers understood these issues, and counselors were more sensitive, they would try to steer people into more compatible job environments." Walnum said she has succeeded because she keeps chipping at a problem until she finds a solution. "I keep calling people until I connect with a person who can help me," she said. "Some people � and not just people with mental illness � stop at the first brick wall they run into." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.