In August 2023, Jessica Gimeno joined Access Living’s team as the Mental Health Policy Analyst.
Jessica’s current areas of focus include: mental health parity, child and adolescent mental health, and the implementation of the Community Emergency Services & Supports Act (CESSA). Jessica was appointed to IMHPAC, the Illinois Mental Health Planning & Advisory Council.
Jessica earned a B.S. in Communications and a Master of Public of Public Policy & Administration degree from Northwestern University. She is currently earning a post-baccalaureate certificate in counseling & psychology from The University of California, Berkeley.
Jessica previously worked on Rutgers University and U Mass Chan Medical School’s Helping Youth on the Path to Employment (HYPE) program, which helps young adults with severe mental illness find meaningful employment. Jessica also worked for the Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (now part of the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance).
Jessica has devoted her life to the causes of mental health and health equity through writing, keynote speaking, and nonprofit work. She started her blog, Fashionably ill ®, in 2012 where she writes about surviving pain with style and humor. Previously, Jessica wrote for The Huffington Post. She is most known for her award-winning TEDx Talk, “How to Get Stuff Done When You Are Depressed.” Jessica has been featured on various national media outlets including NBC News, PBS, and MSNBC.