Antolina Butalid spent 37 years with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare, where she counseled the mentally ill and provided family assistance. She strove to bring light into the lives of the mentally ill, whom she too often found were misunderstood. As she explains, “Sometimes, society seems to think that this is a personal and behavioral problem that has been caused by the patient himself, or by the family because the patient was neglected.” As a social worker and counselor, Ms. Butalid “recognized that we are all human beings…And in this journey, everyone gets sick, everyone feels sad and lonely, we suffer grief, and we need hope to be able to continue.” Ms. Butalid is originally from the Philippines. She obtained a Master of Arts in education in 1972 from the University of Hawaii and a Bachelor of Science in psychology in 1960 from the University of Santo Tomas, from which she graduated magna cum laude. She taught as a professor at St. Mary’s College, Osmeña Colleges, Masbate Colleges, and the Aquinas University of Legazpi in the Philippines before coming to America. In recognition of her work, she was honored with a Humanitarian of the Year award by Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare and an Outstanding Professional award by the National Alliance on Mental Illness Although currently retired, Ms. Butalid continues her involvement with the Diocese of Cleveland and the American Foundation to Aid the Poor. To learn more about Antolina Butalid, view her video.
