Mental Health Mosaics

Often we think about talking about mental health when we're struggling. The idea is daunting. This episode is about the everyday of discussing mental health from two very different perspectives. First we here from Georgianna and Abraham in rural Alaska talking about how connections to culture and land can support youth mental health. Then we hear from music duo Dumile and their song Nina. It was a way for them to open up about generations of healing.

Do you need to open up about your mental health? Find out some tips and inspiring creative prompts on our website, mentalhealthmosaics.org.

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A mental health diagnosis can be both a burden and a relief. Some see it as a label, some as a guide. Hear what it was like to receive a diagnosis and treatment through personal stories and poetry.

Please note, the poet does swear once during the second half of the episode.

Learn more about mental health and find more resources, including art and creative prompts, at mentalhealthmosaics.org. 

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Preventing suicide requires us to talk about it openly. In this episode we'll hear from Victoria, who talks about losing her mother to suicide and how she healed. We'll also learn about suicide intervention with Kris Green. 

If you are thinking about suicide or know someone who is, you can reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

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When someone is in the midst of a mental health crisis they need something other than police or fire departments to arrive on the scene. That's why some cities offer mobile crisis teams and short-term stabilization as an alternative to jails and emergency departments. Learn how the emergency response to mental health crises is evolving and what it feels like to be in crisis.

This episode does discuss suicide attempts. If you need support right now, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. They are there to listen.

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Houselessness and mental health challenges are overlapping issues. Mental health problems can make it hard to get and retain housing. Not having housing is harmful for your mental health. In this episode we focus on the stories of two individuals, Sally Gosak and Zack McGee-Stuenkel, how they lost housing, and how they regained stability. 

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Content warning: This episode discusses self-harm, internet predators, and emotional and sexual abuse.

Artist Donalen Rojas Bowers is a woman who has been through a lot and is strong enough to get through it all. She's sharing her story to break the silence around  self-injury. In this episode she shares her story of surviving abuse by internet predators and how she copes with the trauma.

If you or someone you know self-harms, there are resources available to help you care for yourself. If you are in crisis now, you can text HOME to 741741 and reach the Crisis Text Line. You can learn more about self-harm, how to care for injuries, and how to talk about it through LifeSIGNS.

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Our identities and how we see ourselves as individuals and as part of a group affects our mental wellness. Maybe we experience internalized oppression. Maybe we don't have a strong sense of self, so we feel untethered. This episode explores the idea of knowing who you are is tied to mental wellness.  We speak with psychology professor EJ David, artist Lauren Stanford, and community member Dana Hilbish.

See Lauren's art and follow prompts to explore your own identity at the Mental Health Mosaics website.

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Long-term recovery from alcohol addiction is possible. During this episode, Dana Hilbish and Adam Allard talk about how they achieved and maintained meaningful sobriety. This episode was created in partnership with Togetherings from Alaska Humanities Forum.

If you are seeking treatment for addiction and/or mental health concerns, you can call the free, 24/7/365 SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. They don't offer counseling but they can connect you to resources.

If you're looking for other resources, check out the Mental Health Mosaics website!

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M.C. MoHagani Magnetek is many, many things. When she appears on Mosaics, she's sharing her poetry. In this episode she talks about living with bipolar disorder and PTSD and what helps her get through it all. One of her thoughts? Reframe your situation. This bonus episode is a glimpse into MoHagani's life and a bit of inspiration for those having trouble getting through winter.

Remember, you can always find someone to talk with at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

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Racism directly affects people's mental health, and there's racism within mental health systems. During this episode we explore these issues through poetry with M.C. MoHagani Magnetek as she shares her lived experiences. We'll also discuss ways to make mental health systems more equitable and more effective through an interview with professor and psychiatrist Ruth Shim.

Learn more about all of these issues on our website mentalhealthmosaics.org.

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