United Way of Morris County News, July 20 2005
Meet Lisa Cerullo, a courageous woman with a personal story to share
You know in an instant that she is friendly. You quickly find that she is smart and capable.
But you might never realize that she lives each day with mental illness.
Meet Lisa Cerullo: an energetic woman in her late thirties with a passion for literature.
Born in Brooklyn and raised in New Jersey, Lisa spent 14 years as a middle school English teacher. She was the type of teacher that always gave 150%, the sort who is always asked to do more, and more – run the Ski Club, help with the school newspaper.
It's easy to ignore the warning signs when one is kept enormously busy, rushing through one packed day after the other, as Lisa found herself doing in February 2002.
But it all came to an abrupt end. Just like that. "I was teaching on a Tuesday, and I was a patient at the Carrier Clinic on Wednesday," she says. "I don't really even remember what happened."
Lisa suffered a nervous breakdown, complete and devastating.
After six weeks at Carrier and some time at St. Clare's, Lisa came to NewBridge, and began her long climb back to wellness and recovery.
When she first arrived, Lisa took part in all NewBridge had to offer, including counseling, and stress and symptoms management programs. Before long, she was helping prepare the daily luncheon for up to 30. Next came her deep involvement with the Enrich Horticultural Therapy Garden, a wondrous, tropical garden.
Slowly, she regained her balance.
Today, Lisa is deeply committed to a new role she has taken on for herself as an advocate for those with mental illness.
She is a regular speaker for NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) and is the newest member of Morris County's Mental Health Substance Abuse Advisory Board.
As an advocate, her personal goals are to keep raising awareness of mental illnesses. She is particularly interested in educating school nurses and teachers about the warning signs, not just in their students, but also in themselves. She works to empower people with mental illness, to help their families cope. She says she is determined to change the stigma that is associated with mental illness.
So, Lisa isn't teaching literature to 8th graders at the moment.
Today, she has a new focus, a courageous message and a very different audience.
But with a vital and very personal story to share, a teacher she remains.
NewBridge Services is a United Way of Morris County member agency that provides health-related services and education programs for children, adolescents, adults, and seniors in order to bring balance to their lives.
Together, United Way and NewBridge develop programs that directly support community goals. We are proud of this association, and we are inspired by people like Lisa.
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