In this episode of Stepping In It, Renee and Jason return to their annual collaboration with Lead DSM to explore one powerful truth: the solutions are in the systems. From the fields to the frontlines of healthcare, they examine how integrated systems can solve some of our most persistent challenges in behavioral health. The conversation opens with a collective check-in—how are we really doing?—before diving into data on isolation, loneliness, and changing social habits. With insights as striking as the fact that loneliness can impact health as severely as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, this episode is a candid, creative, and collaborative look at why behavioral healthcare is healthcare—and how systems-level solutions can lead the way forward.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Discover how systems thinking creates sustainable solutions in behavioral healthcare.
• Learn about the impact of isolation and lifestyle behaviors on community health.
• Understand the value of collaboration and creativity in addressing systemic challenges.
• Explore how data and real-world examples guide change at every level of care.

The key moments in this episode are:
 00:00:03 - Introduction & Episode Overview
 00:00:57 - Whiny Farmer Intro: Harvest Updates
 00:02:30 - Lead Des Moines Partnership: Systems in Action
 00:05:45 - Why Systems Provide Sustainable Solutions
 00:08:10 - Isolation and Loneliness Data
 00:10:35 - Drinking, Smoking, and Behavioral Trends
 00:13:00 - Collaborative and Creative Problem Solving
 00:15:50 - Closing Reflections on Systemic Change

Links:

• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25910392/ 
• https://ph.ucla.edu/news/press-release/2021/oct/ucla-led-research-finds-americans-drank-more-smoked-more-and-exercised 

Connect with us: 

https://ruralpolicypartners.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/linkedin.com/company/rural-policy-partners/ 

https://www.facebook.com/facebook.com/ruralpolicypartners

https://www.youtube.com/@ruralpolicypartners

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3GvCLT6-ij8