Let's Rethink This

Date: 09/27/2021 

Name of Show: Let’s Rethink This 

Episode title and number: A Phoenix Rising: Relearning to Live with Mental Illness 

Brief summary of show: Today we are talking with long time Independence Center member, Steve Whyte. Steve has had a long journey with his mental health recovery and describes the journey like a phoenix rising from the ashes. We are going to spend some time getting to know him, learning about the importance of safe and supportive housing for those living with a mental illness, and what he is up to now including working as a tour guide at the Gateway Arch.  

Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:  

1:00 – 4:40 Steve’s Story 

5:44 - 7:37 Coming to Independence Center Clubhouse 

8:02 - 13:31 Becoming a Tour Guide at Gateway Arch  

15:09 - 18:21   Living Independently  

21:10 - 25:55  Recovery & Managing Mental Illness Over Time 

26:31 – 28:40 Working with a Mental Illness  

List of resources mentioned in episode, suggested reading, social media handles:  

Independence Center Employment Program  

Calls to action:  

Subscribe to our podcast here: https://letsrethinkthis.buzzsprout.com/ 

Follow us on Instagram @letsrethinkthispod 

Date: 09/20/2021 

Name of Show: Let’s Rethink This 

Episode title and number: Addressing Global Mental Health with Jack Yatsko 

Brief summary of show:  Today I am speaking with Jack Yatsko, Chief Operating Officer at Clubhouse International. Jack’s role includes overseeing the programs at Clubhouse International, new clubhouse development, training, and supporting training bases. He has been in the social work field for his entire career. He has a master's in Social Work and started his Clubhouse career as the Clubhouse Director of Friendship House in Hawaii. Clubhouse International focuses on expanding the Clubhouse model around the world, accredits new and existing Clubhouses to meet standards, trains, promotes public awareness, advocates for more funding and support of mental health programs, and develops and enhances research approaches to measure effectiveness of the Clubhouse model. 

Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:  

1:17 - 3:34 Jack’s Background & Connection to Clubhouse International  

3:51 - 9:09 What is a Clubhouse International? 

10:00 - 12:40 Supportive Care Community  

14:05 - 18:17 Becoming a Global Organization 

19:12 – 21:39 Clubhouse Work Order Day, Units, and Standards  

22:41 - 27:17 International Partnerships 

33:41 – 38:30 Landscape of Mental Health During the Pandemic  

List of resources mentioned in episode:  

Clubhouse International 

Employment Program 

Social media handles, shareable link of podcast: 

Follow Us @letsrethinkthispod on Instagram 

Get Connected with Jack  

American Psychiatric Association Honors Clubhouse International  

Hilton Humanitarian Prize  

Lancet Commission 

WHO Includes Clubhouse Model in New Guidance on Community Mental Health Services  

Date:  09/13/2021 

Name of Show: Let’s Rethink This 

Episode title and number: Living with High Functioning Depression & Anxiety  

Brief summary of show: Today I’d like to introduce Danielle Rose. Danielle is a program participant or what we refer to as member at Independence Center. 

Danielle has recently returned to work after a seven-year gap in her employment. We are going to be talking to her about her experience as a member of Independence Center, how and why she chose to return to work, and how the Clubhouse continues to support her in her goals. 

Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:  

1:01 – 6:50 Danielle's Story  

8:20 – 10:18 Receiving A Mental Health Diagnosis  

13:01 – 14:05 Network of Support  

15:26 - 23:44 Independence Center Clubhouse  

26:45 – 30:00 Returning to Work  

List of resources mentioned in episode, suggested reading, social media handles:  

Independence Center Clubhouse Program  

Transitional, Supported, and Independent Employment Programs  

Calls to Action  

Subscribe to our podcast here: https://letsrethinkthis.buzzsprout.com/ 

Follow us on Instagram @letsrethinkthispod 

Date: 09/06/2021 

Name of Show: Let’s Rethink This 

Episode title and number: The Power of Performance Art in Managing Mental Health  

Brief summary of show: Today we are talking with Angelo Blanchard, Katie Hayes and Paula Heller. Katie is the outreach coordinator at STAGES St Louis. If you have not heard of Stages, it is a local theatre that is committed to preserving and advancing the art form of musical theatre through excellence in performance and education. Paula is a licensed professional counselor and registered drama therapist who works with individuals, couples, and families and leads Drama Therapy Groups. Angelo is a member at Independence Center and along with his outreach work for IC also participates in the IC Players, the Clubhouse’s acting group. We are going to talk about how the arts and in particular performance art can support better mental health in our community.   

Bullet points of key topics & timestamps: 

1:15 - 12:33 Katie, Angelo, and Paula’s Backgrounds  

13:06 - 16:04 STAGES St. Louis  

17:25 -18:05 Accessibility of Performance Art in the Community  

19:15 – 20:59 Drama Therapy  

21:20 – 30:52 IC Players & Power of Performance  

List of resources mentioned in episode, suggested reading, social media handles:  

North American Drama Therapy Association  

STAGES St. Louis or contact the Box Office at 314.821.2407 

Calls to action:  

Subscribe to our podcast  

Follow us on Instagram @letsrethinkthispod 

Date: August 30, 2021  

Name of Show: Let’s Rethink This 

Episode title and number: A Better Way: Moving from Addiction to Mental Wellness with Brian Weddington

Brief summary of show: Today I’d like to introduce Brian Weddington. Brian is a newer member at Independence Center, coming into services in 2020. Since joining Independence Center, he has become a peer specialist, completed his HiSET, enrolled at UMSL, moved into his own apartment, and has started interviewing for different jobs. We are going to spend a little time hearing Brian’s story and learn more about what he is up to now. 

Bullet points of key topics & timestamps: 

1:25 - 9:09 Brian’s Story  

11:24 –15:01 Maintaining Sobriety 

15:15 - 32:16 Charlie & BHN’s Emergency Room Enhancement Program  

32:56 - 37:12 Living Independently  

37:54 - 42:22 Managing Mental Health & Keeping Sobriety During the Pandemic  

List of resources mentioned in episode, suggested reading, social media handles:  

Suicide Statistics 

Drug Abuse Statistics 

Emergency Room Enhancement Program  

Stepping Into the Light Ministries  

Depaul Mental Health Urgent Care & In Patient Facilities  

Independence Center Clubhouse Program 

Independence Center Residential Program   

Calls to action:  

Subscribe to our podcast  

Follow us on Instagram @letsrethinkthispod 

Date:  August 23, 2021 

Name of Show: Let’s Rethink This 

Episode title and number: Zero Suicide with Kirsten Sierra and Maria Needham  

Brief summary of show: We are going to be talking about Zero Suicide, which promotes safer care for those at risk of suicide. Zero Suicide believes that suicide is preventable and that the only acceptable number of losses due to errors in quality of care is zero. Today I am speaking with Kirsten Sierra, who has both her MSW and LCSW and works at Mercy as their first ever Zero Suicide Coordinator and Maria Needham who has her Bachelors of Social Work and works at Independence Center as a Community Support Specialists. 

Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:  

1:31 – 5:31 Kirsten and Maria’s Backgrounds  

5:59 – 6:45 Suicide Stats  

7:02 – 12:33 Suicidal Ideation 

14:13 - 17:42 How to Support Somone with Suicidal Ideation 

20:34 - 23:38 Mission of Zero Suicide 

24:02 – 25:58 Mercy Health System’s Approach to Zero Suicide  

30:07 – 33:46 Steps We Can Take to Prevent Suicide  

List of resources mentioned in episode, suggested reading, social media handles:  

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention 

Zero Suicide 

NAMI  

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text “START” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741. 

Calls to action:  

Subscribe to our podcast here: https://letsrethinkthis.buzzsprout.com/ 

Follow us on Instagram @letsrethinkthispod 

Date: August 16, 2021 

Name of Show:  Let’s Rethink This 

Episode title and number: Episode 014 The Conversation Starts Here 

Brief summary of show: Today I am talking one of Independence Center’s Community Support Specialists, Jordan Palmer. Jordan has been working as a CSS for 3 years and is current pursuing her masters in social work at Washington University in St. Louis.  

Aside from managing a caseload, Jordan also is very involved with Independence Center’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work and did her practicuum project specifically addressing how racism intersects with mental health. 

Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:  

1:00 – 6:16 What is a Community Support Specialists Role  

8:12 – 14:48 Master of Social Work 

14:49 – 21:16 Racism x Mental Health  

21:17 - 22:00 Sharing the Project  

List of resources mentioned in episode:  

Social media handles, shareable link of podcast 

Follow Us @letsrethinkthispod on Instagram 

Follow Independence Center on Facebook  

Become a Loyal Listener and support the podcast 

Date: August 9, 2021 

Name of Show:  Let’s Rethink This 

Episode title and number: Black Girl, Bleu  

Brief summary of show:  Today I am talking to Sharee Silerio. Sharee Silerio is a St. Louis-born, raised and based writer, director and producer who focuses on telling stories where Black women + girls exist as full human beings on screen and feel seen, heard, loved and affirmed beyond the screen. 

She recently completed her fourth short documentary Black Girl, Bleu, a conversation with Black women about the Strong Black Woman myth and how it impacts the mental health challenges they’ve been through, face and have overcome. We talk about how Sharee got her start, why Black women are centered in her latest documentary, and what’s next.  

Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:  

2:14 - 4:15 Sharee’s Story 

5:14 - 9:26 Starts with Story Telling 

9:55 - 12:11 Starts in Production  

12:48 - 18:09 Inspiration & About Black Girl, Bleu  

25:34 – 27:33 How to Watch Black Girl, Bleu  

27:54 – 34:15 Black Girl Bleu, The Community  

42:05 – 43:48 What’s Next for Sharee 

List of resources mentioned in episode:  

Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists 

Black Girl, Bleu  

Social media handles, shareable link of podcast 

Black Girl Bleu Instagram 

Black Girl Bleu Facebook 

Follow Us @letsrethinkthispod on Instagram 

Date: August 2 , 2021 

Name of Show:  Let’s Rethink This 

Episode title and number: Episode 012 Young at Heart  

Brief summary of show: Today I am talking with two people from Independence Center about mental health supports for older adults. Pat Marshall is a team lead at the Clubhouse and Karen Cox- Miller is a long-time member. Pat and Karen help to co-lead a group at IC called the Young at Heart group. This group is specifically for members 55 and older to socialize, connect, and support one another. This program has evolved over the last couple of years and now the group is more active than ever. 

Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:  

1:00 - 2:41 Pat & Karen’s Stories  

5:09 – 7:52 How Young at Heart fits within the Clubhouse model  

8:09 – 13:01 Partnerships with Young at Heart Groups  

13:30 - 14:49 Staying Connected Virtually  

15:10 – 18:19 Marillac Mission Fund Grant for OT Services  

23:45 – 27:11 St. Louis County Technology Grant for Seniors  

List of resources mentioned in episode:  

St. Louis Area Agency on Aging 

Marillac Mission Fund  

Social media handles, shareable link of podcast 

Follow Us @letsrethinkthispod on Instagram 

Become a Loyal Listener and support the podcast 

Date: July 26, 2021 

Name of Show:  Let’s Rethink This  

Episode title and number: Episode 011 Let's Talk Trans, Part 2 

Brief summary of show: The second part of this episode focuses on mental health statistics for trans folks, how MTUG supports the transexpansive community in and around St. Louis, and how you can get in contact with Sayer and the people at MTUG. 

Bullet points of key topics & timestamps:   

0:49 - 5:55 Intersection of Mental Health and Trans Identities  

7:35 - 8:21 Stats on Trans Folks  

8:28 - 12:04 Services that MTUG Offers 

14:04- 17:47 Discrimination in the Trans Community  

22:02 – 23:17 How to Contact MTUG & Upcoming Events  

List of resources mentioned in episode:   

Disclosure Documentary Preview 

History of Trans Identity 

Trans Equity Stats 

Metro Trans Umbrella Group 

Mary Oliver’s The Journey  

Social media handles, shareable link of podcast  

Follow Us @letsrethinkthispod on Instagram  

Follow MTUG on Facebook 

Become a Loyal Listener and support the podcast