Rev. Hannah Campbell Gustafson, she/her

Director of Mental Health Connect
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Rev. Hannah Campbell Gustafson is ordained in the United Church of Christ, and has a Masters of Social Work—her professional roles within different churches have given her many ecumenical experiences. She's passionate about the intersection of mental health and faith communities, and is thrilled to bring her experiences, skills, commitments, and connections to this role. Hannah lives in South Minneapolis with her spouse Craig, an ELCA Lutheran chaplain, young children Leona and Ruth Henry, and poodle pup Óscar Romero. She loves running, reading, writing snail mail, and building community.

Heidi Peterson, she/her

Faith Community Nurse
952.935.3419
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Heidi has been a lifelong member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church (BLC) Twin Cities, Minnetonka campus. Her nursing career has included positions in NICU at Minneapolis Children’s Hospital, nursing home management, home caregiving, and running flu vaccination clinics for MVNA. She also spent several years working in non-nursing positions in the Hopkins School district, where she also subbed occasionally for school nurses. In 2017, after the Minnetonka campus merged with the Minneapolis Campus of BLCTC, Heidi joined the BLC staff as a Faith Community Nurse. Originally joining Mental Health Connect as an ambassador to share her passion for mental health with her congregation, her role has expanded to becoming a staff member of MHC, which includes being a member of the MHC Outreach Team and a leader in ambassador orientation. Heidi is a board member at Relate Counseling in Minnetonka.

Russell O’Brien

Lead Navigator
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Russell became a navigator because he highly values mental health, and wants to play whatever part he can in helping others overcome mental illness. In the past, he has studied and worked in software engineering, but recently decided to devote himself to working with people. Navigating for MHC is his first step towards a career in mental healthcare.

Merri Guggisberg, she/her

Outreach Coordinator
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Merri Guggisberg is the founder of MKG Parent Coach and she helps parents bring mindfulness, kindness, and gratitude to every parenting situation. As a certified parent coach Merri has over 20 year’s experience educating and thriving alongside parents in faith and school communities. Merri helps parents nurture connections with their loved ones and provide empowering strategies for a peaceful and loving home. When not on FaceTime with her two adult children, you can find Merri and her husband trekking Minnesota State Parks along with their golden-doodle. Joining the Mental Health Connect team is a perfect pairing of Merri’s personal mission, previous decade working youth ministry role, and supporting parents through educational workshops.

Jesse Johnson, she/her

Marketing and Communications Specialist
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Jesse comes to MHC with 28 years of experience in senior graphic design, communications, and marketing. She enjoys finding ways to connect, mentor, and help those around her. She has navigated a mental health crisis with her teen who has a disability—the knowledge Jesse carries from a mental health and disability angle is invaluable. Jesse is an advocate for self care, mental health awareness, DEI initiatives, LGBTAI+ community inclusion, and basic human rights. In her spare time, you’ll see her with her partner, kiddo, puppy, and loving friends and family.

Diane Waarvik, she/her

Founder, Faith Community Nurse
612.312.3375
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For more than 20 years, Diane has been directing health and caring ministries at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, and helping members integrate faith and health to live healthier lives. In the last few years, there has been a focus on mental health and helping individuals and families navigate the medical system. Many of the programs/ministries created are open to the broad community. In 2014, Mental Health Connect was created to respond to the increasing needs in the area of mental health. MHC was formed to help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and to help individuals and families navigate the system. Prior to working at the church, Diane was a pediatric nurse practitioner and practiced at Children’s Hospital of MN and Axis Medical Center, a community clinic. Diane is on the board of Westminster Counseling Center, Fairview Interfaith Leadership Team, and the board of Total Health Africa.

Ann Ellison, she/her

Co-Chair

Director of Interfaith Health for M Health Fairview. In this capacity Ann provides leadership to the Fairview Interfaith Health Collaborative, a network of more than 100 faith communities and faith based organizations. She oversees health outreach activities that partner with congregations and Faith Community Nurses and manages the Medical Mission program of Fairview. Ann began her career of service to others as a Medical Social Worker at then St. Mary’s hospital and has worked in acute care, long term care and home care. Ann has a B.A. in Social Work from the College of St. Catherine and a M.A. in Health and Human Service Administration from St. Mary’s University. She has also completed a yearlong fellowship in Cultural Competence Leadership through the American Hospital Association and is both an Honoring Choices Advance Care Planning trainer and a trainer in Risking Connection in Faith Communities, a training curriculum for faith leaders supporting trauma survivors. Ann has been a Mental Health Connect Board member for 3 years and is passionate about the role faith communities can play in the health and well being of their members and their communities. Ann also sits on the Board of the Faith Community Nurse Network of the Twin Cities.

Gail Bergsven, she/her

Co-Chair

With a passion for mental health, Gail joined MHC as an Ambassador from Nativity Lutheran Church in St. Anthony Village in December of 2018.

In 2019, she co-chaired the program development for the MHC symposium, The Role of Faith organizations in Suicide Prevention and joined the Education Committee.

Since 2020, Gail has served on the MHC Board and co-chairs the Education Committee.

Previously, Gail was an Executive Consultant coaching Corporate and Non-Profit executives and providing Organizational Development consulting. Also, she served as the Director of Community Outreach and Staff Development at Nativity Lutheran Church.

Two other organizations where Gail volunteers are Lutheran Social Service Metro Homeless Youth and The Dignity Center, a ministry of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church.

Rev. Dr. Ed Treat, he/him

Rev. Dr. Ed Treat served as an ELCA pastor for 25 years and currently serves as CEO of the Center of Addiction & Faith. He has been in long-term recovery for 35 years and has directed of the Fellowship of Recovering Lutheran Clergy (FRLC) for the past 18 years. He serves on board of the Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church, the Board of Mental Health Connect, and on the PAC of Minnesota Recovery Connection. The Center of Addiction & Faith is a new national ministry to raise awareness around addiction and how faith communities can better respond. He recently published his first novel, The Pastor, a mystery about a pastor who solves a murder in his parish. He is married to his pastor wife, Karen, has four grown children, a new grandchild, and lives in Minnetrista, Minnesota.

Janet Grove, she/her

Janet joined The Basilica in 1977 as cantor and choir member. For the past 20 years. she has served as The Basilica·s Wedding liturgy Planner. She continues to cantor and sing Noon mass. Janet also is a member of the Life Team and leads the Employment. Mental Health. and Access and Inclusion Ministries. Janet serves on the Westminster Counseling Center Board of Directors and cantors at Saint Anne/Saint Joseph Hein and The Ascension Churches in North Minneapolis.

Joe Clubb

Rev. Dan Doerrer

Julie Goodman

Heidi Simpson Tjeltveit she/her

Heidi is a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church-Minneapolis and co-chair of its Mental Health and Addiction ministry team. She retired after 44 years as Vice President of Education for LeadingAge Minnesota, a trade association of not-for-profit providers of older adult services across the state. There she developed continuing education programs for professionals working in the field to help them maintain their licenses and/or credentials. Heidi has an M.Ed. and a Certificate in Aging Studies, both from the University of Minnesota. Her program development work included in-depth training on dementia care/memory loss. She also worked on training designed to try to counter the negative impact of the COVID-19 lockdown which took a terrible toll on older adults through isolation and on staff working in the settings where they lived who suffered from burnout and stress. Heidi is passionate about educating people of all ages on mental health issues and substance abuse disorders to improve the quality of their lives and reduce the stigma surrounding these forms of illness.

Ann DeMarco