Jana Hahn wears many titles: from earning several crowns in the Miss America Organization to becoming the author of her very own self-published children’s book, My Friend Rodger: An OCD Narrative For Kids, the 27-year-old continues to make a vast difference in our community and beyond. Currently serving as Miss Music Row, Jana’s passion for helping others stems from a deeply personal experience that began in childhood; At ten years old, she was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Before learning there was a reason and a name for the things she was doing—such as washing her hands repeatedly at school, avoiding going to certain restaurants and stores, sitting on only one spot on the couch, etc.—Jana felt alone and confused as to why her brain worked differently from those of her peers. OCD contributed to her anxiety, and by adulthood, it had become increasingly difficult to manage. She and her family ultimately decided it was time to seek treatment, so at the age of twenty, she spent two months in Florida at Rogers Behavioral Health, a nationwide mental health treatment center offering intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs for children, teens, and adults, to work on recovery.
“Within the Miss America opportunity, we all have a platform as delegates that we advocate for—I've worked with mental health organizations in the past couple of years due to [my] personal experience,” Jana explains. “Advocating with the crown and sash as my microphone, I started sharing and doing more work within our community, really trying to find ways to plug individuals into treatment centers or provide resources—educationally, financially, or in any type of way that I could provide support.”
Although Jana began experiencing symptoms of OCD at a young age, neither she nor her family recognized what she was experiencing or understood what OCD was at the time. Driven by a lifelong passion for helping others, Jana was inspired to create resources that help children better understand their brains and navigate challenges with confidence—offering the guidance and reassurance she wishes she had as a child. To bring that vision to life, she wrote the first draft of a children's book intended to help children understand and navigate the same emotions she once experienced. Several years later, Jana began working for a book manufacturing company here in Nashville. As she dove further and further into the publishing world, she knew the stars were aligning for her to fulfill a lifelong dream: it was time to publish her book. The title, My Friend Rodger: An OCD Narrative For Kids, acts as a nod to Roger’s Behavioral Health, as this was where Jana’s journey to recovery began. In the story, Jana personifies OCD as ‘Rodger,’ a character who represents the intrusive thoughts and distressing emotions that often accompany the disorder. Through the eyes of a young girl, readers learn how giving OCD a name can make it easier to recognize, understand, and stand up to. As she begins to confront her ‘Rodger,’ she discovers that she is stronger than her thoughts—and that confidence and hope are possible.
“There are a lot of mental health resources for adults, but when it comes to children, there are not that many,” Jana shares. “I really wanted to create something that could not only help children but also be a resource to those around them also walking in that journey—whether it's parents, teachers, or family members- because it affects the whole family dynamic.”
Jana hopes that My Friend Rodger: An OCD Narrative For Kids will help eradicate the stigma that OCD is just a habit or a phase. She also wants to help give children a resource to feel less alone and more understood in their mental health journeys. To purchase a copy of the book, visit the book’s website or keep up with Jana on social media.
@janahahn4
my-friend-rodger.myshopify.com
“Advocating with the crown and sash as my microphone, I started sharing and doing more work within our community, really trying to find ways to plug individuals into treatment centers or provide resources—educationally, financially, or in any type of way that I could provide support.”