On Your Radar

In this episode we discuss why so many of us are struggling with a buildup of stress, mental fatigue, or emotional exhaustion.

TOPICS DISCUSSED: 

-How pandemic isolation affected diverse and at-risk populations

-Flexibility as the new normal for returning to offices and schools

-Can it help to “force” ourselves to be more communicative?

-How to help someone resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms

-Occasional bad days are OK

During the conversation group discusses how we can help our kids navigate mental health and addiction. 

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Episode Notes

-Pandemic isolation, impulsive behavior, and loss of emotional control

-Why do kids self-harm?

-The importance of communication and doing things as a family

-Mindfulness and other healthy coping mechanisms

-Role modeling: how talking about your own bad days can help

Episode Notes

-The two often go hand in hand—do you treat one first?

-Why social media can be particularly damaging to an adolescent’s psyche

-Do long-term consequences matter to them?

-The power in simply letting them know you care

-Why peer therapy can be powerful 

Episode Summary

In this episode, which kicks off Series 3 (“Helping Our Kids Flourish”), WGN Radio personality John Williams interviews Lisa Thompson, Community-Based Mental Health Clinician, Rosecrance, and Sheila Blanchfield, Counseling Department Chair, Loyola Academy.

Episode Notes

-The post-pandemic pressure on kids to be “up to speed” with all things school-related

-How both younger children and teens have difficulty managing their emotions

-The negative impacts of social media, including cyberbullying

-Baby steps, safe spaces, and grounding techniques

-Parents are their kids’ first teachers

Episode Summary

A discussion on when trauma hits close to home, the impact on the community, and how to process these events. 

Episode Notes

In this episode we explore how traumatic events can impact the whole community, and how to process these events in a healthy way.

TOPICS DISCUSSED: 

 -Ripple effects throughout the community

-Different types of grief: what has been lost?

-The power of staying present

 -How parents can be there for their children—even when struggling themselves

-Returning to a level of stability and routine

Episode Summary

What are our stressors? How does stress affect us?

Episode Notes

• The pandemic as the cherry on top of recent stressful events
•  Social media’s role: why “unplugging” isn’t what it used to be
• How stress affects us physically, mentally, and emotionally
• Ways to boost mood and reduce burnout and emotional fatigue
• Red flags: when is it time to get help?

In this episode we focus on stigma surrounding mental health and the responsibility of breaking them down. 

Episode Note

TOPICS DISCUSSED: 

•   Why only a fraction of people with mental illness receive help
•  The types of stigmas that surround mental health and mental illness
•  Reinforcing stigma unintentionally and having the courage to change that
•  The ripple effect of making even one positive change
•  The collective responsibility of breaking down stigma and fostering change

TOPICS DISCUSSED: 

            -The state of mental health coming out of the pandemic. Are we in a crisis?

-Defining mental health vs. mental illness and the importance of the distinction

            -The stigma around mental health and substance use disorders

            -How the pandemic impacted social skills, especially in children

            -The importance of acknowledging when you’re struggling and what to do next