Anastasia Leffel

Committees, Councils, Workgroups you serve on​: 

  • Children’s Mental Health Collective Impact Executive Council
  • Children’s Mental Health Collective Impact Resiliency Workgroup

Why do you serve as a Lived Experience Partner with OCMH? There is a lot of stigma surrounding mental illness. I have had various mental health needs throughout my life and have seen how the system is lacking first hand. I want to help create lasting systematic change to help all children in Wisconsin, as well as create preventative action. As an adolescent, I bring an underrepresented viewpoint to the table, which I hope to use to help others like me. 

Why is it important to have people with lived experience leading systems change? It is extremely important to have people with lived experience leading systems change because they know how practices work from personal experience rather than an outsider’s perspective. It is always important to listen to those who will be affected by changes and incorporate their feedback.

What is one personal goal? I want to work on self-advocacy and reducing stigma around mental illness by being more open about my experiences in my day to day life.

What is your number one goal for systems change? I want to increase visibility and access to mental health services for youth and teens, as well as implement practices within school systems that increase resiliency and social and emotional health.​




Passions / Hobbies / Fun Facts: I love theatre, animals, and volunteering with my Girl Scout troop!