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Helping others get access to and manage their mental health can be a process for some Bert Nash volunteers, many of whom have had struggles of their own.
Bern Nash Community Mental Health Center: Shania Lopez-Cabrera
At an early age, Shania Lopez-Cabrera had an interest in volunteering, with a special focus to help women and children. When she joined Youth Action Council (YAC) in middle school, they provided “well-meaning kids like her” opportunities to serve her community. She continued to volunteer with YAC through high school.
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. 
–Mahatma Gandhi
Donating her time was already a part of her life and has continued to be something she commits to practicing. “Volunteering has changed my life, full stop. As a teen, engaging in volunteerism gave me opportunities to improve my self-confidence and leadership skills. My desire to volunteer stems from numerous personal experiences of poverty and violence, which greatly affected my mental health. I have also witnessed young people become self-destructive as a way of coping with the really hard things they’ve experienced. If I hadn’t been able to get the care that I needed, my life would look very different from the way it does today. I want to ensure that our community continues to have access to this resource in the future,” Lopez-Cabrera explains.
After many years of hoping for therapy but not able to being able to afford the care, Lopez-Cabrera was able to attend therapy at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center (BNC) as a young adult. This delay in receiving care set back her recovery process. Her firsthand view of the families, and most importantly, children, whose lives were negatively affected by a lack of access to care prompted her to volunteer for BNC and remove barriers to care, she says.
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Not only does Lopez-Cabrera take pride in doing her part to help improve access to mental health care, she says it has helped her to lead and be confident in herself, and meet other like-minded people who have become some of her closest friends. “It’s also helped me professionally; my résumé has been built just as much by volunteerism as by the work I have been paid to do. It’s been immensely fulfilling. Every Bert Nash success story feels personal to me, because I know how much receiving this necessary care can change someone’s life.”
Lopez-Cabrera currently works for a nonprofit, the Western History Association on the KU campus. She organizes an annual conference for historians of the North American Wests. Previously, while volunteering at BNC, she worked in sales for a private bank. She is involved in a number of networking groups, such as Jayhawk Breakfast Rotary Club and Lawrence Women’s Network (LWN), which help her stay connected to the community and provide an opportunity for her to introduce others to BNC.
Emily Farley, who has worked at BNC for 10 years and is chief advancement officer, says, “Shania has been a standout volunteer at the Bert Nash Center, serving as an ambassador and a table captain at our annual fundraising breakfast. As an ambassador, she hosts Discover Bert Nash tours, giving community members an intimate look at the impactful work we do. In her role as a table captain, she not only invites guests to attend but also encourages them to contribute financially, significantly boosting our fundraising efforts.”
She says over the past three years, Shania has introduced over 50 individuals to Bert Nash through her roles, facilitating critical conversations and opening doors to mental health discussions. “Her dedication and energy make her a true asset and a source of inspiration.”
Lopez-Cabrera leads by example and tries to encourage others to reach out for the help they need. She believes, “the majority of us experience difficulties with our mental health, but we don’t discuss it, oftentimes due to shame or fear of being judged. I feel like we’re reducing the stigma around mental health with each conversation.”
Farley reveals that the Discover Bert Nash tours have significantly raised awareness about the services and have connected with more than 3,860 community members. “This support is vital for enhancing the accessibility and affordability of mental health care.”
“My fondest memory of her involvement was when she served as the welcome speaker at our annual fundraising breakfast,” Farley continues. “There, Shania shared her personal mental health journey and the profound impact that seeking help has had on her life. Her openness and authenticity provided a platform for others to understand her role as a supportive and safe figure within our community. This moment was particularly powerful in breaking down stigma and reinforcing the importance of community support.”
For more information on volunteering, visit the Bert Nash Center’s volunteer page at www.bertnash.org/volunteer.
