Mindy Greiling, age 73, served in Minnesota’s House of Representatives for 20 years (1993-2013), where she campaigned to bring more women into political office. Mindy’s talents in lawmaking and storytelling are evident in her recent book, Fix What You Can: Schizophrenia and a Lawmaker’s Fight for Her Son. When her 21 year-old son was diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder in 1999, Mindy went public, without secrecy or shame. Speaking out for the rights of people with mental illness and their families, Mindy initiated innovative policy and funding for mental health in Minnesota and served on many national and state boards and councils, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Currently Mindy serves as President of the Board of NAMI Ramsey County. Married for 50 years, and retired for eight, Mindy continues to advocate for reforms in mental health, policing, and affordable housing. “I love being retired; I can activate for anything I want.”

There is no way we are going to have a better mental health system if we don’t tell our stories.

Contact Information:

Greiling, M. (2020). Fix What You Can: Schizophrenia and a Lawmaker’s Fight for Her Son. University of Minnesota Press.

Podcast: Three Moms in the Trenches https://www.audible.com/pd/Schizophrenia-Three-Moms-in-the-Trenches-Podcast/B08JJPR868

News Article https://www.minnpost.com/mental-health-addiction/2020/10/in-a-new-book-former-state-rep-mindy-greiling-talks-about-her-sons-schizophrenia-and-her-mental-health-advocacy/

Connect with Gail & Catherine:

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wo70AgingReimagined

Instagram: WomenOver70

Website:https://womenover70.com

Email: info@womenover70.com

Show: Women Over 70 – Aging Reimagined

Listen on: Apple Podcast, Itunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher,and IHeartRadio

Please rate our show and subscribe wherever you listen. This is how we grow and together make a difference..