My name is Karie Paradis. I am a survivor of mental illness.  I was diagnosed with a mental health diagnosis at the age of 30.  I have been fortunate enough to have consistent support from family and friends during my hospitalizations.  Receiving daily visits from family and friends was a very important  part of my journey to recovery.

 

I have been living with mental illness for almost 25 years and fortunately have been very functional.  I am a successful healthcare expert and have 35 years of experience in my field.  I hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting, a master’s degree in healthcare management and a certification in long term care.

 

After my initial recovery, I enjoyed almost 15 years with no struggles and no hospitalizations.  At 48 years old, and having to change medicine, I also began menopause. As many women do in menopause, I began to suffer from severe depression and insomnia.

 

I mainly have kept my mental illness separate from my professional life.  Only in recent years, I began to share my story with a few people from work a little at a time.  If I feel safe with someone, I share my story and hopefully bring awareness to mental illness. By example, I feel that I can serve as an inspiration to other people with mental illness. I have also disclosed myself with my employer as disabled in 2024.  I have acknowledged that in doing so, I am protecting my rights, should I become ill again.

 

I founded the ME Project to offer multiple programs in the mental health space.  My goals are to offer support to patients in mental health settings, to educate on mental health topics, and lastly to advocate for better living conditions in our facilities. The Warm ME program was launched in the Fall of 2024 and recently delivered 9 hand-made crocheted blankets to an outpatient clinic in Storrs, CT.  My hopes are to deploy the Someone Cares For ME program in mental health facilities across the state in 2025.