Our men and women who serve in the military have many experiences that can put a strain on mental health.

In this in-depth conversation, Dr. Christina Menager, who leads the VA Eastern Kansas Health System Suicide Prevention Program, shares how veteran’s experiences - both inside and outside deployment - can impact them throughout their lives and put them at risk for mental health struggles.

Dr. Menager dives into the emotions veterans may experience because of their experience, signs a veteran or loved one may need to seek help, what the VA is doing to reduce stigma, and how they continue working to ensure those who served can get help.

Many people know Dave Lewis from his time on Manhattan radio and as an announcer for Kansas State University.

In this conversation, Dave opens up about the loss of his first wife to breast cancer, and his struggles coping with both the loss and incidents from his youth. He also shares how his profession in the public eye added to the struggles.

Mental illness doesn't only affect the person living with it. It impacts everyone around them.

Susan Reynolds learned that when her daughter suffered a psychotic break and was diagnosed with severe bipolar disorder. 

Susan and her family didn't know what to do, and didn't know where to turn for information. She shares their journey in this emotional conversation, including how she now pays forward to provide other families what she was missing.

Suicide is a unique concern in our rural communities. The National Rural Health Association reported in 2024 that farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population.

Nick Hasenkamp knows that firsthand. He lost his father to suicide in 2010. Nick witnessed the struggles his father experienced as he farmed near Corning, Kan.

Now, Nick talks about his family's experience in hopes of convincing others to speak up, and to present a whole picture of who his father was.

Giving people access close to home can be a key to improving mental health.

An example of that is SENT Topeka, a non-profit based in a southeast Topeka neighborhood once known for crime and poverty. Tricia Sublet, LSCSW, SENT's mental health director, explains the organization realized the need for mental health services and details the difference it's made.

The holistic approach that sees the value of each person is an investment many communities could model.

Kids spend a lot of their waking hours in classrooms, and there's now a greater realization of the role schools can play in their mental health.

In this Hear me. See me. podcast, Trish Backman, school mental health coordinator for the Kansas Dept. of Education, talks about her work to support schools and educators so they know how to reach out to students. She said that includes new suicide prevention trainings, plans and programs that schools have implemented in recent years.

Find out what's making a difference, and why obstacles remain.

Adam Cobuluis grew up in a family that used, made and sold drugs. It led him to addiction and incarceration.

Today, he's a peer mentor for an organization that helps formerly incarcerated people reenter society. His is a story of recovery, resilience - and the power of second chances.

Jim Crosby served active duty and with the Kansas National Guard.

He said the military does a great job training people to deploy, but wasn't so aware when it came to preparing them to transition back to civilian life.

In this conversation, he shares his experiences, and how a personal tragedy led to him leading the group Together for Veterans AND Morris County.

He just needed someone to believe in him.

Gordon Smith said a desire to fit in led to bad choices and, eventually, prison. He said it wasn't until key people looked deeper and discovered he was living with mental illness that he was able to move forward.

Gordon shares his story of fighting back to overcome addiction, reignite his passion for education, and, today, giving back as a counselor and director at Topeka-based Mirror, Inc.

Whit Downing’s first memory of a mental health struggle is from kindergarten.

Since then, she’s been diagnosed with autism, anxiety, depression and PTSD. It’s taken her through cycles of isolation and suicidal ideation.

Here, Whit shares her journey, and how finding professional help and building a support system have her educating and advocating through a job with the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities.