Jake Wiskerchen is the co-founder, co-owner, and chief clinical officer at Zephyr Wellness, a mental health outpatient practice in northern Nevada.
In mid-2019, Zephyr Wellness was instrumental in organizing the inaugural Walk The Talk America (WTTA) Intersection of Guns and Mental Health Workshop in Reno, NV. WTTA is a non-profit organization that “funds research and development for outreach and promotion of mental health to reduce the misconceptions and prejudices that exist when it comes to mental illness and firearms. We believe we can be a catalyst for change by working with experts in the mental health industry.”
Jake’s strengths lie in understanding and appreciating a broad variety of people from all walks of life. Having worked numerous jobs across a multitude of industries from food service to security, warehousing to education, and retail to event planning, he takes great pride in being able to connect with all types of folks. Jake believes to his core in treating people as human beings rather than labels; he works to help clients address their longer standing problems and not just treat their temporary symptoms. He also believes in the infinite capacity of the human mind and that it can conquer anything with the right amount of awareness and intentionality.
Never satisfied with the status-quo, Jake recently spent three years on his state’s licensing board, two of which as president, where he re-wrote many of the laws and codes that govern his profession. Nevada has consistently ranked 51st in the country in behavioral health care provision and Jake’s enthusiasm to elevate his state from the cellar drives his involvement in many of his endeavors.
Jake has a wife named Heather and two boys ages 4 and 2, is an avid home-brewer and Jesus follower, and enjoys Giants baseball. You can hear more of Jake on his weekly podcast, Noggin Notes. You can also check out the Zephyr Wellness YouTube channel or visit RenoDads.com, where he is a regular columnist
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Our guest today is Jake Wiskerchen. Jake is the co-founder, co-owner, and chief clinical officer at Zephyr Wellness, a mental health outpatient practice in northern Nevada.
Jake is also part of Walk the Talk America, a non-profit organization dedicated to making positive change in relationship to mental health and firearm awareness. Through organizing a profound team of experts from different fields, and all walks of life, unbiased by politics, media, or personal prejudice.
1) Nationwide we are seeing reports of a serious decline in Mental health and well-being. The President has even regularly addressed his concerns about these issues in his daily Covid Press Conferences. As a Mental Health Professional give us a snapshot of where we are.
2) We’ve heard that during the height of the Pandemic there was a shortage of medical workers, but I haven’t heard anyone talk about the potential for a shortage of Mental Health Professionals. It seems likely that we haven’t yet crested the top of the curve of that need. What are your thoughts?
3) The work you are doing with WTTA includes bringing a greater understanding between the Gun Communities and Mental Health Professionals. This implies that there is a MIS-understanding between these two groups. Can you talk about that?
Especially with all of the millions of first-time gun owners across the nation, there might be people who want to seek counseling but might be afraid to seek the help they need.
4) Those of us who own guns are often very self-reliant minded. Sometimes we know when we need help. But, other times we may just not be feeling quite ourselves. How do we know when it is time to reach out and get some help?
5) WTTA is also working on suicide prevention measures. The statistics tell us that most suicides are completed with firearms. If someone listening right now is needing a helping hand to get through to tomorrow, what words of help or encouragement can we offer them?
