Hope Out of the Darkness

How does bullying affect the mental health of kids and teens? Shannon Monet candidly explains how the words of her classmates affected her, some of the choices that helped shape her emotions, and how she regained her own sense of power and purpose to help others. You won't want to miss this 15-year-old's perspective on mental health, her suggestions for making mental health advocacy more effective, and some amazing insights.

If you are in crisis or know someone who is...please call:

Suicide Lifeline at 1-800- 273-8255

or text the word "help" to 741-741

http://afsp.org/get-help

About Shannon:

Shannon Monet is 15 years old. Shannon is extremely focused and desires to make a positive impact on today's, and the next, generation. Shannon has found her value and purpose. She believes no one should be left alone, or feel alone. She wants her story to help the lost find their identity. She believes everyone has their unique purpose and should work to walk in that purpose. There are many suffering from suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety, fear, and more. Her goal and purpose are to use her voice through social media, graphic design, and capturing visuals on YouTube. She has an incredible and undying love for people and wants to be a light in this very dark world.

Timestamps

• Shannon's experience with being bullied in school
• Our choices can shape our emotions
• Recognizing your own power and purpose
• The importance of a strong support system
• Maintaining your own mental health while helping others
• How can we make mental health advocacy more effective?
• The #duckduckhope origin story

Links

Connect with Shell Pavlis:

AFSP Board Co-Chair, Project 2025 Champion for Orange County, CA

Realtor® Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties

[email protected]

All Shell's Social: https://linktr.ee/shellseeshell

Connect with our guest, Shannon Monet:

https://shannonmonet.com/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/shannonmonetpage/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonmonet_/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/ShannonMonet_

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeDTawZn3hAMouWIFmQm8RA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-monet-b66a7521b

Council on Aging OC https://www.coasc.org

Children's Hospital of Orange County https://www.choc.org/mental-health/

Hoag Hospital https://www.hoag.org/about-hoag/community-benefit/hoag-programs/mental-health-services/

University of California, Irvine https://counseling.uci.edu/services/

Let's Stop Suicide. Mental Health for All. Suicide Prevention. Suicide Support.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Orange County, CA: https://afsp.org/chapter/orange-county

Become a Volunteer https://afsp.org/chapter/orange-county#volunteer

Advocacy https://afsp.org/become-a-suicide-prevention-public-policy-advocate

National Alliance on Mental Health https://nami.org/Support-Education

DiDi Hirsch Mental Health Services (LA & OC) https://didihirsch.org

Connect with Hope Out of the Darkness:

http://HopeOutoftheDarkness.com

Record a Question about mental health or suicide to be answered on an episode of Hope Out of the Darkness: https://www.speakpipe.com/HopeOutoftheDarkness

Want to be a guest, or have an idea for a discussion you want to hear? Email [email protected]

Retired Police Captain Robert Sweaza and his wife, Kristen, are my guests in Part Two of Mental Illness with Police Officers, where we discuss mental illness and how it relates to law enforcement officers. Kristen and Robert are the founders of Blue Wives Matter, a nonprofit dedicated to providing support for the families of fallen law enforcement officers. In this conversation, we talk about the particular challenges of mental health and suicide prevention education in law enforcement, the mental health stigma as it relates to first responders, and what goes into supporting the families of fallen officers.

If you are in crisis or know someone who is...please call: Suicide Lifeline at 1-800- 273-8255 or text the word "help" to 741-741 http://afsp.org/get-help

About Blue Wives Matter:

Blue Wives Matter was founded in 2017 after the untimely death of Fountain Valley California Police Officer Rick Nilos. Officer Rick Nilos dedicated his life to helping others, as a police officer and a US Marine. It was in his death that Blue Wives Matter became inspired to help the families who are left behind. It is our mission to provide the support that families need in their time of loss and grief. We support families no matter the cause of death.

Blue Wives Matter has provided support to over 100 widows and widowers. Support has been provided financially and emotionally. This year we plan to offer mental health grants for those in need while dealing with grief.

Blue Wives Matter also honors the children of officers who have died through the Patches of Honor Program. Each month, these children receive police patches in the mail. Patches are donated from agencies and officers all over the world. As the children build their patch collection, they feel connected to the law enforcement community.

Timestamps

•Why are retired first responders at a high risk of suicide? •The surprising level of support for the families of fallen officers •Law enforcement agencies can handle the aftermath of suicide better •What is stopping first responders from seeking help with mental wellness? •How Blue Wives Matter provides support to families •Recognize when you need help and ask for it •Robert's advice for proper self-care: separate yourself from your work

Links

Connect with Shell Pavlis:

AFSP Board Member, Project 2025 Champion for Orange County, CA Realtor® Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties [email protected] All Shell's Social: https://linktr.ee/shellseeshell

Connect with our guests, Robert and Kristen Sweaza:

[email protected]

[email protected]

Blue Wives Matter website: https://www.bluewivesmatter.net/ Copline: https://www.copline.org/ Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) https://www.concernsofpolicesurvivors.org/ Survivors of Blue Suicide (SBS): https://www.survivorsofbluesuicide.org/ Blue H.E.L.P. : https://bluehelp.org/ Council on Aging OC https://www.coasc.org

Children's Hospital of Orange County https://www.choc.org/mental-health/ Hoag Hospital https://www.hoag.org/about-hoag/community-benefit/hoag-programs/mental- health-services/ University of California, Irvine https://counseling.uci.edu/services/ Let's Stop Suicide. Mental Health for All. Suicide Prevention. Suicide Support. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Orange County, CA: https://afsp.org/chapter/orange-county Become a Volunteer https://afsp.org/chapter/orange-county#volunteer Advocacy https://afsp.org/become-a-suicide-prevention-public-policy-advocate National Alliance on Mental Health https://nami.org/Support-Education DiDi Hirsch Mental Health Services (LA & OC) https://didihirsch.org Connect with Hope Out of the Darkness: http://HopeOutoftheDarkness.com Record a Question about mental health or suicide to be answered on an episode of Hope Out of the Darkness: https://www.speakpipe.com/HopeOutoftheDarkness Want to be a guest, or have an idea for a discussion you want to hear? Email [email protected]

We're welcoming Joseph Reid back to the Hope Out of the Darkness Podcast. Joe is the founder and executive director of BrokenPeople.org and Author of Broken Like Me: And Insider's Toolkit for Mending Broken People, which he talked about during Episode 5. In this episode, Joe talks about the relationship between insight, compassion, and law enforcement. Recently, he had the opportunity to speak to law enforcement cadets in cooperation with The Cardinal Group, who got a little more than they bargained for with Joe's speech, and how he hopes to help future law enforcement officers understand how to respond to mental health crises both with the public they serve and themselves.

If you are in crisis or know someone who is...please call:

Suicide Lifeline at 1-800- 273-8255 or text the word "help" to 741-741 http://afsp.org/get-help

About Joe:

Joseph Reid has had a passion for loving and helping people from a very early age. He is the founder and Executive Director of Broken People, an international mental health peer support group. He is also very active as a peer support specialist and family advocate with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), the nation's largest grassroots mental health nonprofit organization.

He is extremely passionate about following God's direction, loving and serving his wife Melissa of 24 years, and trying to keep up with his four awesome grown kids. He currently oversees several brilliant writers on his website's blog that can be found at: www.broken-people.org Joseph has created a practical and easy-to-use scale for measuring your everyday mental wellness. He provides good tips on journaling and how to make your practice more enjoyable for those of us who are uncomfortable with the concept of journaling in general. In his book Broken Like Me: An Insider's Toolkit For Mending Broken People, Joseph acknowledges connections as vital to healthy mental health and shares how he builds and nurtures his own friendships, approaches isolation, and evaluates taking risks.

Timestamps:

• What happens when the career you've trained for won't work for you?
• Identifying your emotions and what they're telling you
• How Joseph is helping future law enforcement officers understand mental health
• Statistics about law enforcement officers you may not know
• Self-care is important in order for you to have the capacity to help others
• Celebrating failure as the opportunity for future successes
• Why building trust is important, especially for police officers
• Are mental health first responders a good idea?
• How we can prevent suicide by firearms
• Teaching your friends how to help you weather a mental health storm
• Coming up next on Hope Out of the Darkness

Links

Connect with Shell Pavlis:

AFSP Board Member, Project 2025 Champion for Orange County, CA Realtor® Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties [email protected] All Shell's Social: https://linktr.ee/shellseeshell

Connect with our guest, Joseph Reid:

Website: https://www.broken-people.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephereid Book: Broken Like Me: An Insider's Toolkit for Mending Broken People https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B095JG9D4Z/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0https://afsp.org/chapter/orange-countyhttps://bewelloc.org/ Council on Aging OC https://www.coasc.org

Children's Hospital of Orange County https://www.choc.org/mental-health/

Hoag Hospital https://www.hoag.org/about-hoag/community-benefit/hoag-programs/mental-health-services/

University of California, Irvine https://counseling.uci.edu/services/

Let's Stop Suicide. Mental Health for All. Suicide Prevention. Suicide Support.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Orange County, CA: https://afsp.org/chapter/orange-county Become a Volunteer https://afsp.org/chapter/orange-county#volunteer Advocacy https://afsp.org/become-a-suicide-prevention-public-policy-advocate National Alliance on Mental Health https://nami.org/Support-Education DiDi Hirsch Mental Health Services (LA & OC) https://didihirsch.org

Connect with Hope Out of the Darkness:

http://HopeOutoftheDarkness.com Record a Question about mental health or suicide to be answered on an episode of Hope Out of the Darkness: https://www.speakpipe.com/HopeOutoftheDarkness Want to be a guest, or have an idea for a discussion you want to hear? Email [email protected]

Integrative Treatment for Suicidal Thoughts and Mental Wellness with Britten Devereaux

There is much more to mental health than a person's feelings. Sleep, diet, relationships, and screen time all contribute to a person's mental well-being. Britten Devereaux explains how and why she and her colleagues treat the entire person, along with the patient's family to achieve lasting relief from mental health struggles. Her compassionate approach not only has produced amazing results but also helps her feel hopeful each and every day.

If you are in crisis or know someone who is...please call:

Suicide Lifeline at 1-800- 273-8255

or text the word "help" to 741-741

http://afsp.org/get-help

About Britten:

Most recently, Britten changed her focus from subacute residential care to outpatient care based on families consistently seeking more flexible service scheduling. It grieves her heart to see people settle for status quo when the is a wild and free life just millimeters away. Her personal story is one of determination and leaving what doesn't work behind. Completing her Master of Science in Addiction Counseling concurrent to a role as Clinical Supervisor, then Managing Director, Britten ensures patients are treated with dignity and that care is tailored, time-bound, and specific. "Individual mental health is the axis point to family stability, marketplace innovation, and overall wellness."

As a Licensed Advanced Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Britten has her MAC from the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals and is committed to see staff and patients reach the goals they did not believe possible. You will often hear her talking about Pacific Solstice being the leading force to change the landscape of psychiatry. Combining services, neurological, social, and psychological, she educates families to move from scarcity and deficits (what she calls a wasteland) to psychiatric care that is collaborative and strengths-based (what she calls a capital city). "This ultra-personal space of the service sector demands innovation and hospitality. Given over time, generations, not just individuals, live a different narrative... one of courage, health, and connection."

• The integrative approach uses more, not less
• We heal together and learn together
• Some of the treatments offered and how they work together
• Ending the stigma within families facilitates healing
• How MeRT works and what it can do
• The effects of screen time on mental health
• Healing veterans: isolation, Afghanistan, and the warrior mentality
• Preventing ER visits for mental health crises
• It all starts with sleep
• The little things each day add up to hopeful

Links

Connect with Shell Pavlis:

AFSP Board Member, Project 2025 Champion for Orange County, CA

Realtor® Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties

[email protected]

All Shell's Social: https://linktr.ee/shellseeshell

Connect with our guest, Britten Devereaux:

Pacific Solstice Integrative Clinic: https://pacificsolstice.com/

Council on Aging OC https://www.coasc.org

Children's Hospital of Orange County https://www.choc.org/mental-health/

Hoag Hospital https://www.hoag.org/about-hoag/community-benefit/hoag-programs/mental-health-services/

University of California, Irvine https://counseling.uci.edu/services/

Let's Stop Suicide. Mental Health for All. Suicide Prevention. Suicide Support.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Orange County, CA: https://afsp.org/chapter/orange-county

Become a Volunteer https://afsp.org/chapter/orange-county#volunteer

Advocacy https://afsp.org/become-a-suicide-prevention-public-policy-advocate

National Alliance on Mental Health https://nami.org/Support-Education

DiDi Hirsch Mental Health Services (LA & OC) https://didihirsch.org

Connect with Hope Out of the Darkness:

http://HopeOutoftheDarkness.com

Record a Question about mental health or suicide to be answered on an episode of Hope Out of the Darkness: https://www.speakpipe.com/HopeOutoftheDarkness

Want to be a guest, or have an idea for a discussion you want to hear? Email [email protected]

The arts can have a profound effect on a person's mental health and can offer a place of hope and healing to many people. Dylan Russell and Jake Blair, Aunt and Nephew, tell us about how the arts offered a safe place to express their emotions after losing their family member to suicide. Dylan is the Director of Education and Outreach at Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach, CA and discusses Laguna Playhouse's program for teens and young adults, talks about some of her favorite teaching experiences, and explains very well how and why art is such a great healing tool. Jake is pursuing his master's degree in Social Work at the University of Denver after working with people who were struggling with mental health issues and substance abuse motivated him to become better educated about how to help people who are struggling. He shares his story of healing through music, what he learned working in the acute residential treatment center, and how mental health caregivers can avoid burnout.

If you are in crisis or know someone who is...please call:

Suicide Lifeline at 1-800- 273-8255 or text the word "help" to 741-741 http://afsp.org/get-help

About Dylan:

Dylan is a director, educator, new play developer, and community engagement specialist whose passion for interactive storytelling has influenced her work with schools and organizations such as Laguna Playhouse, American Conservatory Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Oakland Public Schools, Jewish Community High School, and TheatreFIRST.

Dylan envisioned, created, and leads the OUR STORIES program at Laguna Playhouse, which utilizes generative theatre practices to combat stigma, create awareness about mental health, and amplify the voices of youth and young adults ages 16-25. Dylan was recognized as a KNX Hero in 2020 for her work on Our Stories and the program was a recipient of the Biller Family Foundation COVID-19 Social Impact Theatre Innovation Award 2021.

About Jake:

Jake is currently a 27-year-old grad student at the University of Denver where he's studying to get his Master's degree in Social Work. Before moving to Denver, he was living in San Francisco where he was a counselor at an acute residential treatment center, helping those with mental health conditions and substance abuse issues who were just getting out of crisis situations. Professionally, he's worked with many folks that have had suicide attempts and deal with chronic and acute suicidality as well as having personal history surrounding the topic of suicide.

Timestamps

• Meet this week's guests, Dylan Russel and Jake Blair • How Jake used music to process grief • Art allows people to experience their emotions with others • Laguna Playhouse has created a program that is a safe space for people to share their stories • How sharing your experiences with others is a powerful healing tool • Starting a conversation by exposing your own vulnerability and emotions • What it takes to be a good arts teacher • How can mental health workers avoid compassion fatigue? • Make the time to connect with others

Links

Connect with Shell Pavlis:

AFSP Board Member, Project 2025 Champion for Orange County, CA Realtor® Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties [email protected] All Shell's Social: https://linktr.ee/shellseeshell

Connect with our guests, Dylan Russel and Jake Blair:

Laguna Playhouse https://lagunaplayhouse.com/ Our Stories https://lagunaplayhouse.com/education-community-engagement/our-stories/ Council on Aging OC https://www.coasc.org Children's Hospital of Orange County https://www.choc.org/mental-health/ Hoag Hospital https://www.hoag.org/about-hoag/community-benefit/hoag-programs/mental-health-services/ University of California, Irvine https://counseling.uci.edu/services/

Let's Stop Suicide. Mental Health for All. Suicide Prevention. Suicide Support.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Orange County, CA: https://afsp.org/chapter/orange-county Become a Volunteer https://afsp.org/chapter/orange-county#volunteer Advocacy https://afsp.org/become-a-suicide-prevention-public-policy-advocate National Alliance on Mental Health https://nami.org/Support-Education DiDi Hirsch Mental Health Services (LA & OC) https://didihirsch.org

Connect with Hope Out of the Darkness:

http://HopeOutoftheDarkness.com Record a Question about mental health or suicide to be answered on an episode of Hope Out of the Darkness: https://www.speakpipe.com/HopeOutoftheDarkness Want to be a guest, or have an idea for a discussion you want to hear? Email [email protected]

Jared Diehl is the host of the Louder Now podcast and this week he joins Shell to have the important conversation about mental health and faith. Jared talks about his upbringing with a supportive mother, an abusive father, a life shaped by faith, and how all of that impacted his mental health. He talks plainly about his experience with bipolar disorder, the struggle to find the right balance of medications and when it was appropriate to have faith in medical science as well as religion.

If you are in crisis or know someone who is...please call:

Suicide Lifeline at 1-800- 273-8255

or text the word "help" to 741-741

http://afsp.org/get-help

About Jared:

Jared is almost 36 years old and lives in La Verne, California. He is a regular patient at Tri-City Mental Health services and gives back to the community by sharing his testimony and struggles with mental illness. He participates in a program called Courageous Minds. Jared also works with the National Alliance of Mental Illness sharing his story with In Our Own Voice and Ending the Silence. He also hosts his own podcast called Louder Now. Jared also likes to write poetry, play hockey, run, watch movies, and make videos related to helping people with their mental health. He also loves his church in downtown Pomona and serves regularly. He is also in the process of developing a mental health support group for his church community.

Timestamps

• Jared shares his childhood experiences
• What sleep can tell you about your mental health status
• Hospitalization, medicine, doctors: what worked and what didn't
• Being afraid of going to hell, while living through hell
• Healing isn't immediate
• Faith and medicine don't have to be in opposition
• Shell's personal experience with faith and mental health
• Is suicide a sin? What do you do when your church makes you feel bad about a family member's suicide?
• The complicated relationship between body chemistry, experiences, and mental health
• Your bravery will have a positive impact on others
• It's impossible to stay in the same place forever. You will get through it.

Links

Connect with Shell Pavlis:

AFSP Board Member, Project 2025 Champion for Orange County, CA

Realtor® Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties

[email protected]

All Shell's Social: https://linktr.ee/shellseeshell

Connect with our guest, Jared Diehl:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-diehl-b78b0b11b/

The Louder Now Podcast: https://www.podpage.com/jared-diehl-the-louder-now-podcast/

The Beginning Again on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rLJ8CDKW10

Council on Aging OC https://www.coasc.org

Children's Hospital of Orange County https://www.choc.org/mental-health/

Hoag Hospital https://www.hoag.org/about-hoag/community-benefit/hoag-programs/mental-health-services/

University of California, Irvine https://counseling.uci.edu/services/

Let's Stop Suicide. Mental Health for All. Suicide Prevention. Suicide Support.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Orange County, CA: https://afsp.org/chapter/orange-county

Become a Volunteer https://afsp.org/chapter/orange-county#volunteer

Advocacy https://afsp.org/become-a-suicide-prevention-public-policy-advocate

National Alliance on Mental Health https://nami.org/Support-Education

DiDi Hirsch Mental Health Services (LA & OC) https://didihirsch.org

Connect with Hope Out of the Darkness:

http://HopeOutoftheDarkness.com

Record a Question about mental health or suicide to be answered on an episode of Hope Out of the Darkness: https://www.speakpipe.com/HopeOutoftheDarkness

Want to be a guest, or have an idea for a discussion you want to hear? Email [email protected]

Professional Certified Coach Michelle Ahnang knows very well how not allowing yourself to grieve can hurt you far after you've lost a loved one to suicide. 15 years ago, Michelle's husband killed himself. Their family decided not to tell people the truth about his death for some time, which made Michelle's healing process long and arduous. In this episode, she talks to Hope Out of the Darkness about the words that got her attention and helped her decide to get herself well, then turn her experience into a platform to help others with their own mental health challenges.

If you are in crisis or know someone who is...please call: Suicide Lifeline at 1-800- 273-8255 or text the word "help" to 741-741 http://afsp.org/get-help

About Michelle:

Success is a strange thing. It's never a linear path, but a collection of events and our reactions to them. What we do with what we are presented is up to us. It makes sense then that our success is also up to us.

My path has not been a linear one, as so many of us have experienced. Growing up with emotional abuse in a constrictive house my sense of worth and worthiness were eroded, obscuring my identity. I learned that in order to be safe, I must become invisible and silent. I lived by others' expectations, never realizing my own. I remained this way into adulthood, my marriage and new motherhood.

But then the unthinkable happened.

My husband of 12 years, my best friend, died by suicide. With two young children to look after, I shifted into survival mode without ever processing my own grief, confusion and anger. Meanwhile, my husband's suicide lingered over me, the stigma stripping me of my ability to speak the truth of both him and what happened. I remained shame-driven.

Climbing out of silence.

I lived that way for over ten years, until I was no longer able to carry this backpack of shame and guilt and silence. I was forced to confront everything--my childhood, my husband's death, and my identity as a widow, all while raising my two beautiful children alone. I started going to therapy and began the hard work of healing and discovering who I was. I learned that my voice was stronger than silence and that I was more than the singular events that brought me to this place.

The true me.

It's from these experiences that my coaching practice was born. Throughout my healing and discovery process, I learned what it meant to guide others living with mental health challenges, and the lethal impact of stigma and silence.

This is what I do:

I help strip the silence, shatter the stigma, and get you on the path to becoming who you truly are. I work to support families faced with mental health challenges, individuals who are ready to stop their own cycle of self-sabotage, and professionals struggling with balance. This is my mission.

I hold a BA in Psychology from York University, am a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC). I am Mental Health First Aid certified through the Mental Health Commission of Canada. I am also trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness Training for Emotional Resilience, and am an active public speaker and educator.

I'm an avid lover of dance, reading and general decompression. My sons, Eric and Zack, are my world, although they love to roll their eyes at me, particularly when I'm dancing.

Timestamps

⦁ Michelle's husband's struggle with mental health ⦁ The after effects of her husband's suicide and the lie that made it worse ⦁ Finding the motivation to heal and the therapy she needed ⦁ It's alright to be angry ⦁ How has the stigma faded over the last 15 years? ⦁ Coming clean and working through it together ⦁ Being mindful about moving toward healing ⦁ Setting boundaries about your comfort level ⦁ What we can all do to help end the stigma ⦁ We are in control of our mental health: things you can do daily to improve your mental health ⦁ Mental health first aid - the CPR for mental health ⦁ How to use your phone Notes app to give yourself a boost

Links

Connect with Shell Pavlis:

AFSP Volunteer, Advocate, Event Sponsor, Give Back Partner Realtor® Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties [email protected] All Shell's Social: https://linktr.ee/shellseeshell Connect with our guest, Michelle Anhang: (647) 886-4616

Connect with Michelle Anhang:

www.michelleanhang.com BOOK ONLINE https://calendly.com/michelle-anhang Follow Michelle on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/michelleanhangcoaching Follow Michelle on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/michelleanhangcoaching/

Council on Aging OC https://www.coasc.org Children's Hospital of Orange County https://www.choc.org/mental-health/ Hoag Hospital https://www.hoag.org/about-hoag/community-benefit/hoag-programs/mental-health-services/ University of California, Irvine https://counseling.uci.edu/services/

Let's Stop Suicide. Mental Health for All. Suicide Prevention. Suicide Support.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Orange County, CA: https://afsp.org/chapter/orange-county Become a Volunteer https://afsp.org/chapter/orange-county#volunteer Advocacy https://afsp.org/become-a-suicide-prevention-public-policy-advocate National Alliance on Mental Health https://nami.org/Support-Education DiDi Hirsch Mental Health Services (LA & OC) https://didihirsch.org

Connect with Hope Out of the Darkness:

http://HopeOutoftheDarkness.com Record a Question about mental health or suicide to be answered on an episode of Hope Out of the Darkness: https://www.speakpipe.com/HopeOutoftheDarkness Want to be a guest, or have an idea for a discussion you want to hear? Email [email protected]

Professor Tony Vezner, head of the Theater Department at Concordia University, talks about this fall's show, Every Brilliant Thing. This one-man play gets the conversation about suicide started using humor, an intimate venue, and audience participation to tell the story from the point of view of a child of a suicide survivor as he catalogs everything that someone would want to live for. AFSP will have an information table plus a post-show discussion after every event to keep the conversation going and end the stigma of mental health issues.

If you are in crisis or know someone who is...please call: Suicide Lifeline at 1-800- 273-8255 or text the word "help" to 741-741 http://afsp.org/get-help

Timestamps:

• Making the discussion about mental health relatable through art
• How art contributes to your mental well-being
• Helping to start the conversation about mental health on campus
• The novel that brought mental health treatments to light in the Victorian era
• Respectfully and safely depicting a controversial story
• Tony and Shell share some of their "brilliant things"

Links:

Get your tickets to Every Brilliant Thing at https://www.simpletix.com/e/every-brilliant-thing-tickets-73036 Connect with Shell Pavlis: AFSP Volunteer, Advocate, Event Sponsor, Give Back Partner Realtor® Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties [email protected] All Shell's Social: https://linktr.ee/shellseeshell

Every person's journey through the grief of losing a loved one to suicide is unique, but it doesn't have to be lonely. In 2009 Michael Puldy's first wife ended her life. Michael talks about how he used his life experience with mental health challenges in his family to support his three sons and make his way through life after loss, the frustration of not being able to find people who had gone through similar experiences, and how he now helps others who have lost loved ones to suicide through their own journeys. If you are in crisis or know someone who is...please call: Suicide Lifeline at 1-800- 273-8255 or text the word "help" to 741-741 http://afsp.org/get-help Michael Puldy, CEO of Puldy Resiliency Partners, has a thirty-plus-year career dealing with disasters, crises, and crazy adventures. In his business life, he has helped hundreds of companies navigate through business disruption, computer infrastructure failures, and data loss, caused by a broad brush of reasons including human mistakes, natural disasters, and all-out cyberattacks. Through work, adventure travel, and in everyday life, we face and confront risk every day and in all sorts of unexpected ways. Sometimes the experience is amazing, and sometimes we see the darkness that exposes the core of what makes us human. Michael Puldy is a technology executive, photographer, writer, and world traveler. Between travels for business and pleasure, he has visited over 45 countries across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas. He is also the author of The Millennial's Guide to Business Travel: Lessons from the Next Generation of Road Warriors. He has an incredibly impressive resume of travel including visiting all 50 states, 50 countries, has flown 3 million air miles, and is a member of the Circumnavigators Club. Timestamps Michael's books Michael's story of losing a loved one to suicide How to support children who've lost a parent Applying the skills you have to manage your own crisis Sharing your experience together makes everyone stronger Finding resources to help you after losing someone to suicide If a person is suicidal separate them from their firearms Tips for helping children through loss What hope looks like Links Connect with Shell Pavlis: AFSP Board Member, Give Back Partner Realtor® Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties [email protected]

Clinical Therapist and workplace safety expert Scott O'Donnell gives valuable insight into the value of making others feel heard. He offers advice on dealing with patients in crisis, anxious family members, and fearful staff, as well as ways to mitigate workplace violence - before the de-escalation stage. Scott also discusses his strategies to create a healthy environment for patients, visitors, and staff, and explains how he uses all of his experience to enhance his employee preparedness workshops to lessen fear and anxiety in the workplace.

If you are in crisis or know someone who is...please call: Suicide Lifeline at 1-800- 273-8255 or text the word "help" to 741-741 http://afsp.org/get-help

As a Clinical Therapist and workplace Safety and Security expert, with 25 years experience, Scott specializes in creating "Peace-of-Mind" and a happier workplace environment. Scott has developed employee safety, "Active Shooter", workplace violence, security and conflict resolution programs that create a workplace culture to bring out the best in your employees. He's also an expert in Emergency Management, certified by FEMA and Homeland Security in internal and external disasters, specializing in incident command. Scott's seminars, workshops, breakout and coaching sessions create healthy working environments that promote a safe, secure, culture to enhance employee, customer, patient, teacher, staff and student peace-of-mind. He's an expert in Health Care Safety and De-escalation of employee, patient and visitor conflicts in Health Care facilities, Educational institutions and Workplace environment. As a Clinical Therapist Scott's body of work covers Bi-Polar, Anxiety, Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Addiction, Chemical Dependency, and specialize in Childhood Trauma. He uses his skills and expertise in these areas to improve individuals lives and also enhance his workplace programs. He has also trained staff to work safely with patients in Behavioral Health Units (Lock-down Units).

Scott's "Active Shooter" protocol and employee preparedness workshops prepare your employees to respond appropriately in an age of escalating gun violence. His workshops can lessen the fear and anxiety from the daily reality that we live in an ever present environment of workplace violence.

Timestamps

• The process of hospitalization: assessment, evaluation, and placement
• Listening to someone is different than making them feel heard
• Special procedures for lockdown units protect patients and staff
• How to see the warning signs and be approachable to someone in crisis
• Training for active shooter scenarios in the hospital
• Share and report to lessen workplace violence
• What leaders can do to mitigate fear in their workplace
• Being in service to others can have a positive impact

Links

Connect with Shell Pavlis: AFSP Volunteer, Advocate, Event Sponsor, Give Back Partner Realtor® Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties [email protected] All Shell's Social: https://linktr.ee/shellseeshell Connect with our guest, Scott O'Donnell: Contact Scott at (858) 531-0777 to discuss current issues and how he can be of help to you, your company, or organization

Concordia University, Irvine, CA

Discounted tickets to see Every Brilliant Thing

September 10,11,18 at 7:30

September 12,19 at 2:00 pm

Listen to Shell and the Director and Theatre Professor, Tony Vezner, describe this play about mental health and suicide, and get a special discount code.

https://www.simpletix.com/e/every-brilliant-thing-tickets-73036