Jay Johnson on his journey to housing, healing and wholeness

Today, we're talking with Jay Johnson, Tulsa Housing Case Manager for Mental Health Association Oklahoma.  Jay’s relation with us began a couple of years ago when he, himself, was living on the streets and battling addiction. He is a shining example of why Housing First is so important and effective.   Since his time as a participant, Jay has been steadily working his way up in the agency. Once he stabilized, he was hired as part-time on-call staff, and since been promoted twice and earned three different certifications through Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Use Services, which he puts to great use serving Tulsans in need.  It was a treat to have this conversation with Jay, as he shared his experience with homelessness, what guided him through recovery and the goals he’s set for himself. His drive is strong and his positivity is contagious.  After this recording, Jay emailed a follow-up thought: He wants anyone who may be struggling right now to know that if they connect with us and utilizes the services offered at MHAOK, they will be supported as they work to achieve their goals. He signed off with “you can achieve as much as you believe!” If you ARE needing assistance or if you see someone who does, please reach out to us at 405.943.3700 or 918.585.1213, or you can contact us through our website at www.mhaok.org. 

Om Podcasten

Mental Health Association Oklahoma created The Mental Health Download podcast to share stories each week about mental illness, homelessness, incarceration and suicide, and how each can impact our lives in a profound way. Mental health affects everyone, yet the social stigma attached to mental health issues keeps so many of our family members, friends, colleagues and neighbors silent. Why are we so afraid to talk about these issues? Each week, our host Adi McCasland invites guests to share how mental illness, suicide, homelessness and incarceration have affected their work or lives.