Kēphen

With more than 16 years of experience in Missouri state government, ​​Kēphen Merancīs has built a career at the intersection of law/policy compliance and education/training. ​​Kēphen's work includes researching, submitting, and implementing proposals for policy improvements, particularly in areas related to mental health support systems for students and public employees. He has also designed and delivered professional development programs for state employees in leadership, conflict management, motivation, and workplace mental health. Since 2019, ​​Kēphen has been a Missouri Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) and has also volunteered in suicide awareness and prevention since 2018, with a primary focus on teens and emerging adults. Drawing on lived experience with bipolar disorder and suicidality, he has provided one-on-one peer mentoring, facilitated support groups, and taught classes focused on practical mental health strategies and recovery-oriented best practices. Outside of ​​Kēphen's professional work, he is a practicing secular Buddhist with interests in nature, history, astronomy, paleontology, gardening, baking, tea, and ceramics. He enjoys hiking, road trips, documentaries, podcasts, YouTube, nonfiction writing, and is particularly fond of cats and will befriend them anywhere he goes. As a writer, he is influenced by the works of Fernando Pessoa, Rainer Maria Rilke, Thích Nhất Hạnh, Walt Whitman, and John Muir. Memento Vivere