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The mental health support for First Responders needs to be greatly improved. First responders are at a greater risk for PTSD and suicide than most other occupations due to the trauma they witness every day. They face life or death on any given day and witness horrific situations. The need for resources and support for them has never been greater.

Stephen Balzano is a retired Deputy Sheriff who openly discusses his experiences while on active duty. He painstakingly details the day he lost one of his "brothers in blue," and acknowledges the lasting effects of that trauma on many of his friends on the force. Stephen explains how difficult it is for police officers, or any First Responders to ask for help and says it needs to be a safe place outside of the system where they can get help.
He is putting his experience to good use as, after being trained, he is now a coach on the Youturn Health platform. No doubt he will help many of his peers along the way.

The mental health support for First Responders needs to be greatly improved. First responders are at a greater risk for PTSD and suicide than most other occupations due to the trauma they witness every day. They face life or death on any given day and witness horrific situations. The need for resources and support for them has never been greater.

Stephen Balcano is a retired Deputy Sheriff who openly discusses his experiences while on active duty. He painstakingly details the day he lost one of his "brothers in blue," and acknowledges the lasting effects of that trauma on many of his friends on the force. Stephen explains how difficult it is for police officers, or any First Responders to ask for help and says it needs to be a safe place outside of the system where they can get help.
He is putting his experience to good use as, after being trained, he is now a coach on the Youturn Health platform. No doubt he will help many of his peers along the way.

Lilli Correll is a champion of value-based care rooted in patient-centric therapy. She and Rich are very much aligned in the belief that the healthcare system is broken and mental health providers need to meet the patient where they are. Lilli's work on her own trauma and mental health enables her to treat people with empathy and compassion. How wonderful our world would be if all providers put the patient first?


In her own words: Biography

I have over 20 years of corporate leadership experience in healthcare. The majority of my time has been spent either inventing or reinventing programs that directly impact bottomline targets and improve quality and outcomes for the individuals we serve. I have experience in the private and public sectors, in various roles from clinical operations to network development and including P&L responsibility.

I am committed to bring leadership excellence to whatever I do, and was privileged to graduate from the UHG Executive Development Program which included executive training at Stanford University in 2019. I have consistently received positive feedback from my staff, as well as, driven financial results from strategic focus on pipeline growth and clinical program advancement.

I had the opportunity to develop operational and clinical strategies to address various populations, including Foster Care, Intellectual and Developmental Disability, and Individuals with Serious Mental Illness. I've developed expertise in value based contracting, clinical program design, P&L management, strategy, SDOH, STARs, Network Development, Credentialing, Telepsychiatry Strategies, RFP proposal development, Product and Program Development.

https://www.resolvetorise.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Resolve-Rise-Become-Greater-Circumstances/dp/1544524749/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1649677216&sr=8-1

Listening to Carmen Capozzi tell the story of losing his son is hard but also uplifting and filled with hope. It shows that out of tragedy, multiple lives will be made better by the organization created in the wake of his death.

About Sage: Sage Capozzi was a promising young man who loved music, golf, and his family. Sadly, one night, he lost his battle with substance use disorder. He was 20 years old. Carmen Capozzi, Sage’s father, started Sage’s Army shortly after his passing to bring awareness to the drug epidemic and to end the stigma surrounding it.

http://www.sagesarmy.com

Lauren D. Demosthenes, MD was trained as an obstetrician/gynecologist and practiced in private practice and academic settings for many years. With special interests in high-value care, care redesign, innovation, and substance use disorder and recovery, she transitioned away from OBGYN clinical practice to being the Senior Medical Director of Babyscripts https://babyscripts.com/ and caring for patients with opioid use disorder with Groups Recover Together https://joingroups.com/. She also creates curricula around substance use disorder and recovery for medical students and other health care professional students through the support of SAMHSA grants.

Lane Drury is a third-year Medical Student at the University of SC Medical School. She is a huge proponent of educating Med students on how to treat SUD with science and compassion.

Similar to last week's episode, this was recorded during the pandemic with Rich interviewing college kids about anxiety, depression, and substance misuse.
Ironically, a positive that has come out of the pandemic is the mental health of young adults is finally being addressed. But what is the culprit? Some would argue that the uncertainty, online classes, and the lack of social opportunities are the main issues.
But what if the pandemic was just the catalyst that brought the anxiousness of this generation bubbling to the surface? What is going on that so many of these young people are on anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications? Why is someone having a panic attack as common as someone having a cold? We have got to do better.
At HeritageCARES, we certainly don't have all the answers but we believe that facilitating open discussions is the first step to creating solutions for the rising numbers of anxious and depressed young people. We are losing WAY too many to suicide and overdoses and as the pandemic begins to fade we are left with the important task of creating strategies to help these young adults. By reducing social media exposure, teaching them how to cope with uncertainty, and how to rely on themselves, not alcohol or drugs to navigate the world, we will make some headway. This is a TALL order you say? We are up to the task. Please join us on our mission!

Erin Craw's father was a police officer. When she was a young girl, she remembers her father being very different when he came home from a shift. The loving man she knew when he left the house was in stark contrast with the quiet and moody man who came home. She didn't understand the horrors he witnessed every day. Over the years she learned that what he dealt with on a daily basis at work had a profound effect on all facets of his life.
But no one said a word. The mental health of first responders was not ever discussed at this time.
Fast forward to today, where Erin shares her frustration that "mental health" has become the buzzword offering empty promises and programs that are not being used. She is on a mission to change all of that. Here is her story.

About:
Erin Craw is a third-year doctoral student at Chapman University studying communication with an emphasis on health and interpersonal communication. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communication and journalism from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in health communication from Fairfield University. Erin received her First Responder Support Certification in January 2021 and is currently working toward a certificate in Police Mental Wellness and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing through the College of Certified Psychophysiologists. Her research interests are at the intersection of health and interpersonal communication. More specifically, communication as it relates to social support, stigma, and resilience. Her master’s thesis focused on the barriers and facilitators of mental health-related disclosures in police departments. As the daughter of a police officer (37 years on the job in CT) and granddaughter of a firefighter (40 years on the job in CT), she has a true passion for research that informs mental health-related interventions for first responders, enhances communication surrounding mental health, and improves access to support.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-s-craw
https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-survival-law-enforcement-officers/dp/0971725403

Jeni Cain is more than just the owner of an extremely successful boutique in Greenville, SC. Although she is quite impressive with her business acumen and top-notch fashion sense, you will learn from today's podcast that she can also play the part of therapist and cheerleader, winning you over with her infectious sunny outlook on life. She always says what you didn't even know you needed to hear. I personally always feel better after our conversations. So it's no wonder that she is an open book about her struggles with bulimia and anxiety. She is in recovery and openly talks about her journey in order to help others. Behind her smile, there is a depth of strength and experience that I wish I had access to when I was in college and struggled with an eating disorder. But like SUD, no one wanted to discuss it as it was deemed a moral failure or a sickness to be kept secret. If you have teens or young adults, let them listen to this one!
Here are some stats from the South Carolina Department of Mental Health
-Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness
-Anorexia is the 3rd most common chronic illness among adolescents
-95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25
-50% of girls between the ages of 11 and 13 see themselves as overweight
-80% of 13-year-olds have attempted to lose weight
-studies show that about two-thirds of people with eating disorders also suffer from an anxiety disorder
@monkeesofthewestend
@jenicain

Chief Clinical Officer at MARR Addiction Treatment Center Kimberly Alexander has done it all. She shares how her life experiences as well as her past career choices have led her to this point where she is most fulfilled. She explains how solving a Rubik's cube is metaphorically accurate to finding recovery. More about her in her words...

My passion is in motivating and helping others achieve their personal and professional goals. My experiences and training are extensive in organizational management, professional counseling, marriage and family therapy (specializations in Christian Sex Therapy and Addictions) and personal training. I also own a health and wellness company that emphasizes holistic wellness. Need a motivational speaker or group fitness leader at your public or private event? Looking for a therapist? Look no further.

Specialties: Addiction, Weight management, stress management, professional consultant and mentor for behavioral health and fitness professionals

https://www.linkedin.com/in/psychfitlady/
WWW.MARRINC.ORG