Dedicated His Life To Saving Teens After Losing Son: Lamorinda Hero

LAMORINDA, CA — When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented and changing times.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. We’re working to let all your neighbors know about these outstanding people and their stories.

This submission comes from Caroline Wiseman who nominated her husband, Graham Wiseman of Lafayette.

Local hero’s full name

Graham Wiseman

Local hero’s home state

California

Local hero’s Patch

Lamorinda

How do you know the local hero?

Husband

What does the local hero do?

Founder of BeingwellCA, a nonprofit for mental health

Why do you believe the local hero should be recognized or honored?

Graham Wiseman lost his son, Colin, to suicide in 2013. He quit his job and started the nonprofit organization BeingwellCA. This organization has championed a new special interest mental health awareness license plate in which the proceeds will go to mental health programs in schools throughout the state. (Similar to breast cancer plate.) After a state-wide art contest, the beautiful design was created by a high school student in San Ramon. Graham wants to, "Bring mental health to life, even if it is a traffic light." Senate Bill 21

After the loss of his son, Graham worked with the AUSD to place wellness centers in the high schools. He also helped start 30 Wellness Centers in the San Ramon schools. When meeting local students at various places, I ask if they have been to the Wellness Center at their school. Most say they have. A few have said that they do not know where they would be without the center. Two told me it saved their life. With great sadness, I add, that we lost a child after school closed and had nowhere to go.

Graham travels throughout the state giving talks to various groups, (teachers, parents, students, counselors...), on the state of mental health in our youth and what can and needs to be done. His inspirational and informative presentations bring instruction and hope to such a difficult topic.

What else makes Graham a hero? He meets with families that have lost a child. Some want to know they are not alone. Others want to know what to do next. These conversations reignite the initial pain of losing Colin, but he knows he is helping others. This is why I call him a hero.

Graham has dedicated his life to preventing the loss of more youth. That's a HERO!

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the local hero?

He gave up a 6-figure income to dedicate his life to the mental health of our youth.

Thank you for all you do, Graham Wiseman!

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Know someone making a difference in town? Nominate them as a local hero here.