The holidays are a stressful time for many. Adding to that, there are many in Texas who are also coping with Hurricane Harvey’s aftermath. On this episode licensed psychologist Edna Brinkley, Ph.D. is here with some tips on taking charge of our wellness during the season, and

reconnecting with what matters to us.

The holiday season is an appropriate time to step back from our usual focus on systems-level change and instead highlight how we as individuals can make things better for one another. As daunting as mental health and its related issues are, there is still plenty that each of us can do for the sake of our own wellness and that of others. John King is a certified peer specialist from Beaumont who believes that everyone can live a fulfilling and productive live, no matter their diagnosis. He joins us to talk about how individuals can promote mental health in their communities.

How do communities create mental health and wellbeing? The answer varies from place to place. In this episode we chat with Richard Salcido, executive director of Family Services of El Paso. We use the city of El Paso as a jumping off point for a larger discussion about what is needed to strengthen the ability of communities to promote and protect the mental health of their members. El Paso's unique geography and demographics make it a vivid illustration of what a place-based approach to mental health would look like.

This is our second interview with Dr. Luis Zayas, dean of the School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin. We are revisiting the issue of deportation threat for the children of the undocumented, only this time we're focusing on younger adults who are affected by the current state of limbo of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Dr. Zayas uses his insight into the phenomenom of deportation anxiety to gives us a new lens through which to see our current moment.

We speak often about "recovery-oriented principles." But what are the hallmarks of a recovery-oriented community? What does it mean to belong to one?

Athena McClendon is a member of Austin Clubhouse. Clubhouses are membership organizations that provide a range of psychosocial supports to people who have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. For clubhouses and their members, recovery isn't just a personal aspiration but a communal ethos. In this episode, Athena gives a deeply personal account of the benefits of clubhouse membership, and the central role that Austin Clubhouse has played in her recovery journey.

It may not always be obvious, but mental health is a highly contested concept, and one that has evolved considerably over the years. Are we on the cusp of the next phase in mental health's evolution, and what might this look? Ken Thompson, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh and member of the Hogg Foundation's National Advisory Council, has some strong feelings on the subject. In this episode, he traces the lineage of our current understanding of mental health, and where he believes it should go next. Sheila Savannah, director of the Oakland-based Prevention Institute, joins us for the second segment where she offers some timely reflections on the fusion between population health and community health.

Children in the foster care system present some unique challenges for caregivers and service providers. Their needs are many and complex, and can overwhelm family members and caregivers. The Harris County Protective Services (HCPS)Integrated Health Care Clinic provides a model of how to effectively meet both the physical and behavioral health needs of this population, while also plugging in caregivers to the daunting array of services that are out there. Jacqueline McMillon of HCPS talks about how they make it all happen.

In the second segment, Kate Murphy of Texans Care for Children provides an update from the recent Texas legislative session, and what it all means for the child welfare system.

“Invest now, or pay later.” That’s the reality of supporting the mental health of children and adolescents. Nowhere is this more dramatically apparent than in the school system. Untreated mental health conditions in students strongly correlate with increased risk of academic failure, discipline problems, dropping out, and involvement in the criminal justice system.

The Hogg Foundation now has two grant programs to support innovative approaches to this problem. Our two guests, Elizabeth Minne, a psychologist and executive director of Vida Clinic here in Austin, and Stephany Bryan, a program officer for the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, are here to discuss both grant programs and how they aim to impact mental health in education.

Society’s awareness of mental health seems to be at an all-time high. But in a media-saturated culture, there are lots of causes that vie for public awareness. Can "awareness" backfire? Why do some campaigns succeed, and others fail?

Joining us for an in-depth look are two experts who work at the intersection of communications and public health. Dr. Mike Mackert is director of the Center for Health Communication at the Moody College of Communications at The University of Texas. Carrie Baron, MD is director of the Creativity for Resilience program and an assistant professor in psychiatry at UT Austin.

What happens when someone with behavioral health conditions is released from jail? For many, the road to successful re-entry is laden with many traps: lack of support, lack of employment and, especially, the persistence of behavioral health disorders (addiction and mental illness). Peer support can make a huge difference. Learn about the new move toward peer support in the criminal justice system from two people whose own struggles now inform their work as peer supporters and advocates.