Danei Edelen is an award-winning mental health columnist for the Brown County Press, Clermont Sun, News Democrat, People’s Defender, Times Gazette, and the Wilmington News Journal. Danei is the president for the NAMI Brown County Ohio affiliate. Danei is a mental health advocate for the Brown County Board of Mental Health & Addiction Services. She is a blogger for the Challenge the Storm , the Mighty, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and NAMI Ohio. Danei has 20 years of marketing experience working for technology companies like NCR, Oracle, and Amdocs. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Malone University and a Market Research Certificate from Northern Kentucky University.
What People Say
“We need more mental health advocates enlightening, empowering, and emboldening those affected and the general population. Danei Edelen, a writer for National Alliance on Mental Health, said the following about ending the stigma on mental health: ‘It’s time to end the silence: our societal ignorance and fear is killing future generations”
Kelcy Jensen – Jensen-Coon: An Invisible Epidemic
“Deanna Vietze, executive director of the Brown County Board of Mental Health & Addiction Services, said Edelen came to her with the idea of forming a NAMI chapter. “The way she [Danei Edelen] found NAMI was very positive,” Vietze said. ‘She wanted to help others. She’s able to share her story and give others the hope it’s not a death sentence, that you can overcome and be a functioning member of society. It gives them a voice. They know when they’re going through something she’s been there as well.”
Alan Johnson – Advocacy in Action: NAMI Brown County
In February, Danei Edelen won 1st place in the Ohio News Media Association Hooper Award for her original column series that focuses on mental health. “The judges wrote that, ‘Danei Edelen’s three-part series of columns on ‘What are the signs of mental illness?’ provided a great community service. Her technique of telling the real stories of people in the community who suffered from mental illness brought the issue home to readers.”
Megan Alley, The Clermont Sun earns top honors at annual Ohio news media convention
Mental Health Warrior 