This podcast is a must-listen for anyone who cares about the well-being of our students and teachers. Join us as we explore the challenges and opportunities for improving mental health in our schools.

In this episode, host Talli Dolge sits down for an inspiring and real conversation, with San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

Mayor Nirenberg discusses his perspective on the positive shift in the conversation surrounding mental health and wellness in San Antonio.

The candid conversation covers several different topics surrounding mental health, including the mayor speaking on his own priorities in taking care of himself and his family.

In this episode Talli brings two SA Community leaders to discuss the impacts and challenges surrounding mental health in the workplace. Marina Gonzalez CEO of the Hispanic Chamber (please get her bio off the HC website), and Jamie Kowalski Vice President of Corporate Relations for the RK Group (bio on RK Group Website) are our guests for this month’s episode. Our guests bring first-hand knowledge, experience, and thoughts surrounding how mental health practices in the workplace are changing. The group discusses the impact of some workplaces not having the right resources, support, and help to support workers with mental health challenges. This is a not to miss candid conversation on a subject that many are scared to discuss because of negative repercussions. One big takeaway from this episode, is that workplaces need to speak about mental health in an inclusive and open way. We need to start putting mental health on the same plain as we do our physical health in life and in the workplace.

Some Mental Health Work Place Statistics:

63% of people are a part of the workforce

Globally more than a trillion dollars is lost annually, and over 12 billion working days are lost due to mental illness

The World Health Organization states that in 2019, 15% of the workplace is living with a mental health challenge. (we still don’t have numbers since Covid but numbers have risen significantly.

Covid triggered a 24% increase in general anxiety and depression worldwide.

The WHO and International Labor Organization have called for concrete action to address mental health concerns in workers.

Some of the biggest challenges workers face surrounding their mental health in the workplace are:

Discrimination, Inequality, Bullying, Loss of Reasonability, Alienation, Physiological violence, and Harassment

For more information surrounding this topic:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work

https://www.workplacementalhealth.shrm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Mental-Health-in-America-A-2022-Workplace-Report.pdf

https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/10/20/us-surgeon-general-releases-new-framework-mental-health-well-being-workplace.html

https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/blog/10-workplace-mental-health-statistics-2022/

In the first episode of KSAT’s mental health and wellness podcast, From Living in Silence to Living Out loud, host Talli Dolge tells her story of living with a mental health diagnosis. She shares intimate details of her life and how her life has been forever changed by having a mental illness. Talli also discusses the importance of bringing the mental health conversation into a safe and transparent conversation. She hopes that through this podcast, the listeners will be open to speak and tell their stories.

This podcast also details the conversations with experts, change makers, people living with a mental illness, and innovative programs that will be showcased in future episodes.

Dolge explains the beauty and hardships of mental illness in today’s society. 

The second half of the podcast Talli takes a deep dive into the fear of change. She explains that this is something that she knows all too well. She breaks down healthy suggestions for looking at change differently.

Here is Talli’s list for health change:

1. Question your negative thoughts. Listen to what your thoughts are saying and then reframe to healthier more positive language. Example if you hear your thoughts saying… I can’t do this.. reframe and say I will try to figure out why I am not feeling motivated at this time.

2. Keep reminding yourself that you are human, and the beauty of being human is that we can start over at any time.. no many how many times that may be

3. Put your focus on the emotional reasons why you want to change and not on the behavioral act of doing something. Finding the reason why you want to change will help in the long term. Remember that willpower is only a short term solution to change, and does not last in the long run.

4. Think about other times that you have been successful in changing something about yourself and write those items down. Keep these in a place that you can remind yourself of your successes... Change can be challenging, but focus on the parts of change that is motivating.

5. Focus on small wins, and not the full on change at once. This also gives you small goals that are attainable.

6. Keep a journal of progress not the end goal.

7. Write a list of your fears of change, and then do a second list working to combat those fears.

8. Enjoy the ride, change isn’t easy but we need to enjoy the process to keep it up!

9. Ask yourself daily what am I learning from this experience? Become inquisitive with the process.

10.   Enlist a close friend or ally in understanding your drive to change. This is a great way to hold yourself accountable.

This podcast wants the listener to dictate where you want to see the topics go in relation to mental health and wellness. Please email your stories, suggestions, and ideas to : https://modules.wearehearken.com/ksat/embed/6309/share

New video podcast to begin in January 2023 and will shed light on mental health, share personal experiences, resources and coping skills.