For far too long, the United States has put mental healthcare on the back burner. Through enormous advocacy and the initiation and rollout of the 988 hotline, a theoretical lifeline is now at the fingertips of every American. But in a country with a deep history of criminalizing mental health, will 988 live up to its potential? Today, Stephanie explores how 988 came to be, along with all the promise and peril it carries. Weekly special correspondent Zak Williams shares his personal mental health journey, how stigma impacted his father, Robin Williams, and how the actor’s death inspired him to become a mental health activist. We also meet Congressman Seth Moulton, mental health advocate Keris Myrick, Executive Director of the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline John Draper, and Director of the Sozosei Foundation Melissa Beck.

Listen to more of Call for Help by visiting https://link.chtbl.com/CallForHelp. 

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Alua Arthur is a death doula, but her work has taught her how to live. She talks about walking away from unfulfilling work, pursuing joy, and how to have hope when you're facing the end of life. This week’s practice is about asking yourself: What must I do to be at peace with myself so that I may live presently and die gracefully? 

To listen to more New Day, head to https://newday.lemonadamedia.com/newday.

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In a special episode, timed with Black History Month, David shares his thoughts on the legacy of slavery and the impact structural racism on the cost of care today, about a year since the show’s first launch. David’s joined by Kristi Henderson of Optum, Yasmine Winkler, a leader in the health, diversity and inclusion space and Ron Wyatt of MCIC Vermont to define health equity today, and explore how to live up to imperative goals around attainably healthy lives.

This special episode was funded by the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), the premier organization working to accelerate the adoption of telehealth. The ATA2022 annual conference, May 1-3 in Boston, will be the largest event in virtual care this year. Use our exclusive comp code ATA22LEMONADA when registering to receive a $150 discount: https://gotelehealth.org/ata-2022/.

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As a holiday bonus, the team at The Cost of Care wanted to share one of their favorite podcasts of 2021 with you.  New Day from Lemonada Media is a podcast with a simple goal - helping you get through the day and look forward to tomorrow. Every week, Claire Bidwell Smith shares one way to make your day and life a little better. From waking up with more energy to finding contentment with relationships, to keeping your New Year resolutions all year long, Claire and her guests help you answer the big question: How can I lead a more fulfilling life? New Day is back with brand new episodes starting January 5th.

Billie Lourd has been grieving the loss of her mother, Carrie Fisher, and grandmother, Debbie Reynolds since 2016. She shares what it was like growing up in the public eye in a family dealing with addiction and mental illness. This week’s practice is about all the things you inherit from your family (good and bad) and the patterns you want to break.

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Opioids are killing more people than ever. In 2020, overdose deaths in the U.S. spiked nearly 30% to a record high -- the sharpest annual increase in 30 years. Fentanyl sold on the street and the ongoing toll of the pandemic are the primary drivers. With so many of us affected, there’s a dire need for solutions. That’s why we’re re-releasing episodes 2-12 from season one with new updates from previous guests and fans of the show. Last Day Revisited: The Opioid Crisis is a binge listen that offers essential knowledge, support, and answers for people directly impacted by addiction. PLUS, we reveal what topic we’ll be covering in Last Day Season 3, dropping early 2022. Together, we can reduce stigma and save lives.  On Last Day, we talk about what’s killing us, the stuff that’s hard to comprehend and getting worse every day. Join host Stephanie Wittels Wachs, as she confronts massive epidemics with humanity, wit, and a quest for progress. While Season 1 chronicled the opioid crisis in the US, Season 2 delves into the growing suicide rate, telling real stories, talking to experts, and asking everyone along the way, "How did we get here, and what could we have done differently?"

On this episode, Stefano Cordova Jr.’s family tries to make sense of Stefano’s overdose death and how they all got here. Then, Dr. Sam Snodgrass, a behavioral pharmacologist with a doctorate in biopsychology, explains how his own addiction to opioids is a disease and why understanding that is key to helping people with substance use disorders.

To hear more of Last Day, search for Last Day wherever you are listening right now.

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