Hello,
I extend my heartfelt gratitude for considering JTD Company's Share + Solve as a potential partner for your organization. I believe that by sharing my personal journey, I can convey the essence of what drives our mission.
In the 7th grade, I received my first diagnosis of mental illness, marking the beginning of a lifelong battle. Over the years, I sought help from various professionals, including therapists, counselors, and psychiatrists, and I was prescribed an array of medications to address my mental health. However, these conventional services and treatments proved incapable of providing me with the inner peace I so desperately sought.
My life took a tumultuous turn as I navigated through the darkest of times. From being hospitalized for my mental health to being incarcerated due to circumstances beyond my control, I reached a point where I contemplated taking my own life. The gun to my head was a symbol of the hopelessness and despair that had consumed me. Despite my efforts, nothing seemed to work.
In a pivotal moment of grace and strength, I chose not to end my life but instead to continue seeking a solution. That solution came in the form of peer support. I began working with a peer specialist, a remarkable individual trained to connect with others on a profound level through shared lived experiences.
The space created by my peer specialist allowed me to reveal thoughts and emotions that I had long buried out of fear of judgment and differential treatment. By suppressing these emotions, I had unwittingly exacerbated my own suffering. However, my peer specialist's ability to understand and provide unwavering support allowed me to share, to heal, and to embark on a new journey of life. This transformation completely altered the course of my existence.
As I reached a stable point in my own recovery, I was driven by a powerful desire to share the life-changing support I had received with others. Since 2017, I have been actively engaged in providing peer support services, becoming a subject matter expert in the field. My work revolves around assisting organizations in implementing these services, devising innovative ways to enhance service delivery, broaden access to care, and develop the workforce essential to provide this support.
This journey has been incredibly rewarding, and I owe deep gratitude to the unwavering support that sustained me when I felt I couldn't take one more step. My mission now is to help as many people as possible receive the support and care that I so desperately needed and was fortunate enough to receive through peer support.
Thank you for considering JTD Company's Share + Solve as a potential partner. We are committed to reshaping lives, breaking down barriers, and making transformative peer support accessible to those who need it most. Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of individuals and communities.
With unwavering determination and gratitude,
John Dellick
Founder
As the old adage goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words." This particular image was captured following a suicide attempt, a snapshot from a time when I had yet to embark on my journey with a peer specialist.
This photo, taken recently, stands in stark contrast to the previous one, if I may say so myself. It's a testament to the progress made over the past eight years since that first image. With the right support, transformation is possible!