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“Guest Mom” Laura Pogliano

The Johns Hopkins Schizophrenia Symposium brings together world-renowned experts in psychiatry, mental health, and neuroscience in order to present diverse aspects of the disorder, discuss their findings with colleagues, and be available to answer attendees’ questions.

 This year, the speakers presented their cutting-edge and multidisciplinary approaches, including those that interfere among molecular pathology, digital science, public outreach, and clinical psychiatry.

Families were invited to attend - for FREE - and could attend a panel discussion the night before, plus the chance to participate in  round-table lunch discussions with the speakers.

Through this symposium, they hope to translate the efforts of the lab bench to the bedside, and eventually to society by discussing and addressing schizophrenia and other mental illnesses from both clinical and scientific standpoints.

The symposium was open to all: researchers, clinicians, and family members of those diagnosed with schizophrenia.

It was amazing. Here Mimi and I review what we learned, along with friend of the podcast, Laura Pogliano. (she was also with us for Episode 25, with Bob Kolker who wrote Hidden Valley Road)

Links:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/specialty-areas/schizophrenia/symposium

To support the symposium:

https://aspire.hopkinsmedicine.org/project/40520

Message from the Director:

We have assembled here in the Schizophrenia Center a broad and deep pool of expertise in the Hopkins tradition that integrates patient care, research, and public health.

My role is similar to an orchestra conductor, trusting my musicians and striving for balance among all the instruments. I see my job as one to support and facilitate the talent that surrounds me.

Thank you for your interest in our work.

Sincerely,
Akira Sawa, M.D., Ph.D.

Speakers:
Sabrina Berretta, MD
Raquel E. Gur, MD, PhD
Brandon Staglin, MS
T. Scott Stroup, MD, MPH
John Torous, MD

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://www.randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

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Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

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No One Cares About Crazy People is a feature documentary film-in-progress about the tragedy, crisis and chaos of severe mental illness in America – and a burgeoning national crusade to do something about it

NO ONE CARES ABOUT CRAZY PEOPLE takes us inside the tragedy, chaos, and crisis of severe mental illness in America. It derives in part from Ron Powers’ acclaimed book of the same name, a hybrid narrative of tragic family memoir and searing social history.

Guest: Gail Freedman, Director & Producer

Your support is critical to help us complete this film and tell the powerful stories that can be a catalyst for new understanding and action. All gifts, grants and donations are fully tax-deductible.

Links:

https://noonecaresfilm.com/

Congrats Aiden Keltner, friend of the podcast! @amazinggraceshortfilm received 3 of the 4 Emmys we were nominated for including, Arts Entertainment Program, best director and best performer!

Amazing Grace Film 

An aging single mother fights to hold onto the only life she’s ever known as her son with schizophrenia begins to lose his sanity.

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://www.randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

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Our websites:
Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

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“Chris had a "tumultuous" time several years ago, dealing with the onset of schizoaffective disorder, but has overcome addiction and homelessness and established stability for himself, while also being an extremely productive artist.

His artist name, as well as his social media handle, is xoradmagical.

He's done one film for the National Film Board of Canada and is working on another.

He's prolific on TikTok, where he describes his posts as "a personal virtual diary that everybody is allowed to look at."

Chris was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 2017 at the age of 20. It's a mental health condition that includes hallucinations or delusions and mood disorder symptoms such as depression or mania.”

(source: cbc.ca)

Ever wonder what psychosis feels like. From someone who has experienced it and now has the insight so many of our loved ones do not have?

We’re lucky to have permission instead to repost this recording from The Schizophrenia Society of York University in Canada.

SSY collaborated with the Schizophrenia Society of Canada (SSC) for this - their 4th annual panel event, "Duality of the Reality: Living with Psychosis." 

The purpose of this event is to hear real-life lived experiences and stories of success, hope, struggles and coping from individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychosis.

LINKS:

cbc.ca story on Chris:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/twins-pabineau-first-nation-tristan-grant-chris-1.6883003?fbclid=IwAR0fNDPFLO1ZQvP_iJb4PNFHuOEMpTDGOPD_c04nZ0bM9ZiE_U9KaI76--o_aem_th_AbJBg2jdgv7pP_Wze-PqjOWv_HtBzAM-gkYz3_qYXcLrl7TayaWPV6HkGS2XyPy4wes

Schizophrenia Society of Canada:

https://schizophrenia.ca/

Schizophrenia Society of York Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ssyyorku/?hl=en

Christopher Grant linktree:

https://linktr.ee/xoradmagical

Matthew Dickson Mind Aid:

https://www.mindaid.ca/

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://www.randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

Want to know more?
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Our websites:
Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

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This is Part 2 - Matthew’s Story. Here is his bio:

“Hi, I'm Matthew Dickson! I'm a Canadian who helps people in developing countries get access to basic mental health care. I've suffered from mental health problems myself (schizophrenia).

I bicycled across Canada when I was 20 in the middle of getting an engineering degree. 

But at 22 I was diagnosed with schizophrenia.  

It took awhile, but I successfully recovered from schizophrenia, and in 2023 I bicycled across Canada again, becoming the first person with schizophrenia to do so!

 Recovery is possible! Now I'm trying to help others going through mental illness, primarily in developing countries, as they have it worse than we do in developed countries.”

Ever wonder what psychosis feels like. From someone who has experienced it and now has the insight so many of our loved ones do not have?

We’re lucky to have permission instead to repost this recording from The Schizophrenia Society of York University in Canada.

SSY collaborated with the Schizophrenia Society of Canada (SSC) for this - their 4th annual panel event, "Duality of the Reality: Living with Psychosis." 

The purpose of this event is to hear real-life lived experiences and stories of success, hope, struggles and coping from individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychosis.

LINKS:

Schizophrenia Society of Canada:

https://schizophrenia.ca/

Schizophrenia Society of York Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ssyyorku/?hl=en

Christopher Grant linktree:

https://linktr.ee/xoradmagical

Matthew Dickson Mind Aid:

https://www.mindaid.ca/

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://www.randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

Want to know more?
Join our facebook page 
Our websites:
Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

Send a Text to the Moms - please include your contact info if you want a response. thanks!

Ever wonder what psychosis feels like. From someone who has experienced it and now has the insight so many of our loved ones do not have?

We’re lucky to have permission instead to repost this recording from The Schizophrenia Society of York University in Canada.

 SSY  is the first and only schizophrenia awareness club organization at York University. 

It  raises awareness and humanizes individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. They provide a voice for people with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, and create an atmosphere of de-stigmatization at York University.

SSY collaborated with the Schizophrenia Society of Canada (SSC) for this - their 4th annual panel event, "Duality of the Reality: Living with Psychosis." 

The purpose of this event is to hear real-life lived experiences and stories of success, hope, struggles and coping from individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychosis.

I was delighted to join Christopher Grant (artist known as xoradmagical on social media), and Matthew Dickson (bicycled across Canada to raise funds for mental health services).

You’ll hear the panel in three parts - First,  my story of the family POV when psychosis occurs, then Matthew, then Christopher - who reminded me so much of my son Ben’s experience, it almost felt like I was having the conversation with him I wish I could have - if there were insight.

LINKS:

Schizophrenia Society of Canada:

https://schizophrenia.ca/

Schizophrenia Society of York Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ssyyorku/?hl=en

Christopher Grant linktree:

https://linktr.ee/xoradmagical

Matthew Dickson Mind Aid:

https://www.mindaid.ca/

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://www.randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

Want to know more?
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Our websites:
Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

Send a Text to the Moms - please include your contact info if you want a response. thanks!

In this episode, listeners tell us what's on their minds and we answer as best we can.  We talk about anosognosia, incarceration, psychotic delusions, what we would have done differently if we'd known then what we know now, and lots more.

We open with a poem by a listener who is diagnosed with SZ:
Dale Walsh Poem - “I am a recovered reaching out help lessen the challenges encountered by family caregivers”

Source Of My Unique Thinking

Seeing laughter from challenged kid

Reminds me of all things I hid

About everything I did

And Joke I made was big mistake

As claim "I'm GOD" I did make

Which at last turned out to be fake

Though reason I sought out Godhead

Was due to a great sense of dread

I felt knowing I will be dead

At least physically one day

And so I found alternative way

To fight my body's slow decay

By saying I shall live forever

And pass into next life never

Not ready Earth ties to sever

So now I am guided by Lord

Who's my integrity restored

The ONE Whom I always adored.

4/28/24

National Poetry Month

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://www.randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

Want to know more?
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Our websites:
Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

Send a Text to the Moms - please include your contact info if you want a response. thanks!

A new book, Awakenings, has just been released. It describes the journeys of 28 remarkable people who are now thriving despite being diagnosed with SZ. The authors and contributors hope to show that with newer treatments, and also social support and therapy, recovery is possible.

Guests: 

Bethany Yeiser, President of CURESZ Foundation (https://curesz.org/) and co-author of the book. The CURESZ Foundation offers advocacy, information, advice, as well as educational and supportive resources to enhance the understanding of schizophrenia as a treatable neuropsychiatric illness 

Leif Gregersen, from patient to hospital faculty 

Lesley McCuaig, athlete and mental health counselor 

J Peters, author and social worker

Each guest will share their stories, and the moms will ask questions.

Links:

Awakenings Book:

https://a.co/d/9fMt9oz

CURESZ:

https://curesz.org/

Bethany TEDx Talk:

https://youtu.be/iPGd6l76l9A?si=ZZI42ecdh24MxZkS

CURESZ YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@cureszfoundation7671

Here is Lesley's website:

www.lesleymccuaig.com

Leif's blog:

www.edmontonwriter.com

J Peters' blog

https://mentalhealthaffairs.blog/

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://www.randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

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Our websites:
Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

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Guest: 

Annie Slease, Co-Founder of the Mental Health Literacy Collaborative

Do you have a loved one with Serious Mental Illness?

Do you wonder why it took so long for someone to recognize the symptoms?

Mental Health Literacy would have helped prevent the crises we have dealt with.

The mission of the MHLC is to make evidence-based mental health literacy a foundational part of PK-12 education and communities.

Annie Slease, M.Ed. (she/her) is co-founder and Advocacy Director of the Mental Health Literacy Collaborative (themhlc.org), a national non-profit dedicated to making evidence-based mental health literacy foundational in PK-12 schools and communities.

When her child’s mental health crisis emerged over a dozen years ago, Annie was a classroom teacher unaware of mental health literacy. Inspired by her experience navigating family mental illness without information or support, and eventually navigating the criminal justice system as well, Annie repurposed her 25-year teaching career into advocacy.

We ask:

What is the MHLC doing?

Who are you serving?

What are your priorities?

What can people do to get involved, or get information and help?

Links:

https://www.themhlc.org/

https://stillhopefulmom.blogspot.com/

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://www.randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

Hosts:

Who:

Randye Kaye - was a morning Radio Personality bringing humor to CT families when her own son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Now she is still a Broadcaster, Actress, Voice Talent, Speaker, and Author (Ben Behind his Voices, Happier Made Simple)

Miriam Feldman -  is an artist, writer, and the mother of an adult son with schizophrenia. Her book, He Came in With It chronicles her family's story and was released to rave reviews on July 21st, 2020.

Mindy Greiling - Mindy Greiling was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives for twenty years. She helped found the nation's first state mental health caucus, which successfully lobbied for a significant increase in Minnesota's mental health funding Her acclaimed memoir is Fix What You Can.

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

Want to know more?
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Our websites:
Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

Send a Text to the Moms - please include your contact info if you want a response. thanks!

Guest: 

Lauren Yasuda Rainey , DDS

We ask about getting people with schizophrenia to care for their teeth, if/how medications affect teeth, the effect of Medicaid only paying for annual cleanings and check ups, compared to private insurance that pays for twice a year. Many of our listeners have asked for a show on dental issues and of course we are interested too!

Dr. Lauren Yasuda Rainey completed a General Practice Residency at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.

 At Tufts, a majority of her time was treating persons with medically complex needs and managing patients with her co-residents that came through Tufts Medical Center Emergency Department.

Currently she teaches dentists in the US & Canada minimally invasive restorative techniques. 

We ask:

1. What do you recommend to patients and/or their families for getting people with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses (SMI) to care for their teeth?

2. Do medications, especially psych meds, affect teeth? If so, how?

3. What is the effect of Medicaid only paying for annual cleanings and checkups, compared to private insurance that usually pays for twice a year?

4. What challenges have you encountered in caring for people with SMI? 

Links:

www.laurenrainey.com

@raineydds

https://www.catapulteducation.com/blog/laurenyasudarainey

Randye on Lisa Wexler show re incarceration and SMI:

https://shows.acast.com/6398bb70ee249200127c1182/episodes/randye-kayes-personal

Products:

https://carifree.com/

https://cocofloss.com/

(The founder of Cocofloss, another mom dentist, is providing the PROMO code for your podcast listeners to purchase pH 8 toothpaste!

THREEMOMS for 15% off sitewide thru 6/30 on Cocofloss.com)

https://www.voco.dental/us/home.aspx

To purchase pH balanced anti-cavity products visit: https://carifree.com/shop/

To find a dentist that carries & is knowledgeable about those pH balanced products in-office visit: https://carifree.com/find-a-dentist/

Other products mentioned:
RiseWell Scrubby floss infused with hydroxyapatite to remineralize teeth

https://risewell.com/products/scrubby-floss

Cocoshine toothpase, pH 8, whitening and remineralizing, mint and lychee breeze flavors:

https://cocofloss.com/collections/brush-and-shine

ReminPro, pH 7 (neutral), remineralizing and anti-sensitivity:

Information here: https://www.voco.dental/us/products/preventive-care/protective-dental-care/remin-pro-not-available-in-canada.aspx

Not available for purchase unless through a dental distributor. Ask your dental office!

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://www.randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

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Our websites:
Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

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Guests are: Karlyn Nelson and Michelle Post

Karlyn Nelson

Michelle Post, M.A., is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC 40198) with nearly 20 years of experience providing counseling and psychotherapy to clients in the greater Los Angeles area

According to the NIMH, People with schizophrenia have a much higher rate of suicide than the larger population: People with schizophrenia have a 10% rate of suicide compared with the larger population’s 1.3%rate of suicide. 

Suicide is the biggest reason for the decreased life expectancy of people with schizophrenia. 

A larger number of people with schizophrenia contemplate suicide. Around 40–79% of people with schizophrenia have reported having suicidal thoughts.

Saddest fact is that it is at the time of improved insight that most attempts are made. ie. when the person has finally moved past anosognosia and realizes his plight it is with improved understanding that this decision is made.

We Ask:

1. What is an “emotional heart attack”/
2. What are "The Five Things" when dealing with suicide loss in the family?:

1. Get help yourself (best indicator of how well a child does after the death of a parent is how well the surviving parent copes… so if only one can get help, needs to be the parent).
2. Use truthful and clear info about the cause of death and explain it in child terms – let the child lead with questions – do not over load them with info.  They will need different info as they age
3. Acknowledge and validate a child’s feelings
   1. Reassure them they are not to blame
   2. Address their fears and anxieties
4. Encourage them to continue routine activities, structure gives them a sense of security
5. Include them in as many memorial / activities around the illness, injury, and death as they choose.
   1. Prepare them
   2. Let them make an informed decision
   3. Share info and allow participation
   4. Debrief with them.

3. What can be done for suicide  prevention?

LINKS:

Suicide hotline: 988

https://postfamilycounseling.com/

https://www.instagram.com/karlynnelson/

https://didihirsch.org/wp-content/uploads/Manual_for_Support_Groups_for_Survivors_of_Suicide_Attempts.pdf

This is the link to the manual for survivors of suicide attempt groups, and training can be made available through Didi Hirsch Ment

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

Want to know more?
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Our websites:
Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman