The cause for destigmatizing mental health issues, which can lead to catastrophic outcomes like attempted suicide, may have no more passionate advocate than Darlene Steinkamp, a nurse in the trauma-burn ICU unit at Springfield Memorial Hospital.
She also happens to be the reigning Miss Capitol City and, as such, will be one of twenty-six competing for the Miss. Illinois crown in June. The winner of Miss. Illinois goes on to vie for the Miss America title.
Steinkamp often speaks with students of all ages—openly and from her own experience—about the importance of reaching out in crisis, as she did, to talk about problems and seek help.
“If I could get across to people anything,” Steinkamp said, “it would be that there’s help out there. People want to help you; even strangers. If you come in and have tried to commit suicide, I want to do everything possible to help you, and I put my all into getting you the right resources. There are people who are strangers who care so much, and no matter what you feel, it is okay not to be okay.”
In addition to discharging her duties as Miss. Capitol City and her work as an I.C.U. nurse, Steinkamp is also a doctoral candidate. She tells students during school visits, “I have fought these battles, and you can too.”