*Trigger warning - this episode is a candid discussion about suicide and suicide prevention * Please take care of yourself, and if you need to, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. You can find resources below in the show notes. 

Hello everyone, my name is Abu Iqbal and I am a 17-year-old Pakistani American Muslim who is QPR Suicide Prevention certified. I have my own personal battles with suicide ideation as well as know people who have died by suicide, ultimately making me willing and motivated to discuss this topic. I love to connect with people and I hope this podcast episode helps you!

In this episode we talk about:

• Stigmas around Suicide
• Warning signs and risk factors
• Suicide Prevention
• How to start and maintain healthy conversations regarding suicide
• Importance of listening
• How to be there for one another and yourself
• Grounding activities
• Resources to use or refer to people

Facts and figures included in this podcast come from the following sources:

• QPR Institute (Suicide Prevention Training)
• (Video) How do you help a grieving friend? 
• National Suicide Hotline - 800-273-8255
• Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention - 714-547-0885 
• Didi Hirsch Crisis Chat
• Text home to 741741
• National Institute of Mental Health
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• helpguide.org
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
• NAMI Orange County
• Peer Connector Program 
• NAMI-OC Warmline Call or text: (714) 991-6412
• American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP)
• You, Me, Empathy (Non's podcast)
• The Feely Human Collective
• Rainy Day Diaries (Jenipher’s podcast)
• Naseeha
• Khalil Center
• Instagram accounts @realdepressionproject, @didi Hirsch, @dlcanxiety 

This unique takeover episode is a feature of the NAMI-OC Media Masterclass which teaches teens and young adults the basics of podcasting and growing their social media presence.  Takeover episodes feature Media Masterclass students who want to start their own podcast.

Disclaimers:  It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
 
It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Welcome to the third Takeover Episode of It's Okay to Feel!

On this Takeover Episode of It’s Okay to Feel, Vivian Le & Dr. Matthew Quinlan discusses how stress is universal as we all deal with it day to day. From the broad spectrum of stress that we all experience to the importance of recognizing when you need help, you may find that you relate to some of the topics at hand. Our host and guest reminds us that with awareness we can better understand our triggers and stressors, thus improving our overall mental, physical, psychological and emotional wellness. Through education and awareness we can work together to decrease the stigma associated with mental health. 

 Our Takeover Host today is Vivian Le. She is a passionate mental health advocate and a high school student in Orange County. Vivian hopes to explore her studies within the medical field.

 Our guest today is Dr. Matthew Quinlan a Psychology professor at Coastline College in Orange County. Dr. Quinlan shares his expertise with stress and best practices in dealing with stress. With a degree in neuroscience he shares his knowledge on the effects stress can have on our brain and the impacts of both substance abuse and chronic stress. 

This unique takeover episode is a feature of the NAMI-OC Media Masterclass which teaches teens and young adults the basics of podcasting and growing their social media presence.  Takeover episodes feature Media Masterclass students who want to start their own podcast.

 
In this episode, Vivian and Dr. Quinlan talk about:

• Stress is universal 
• Importance of asking for help and reaching out to loved ones and friends
• Different responses to stress: physical, emotional, behavioral 
• Resources and tools for stress 
• Progress made in the psychological field and mental health awareness 
• Types of treatment for stress: insight, behavior, and biomedical therapies 
• And More!

Resources:

• Theories of Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences
• Psychoanalysis: A Brief History of Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory 
• NAMI-OC's Instagram
• NAMI-OC’s Happy Hour 
• NAMI-OC's Peer Connector Program
• NAMI Orange County
• Crisis Line, Warmline, and Crisis Groups

Disclaimers:  It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Welcome to the second Takeover Episode of It's Okay to Feel!

On this Takeover Episode of It’s Okay to Feel, Alejandro Martinez and Jerika White interview Dr. Courtney Tracy, an addiction and mindfulness expert who is an Orange County native. Dr. Tracy discusses the impact her upbringing has on her passion for mental health advocacy, her personal journey through schooling and therapy, as well as the importance of having a village to confide in especially during the pandemic.

Dr. Tracy fuses the stimulating intelligence of a research-informed Psy.D. with the honesty of a true friend and the compassion of a loving mother. She discusses mindfulness and the underlying truths of our daily lives on many platforms including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and her own podcast called “The Truth Doctor”.

What We Will Discuss

• Exposure to Mental Health Conditions at a Young Age.
• Personal Interest in Psychology Due to Family Background.
• Journey Through Education in Mental Health.
• Personal Experience with Therapy.
• Your Unconscious is Showing Free Online Courses on the Subconscious Mind, How to Forgive Yourself and Others, as well as Basics on Childhood Trauma.
• How Dr. Tracy Balances Personal Life, Work, and Mental Health.

Resources

• The Truth Doctor 
• Truth Doctor Podcast - Your Unconscious is Showing 
• NAMI-OC's Instagram
• NAMI Orange County

Disclaimers:  It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

On this Takeover Episode of It’s Okay to Feel, Alejandro Martinez and Jerika White interviews Lorry Belhumuer, the CEO of Western Youth Services (WYS). Lorry discusses WYS, the services they provide the community, and updating services to meet new needs in a virtual world. 

What We Will Discuss

• The work Western Youth Services does. 
• Programs available to the community.
• What is the RESET Toolbox.
• How is the RESET Toolbox making an impact in the community.
• Community Training Western United Services is involved with. 

Resources

• Western Youth Services
• RESET Toolbox
• NAMI-OC's Instagram
• NAMI Orange County
• ACEs Aware
• Crisis Intervention Training

Disclaimers:  It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Welcome to the first Takeover Episode of It's Okay to Feel!

On the first Takeover Episode of It’s Okay to Feel, Alejandro Martinez & Carolina Jernejcic discuss the stigma behind mental health in the Latino Community and why there should be no shame attached to people wanting to seek out mental health services. They also talk about what families have accomplished through some of the mental health resources that are available to all of our listeners. Finally, they share their perspectives and lived experiences as Latinos who work in the mental health field.

Our Takeover Host today is Alejandro Martinez. He is a Peer Mentor for NAMI-OC's Peer Connector Program. He is a mental health advocate who makes use of his own diagnoses to connect with other individuals experiencing similar challenges. Alejandro hopes to become a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist or a Dialectical Behavioral Therapist so that he may provide support to other individuals who would like to better understand their own emotions.

Our guest today is Carolina Jernejcic- a Senior Family Advocate and a NAMI Family to Family Course Facilitator. She currently works at Riverside University Health System in an Innovative Program for transitional age youth (16-25 years) that is called “The Arena TAY Resource & Support Center.”

This unique takeover episode is a feature of the NAMI-OC Media Masterclass which teaches teens and young adults the basics of podcasting and growing their social media presence.  Takeover episodes feature Media Masterclass students who want to start their own podcast.

In this episode, Alejandro and Carolina talk about:

• Shame behind Mental Illness
• Open Mindedness and Education
• Expectations regarding mental health services
• Why we are not alone
• And More!

Resources:

• The Arena Resource Center
• Riverside University Health System's Instagram
• NAMI-OC's Instagram
• NAMI-OC's Peer Connector Program
• NAMI Orange County
• Crisis Line, Warmline, and Crisis Groups

Disclaimers:  It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Welcome to NAMI OC Presents: It’s Okay to Feel with Jenipher and Nōn!

On the final episode of season 1 of It’s Okay to Feel, Jenipher & Nōn reflect back on the past few months, share some of their highlights, and talk about what's going to happen in the future!

We're so grateful for you listeners! Keep feeling your feelings. :)

Resources: 

• NAMI Orange County
• You, Me, Empathy (Non's podcast)
• You, Me, Empathy on Instagram
• The Feely Human Collective
• Feely Human on Instagram
• Rainy Day Diaries (Jenipher’s podcast)
• Jenipher on Instagram
• Crisis line, warmline, and crisis groups

Disclaimers:

It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 
 
It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Welcome to NAMI OC Presents: It’s Okay to Feel with Jenipher and Nōn!

On episode twelve of It’s Okay to Feel, Jenipher & Nōn gab with each other about what makes us humans unique and worthy of love. Our guest today is Rae Senarighi, a non-binary activist artist doing amazing things in the world of gender resilience, trans rights, and representation.

In this episode we talk about:

• Identity
• How identity plays a role in our mental health
• Rae's art journey
• Being who you are
• Authenticity in us
• Trans and human rights
• Gender resilience
• And more!

Resources: 

• Rae Senarighi
• Rae on Instagram
• Trans is Beautiful
• NAMI Orange County
• You, Me, Empathy (Non's podcast)
• The Feely Human Collective
• Rainy Day Diaries (Jenipher’s podcast)
• Crisis line, warmline, and crisis groups

Disclaimers:

It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 
 
It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Welcome to NAMI OC Presents: It’s Okay to Feel with Jenipher and Nōn!

On episode eleven of It’s Okay to Feel, Jenipher & Nōn gab with each other about why black mental health matters, white fragility, and more. Our guest today is Inertia DeWitt, a Healing Arts Practitioner who provides education and experiential opportunities in mindfulness, somatic practices, yoga and other ancient spiritual teachings.

In this episode we talk about:

• Why black mental health (and black lives) matter
• "All lives matter" as rooted in systemic racism and white fragility
• Racial justice
• The impact on black mental health
• Allyship and support
• Racial trauma
• Spirituality and more!

Resources: 

• InertiaDewitt.com
• Inertia on Instagram
• Healing is Mutual podcast
• NAMI Orange County
• You, Me, Empathy (Non's podcast)
• The Feely Human Collective
• Rainy Day Diaries (Jenipher’s podcast)
• Crisis line, warmline, and crisis groups

Disclaimers:

It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 
 
It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Welcome to NAMI OC Presents: It’s Okay to Feel with Jenipher and Nōn!

On episode 10 of It’s Okay to Feel, Jenipher & Nōn gab with each other about the wonders of community, discovering your own community, and creating a supportive community. Our guest today is Natalie Franke, a writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and community builder on a mission to empower small business owners to rise together doing what they love. She's amazing!

In this episode we talk about:

• Community over competition
• Culture of win and lose
• Discovering your people
• Fostering and growing a community
• Dangers of capitalism and influence
• Burnout in our passions
• Cult of authenticity online
• And authenticity

Resources: 

• Natalie's Instagram
• Rising Tide Society
• NAMI Orange County
• You, Me, Empathy (Non's podcast)
• The Feely Human Collective
• Rainy Day Diaries (Jenipher’s podcast)
• Crisis line, warmline, and crisis groups

Disclaimers:

It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 
 
It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Welcome to NAMI OC Presents: It’s Okay to Feel with Jenipher and Nōn!

On episode 9 of It’s Okay to Feel, Jenipher & Nōn gab with each other about how they've been navigating their lives during Covid 19, and all the ways their daily routines  have changed since this pandemic started. They also talk about ways they've been coping with the pandemic, and self-care remedies.

Our guest today is the wonderful Minaa B., a  psychotherapist who uses a variety of clinical lenses to engage her clients from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Mindfulness Practice and Psychoanalytical Therapy. Minaa shares her expertise on navigating mental health during a pandemic.

In this episode we talk about:

• Being okay with not being okay
• Dealing with discomfort
• Finding things that anchor us
• Looking inward to help outward
• Disruption to normalcy
• Collective grieving

Resources: 

• Minaa's website
• Minaa's Instagram
• NAMI Orange County
• You, Me, Empathy (Non's podcast)
• The Feely Human Collective
• Rainy Day Diaries (Jenipher’s podcast)
• Crisis line, warmline, and crisis groups

Disclaimers:

It’s Okay To Feel is for informational/educational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 
 
It’s Okay to Feel is Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.