News

For his ongoing advocacy work in mental health, and diversity and inclusion, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alum Jonathan H.N. Long received the Urban League Young Professionals of Metropolitan St. Louis 2016 Distinguished Young Professional Award. 

Long, who graduated from SIUE in 2011 and 2014 with bachelor’s and master’s in sociology, respectively, was given the award for Health and Quality of Life on Saturday, Aug. 20 at the 11^th Annual Urban Renaissance Gala in St. Louis. 

Long is an employment specialist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital’s Independence Center, a psychosocial rehabilitation center connected to more than 350 other facilities worldwide under the mental health Clubhouse Model. He has worked in this role for more than a year, bridging the gap between human resource departments and job candidates that battle severe and persistent mental illness. 

“I help companies develop their talent pipeline for diversity and inclusion as it relates to mental illness,” said Long. “There is a stigma associated with mental illness and ignorance, too. Some think that people with mental health issues cannot perform on a job, and that is simply just not true. 

“Depression and anxiety are on one end of the spectrum of mental illnesses, and then there is schizophrenia on the other end,” he continued. “People with mental illness can work careers with a sense of purpose and be connected to those around them effectively like any human being.” 

Long said he was surprised, but pleased to have received the award. He also will continue to be the diversity and inclusion champion for people with mental health issues through his role with  Independence Center’s Young Professional Board and other work in the community. 

“I want to bring more awareness and understanding about mental illness,” Long said. “I want others to know that mental illness doesn’t hinder people in the stereotypical way that some may think.”