No Entries

The Golden Gate Bridge in California is perhaps the most beautiful and iconic bridge in the United States, but it carries a dark side - many people have chosen to end their life on that bridge...and when a person is standing on the edge, if possible - someone tries to talk them down.  That's exactly what Sgt. Kevin Briggs did on more than 200 occasions.  What's that like?  What do you say? How do you bring someone back who is in that dark place - contemplating suicide?  It's all this week on a new Riggs off the Radio podcast, "Mental Health Monday".  

Raising awareness for mental health, one 5K at a time.  Dr. Adel B. Korkor took it upon himself to run a 5K in all 50 US states in 50 days.  How did he pull off this feat?  He's a retired Nephrologist, how did he get involved with mental health?   We'll get inside the brain of one of Mental Health's biggest advocates, and he's based out of Delafield, Wisconsin.  If you'd like to get involved with the Five/Fifty/Fifty run, click on www.fivefiftyfifty.com .  

We can all help prevent suicide. Every year, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline along with other mental health organizations, individuals across the U.S. and around the world raise awareness of suicide prevention during September, National Suicide Prevention Month.  This week we talk with Patrick Schultz - a licensed counselor who helps shed the light on how to talk to someone you know that may be suicidal.  There may be some hard questions to ask, but those questions may also save someone's life.  What happens if a friend of loved one ends their own life, how do you deal?  We'll hit it all this week in a new episode of MENtal Health Monday.  

Patrick Schultz can be found at www.milwaukeecounselor.com 

September 10 kicks off suicide prevention week, leading into suicide prevention month for September.  This week, I tell you the story of my Uncle Rick, how he impacted my life, and the reason I speak out about mental illness and suicide.  Kind of a somber episode this week, fair warning.  Just unloaded my feelings and this is what came of it...didn't really write any of this, it all just came from the heart.  Edited out some of the incredibly awkward silences and here is this week's Mental Health Monday.  In memory of my Uncle, Rick.  

Often misunderstood, and a beast to wrangle, what exactly IS BiPolar disorder?  This week we talk with another Doctor we've spoke with before, Dr. Jerry Halverson from Rogers Behavioral health about BiPolar Disorder, what it is, who can get it, how to treat it, and continue our quest to have an open and honest conversation about Mental Health.  

Over 44 million people deal with some form of mental illness every year.  It's one of the many reasons I'm passionate about my Mental Health Mondays.  When I find others who are equally as passionate about open discussions about mental illness, I like to pick their brains and give them props.  This week we talk with Sam Kirkegaard, a former intern and buddy of mine who is starting a conversation on a platform of his own.  He has struggles of his own as well, AND he's a dude, so he's a perfect guest for a MENtal Health Monday in this Riggs Off The Radio podcast.   

Ever heard the phrase "eating your feelings"?  While this may be true for a quick fix, if it becomes an obsession and a regular thing - you may be at risk for an eating disorder.  This week we talk with an eating disorder specialist, Dr. Nicholas Farrell from Rogers Behavioral Health about the stigmas surrounding eating disorders, the different types of eating disorders, how and when to seek treatment.  Grab a healthy snack and your earbuds for this week's edition of MENtal Health Monday.  

Depression can be a monster, and managing life with this mental illness is not an easy task - but it CAN be done.  This week we talk to Jim Hill who is a board chair at Mental Health America of Wisconsin, a mental health advocate, and a survivor of suicide.  How has he managed to wrangle over 60 years of depression?  How has he seen the stigma shift on the mental health discussion over the years?  Why was the death of Robin Williams so impactful to him?  What went through his mind while he almost made the unthinkable decision to end his own life?  A fascinating conversation for this week's Mental Health Monday.   

When you think of mental illness, one of the first things that comes to mind is depression.  Let's tackle that nasty beast this week for MENtal Health Monday.  Mood disorders are no joke, and if left untreated, they can become fatal.  How do you know if you're depressed?  What IS depression?  Can you be treated?  This week we talk with Dr. Jerry Halverson, Chief Medical Officer for Rogers Behavioral Health all about depression - including how postpartum depression in MEN Is being looked at in a whole new light.  If you've wondered about depression, man or woman, you'll take something away from this week's episode.  #BreakTheStigma 

Skydiving.  I think that EVERYONE should at least make ONE skydive.  Why do I do it?  Why should YOU do it?  This podcast should ease your nerves about skydiving, and hopefully sway you to take the leap and experience the wonder of human flight.  I promise it's gonna be awesome.  Thanks for checking it out - I'll leave you with a quote from Leonardo Da Vinci - "For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return."