THIS IS CONVERSATIONS LIVE.

GOOD EVENING, I'M ANNE DANAHY.

SUICIDE RATES IN THE UNITED STATES CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, SUICIDE IS A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH.

WHAT KINDS OF PREVENTION AND SUPPORT ARE AVAILABLE TO THOSE IN NEED?

WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT SOMEONE'S MENTAL HEALTH?

JOINING US TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ARE TWO EXPERTS.

WE'LL ALSO HEAR LATER IN THE PROGRAM FROM A PENN STATE FACULTY MEMBER WHO IS A PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST.

BUT FIRST, LET'S MEET OUR GUESTS.

MARISA VICERE IS PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF THE JANA MARIE FOUNDATION, A STATE COLLEGE-BASED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES MENTAL WELL-BEING AND SUICIDE PREVENTION.

ELISABETH JAMES IS A MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN AT THE STATE COLLEGE AREA HIGH SCHOOL.

YOU TOO CAN JOIN TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION.

OUR TOLL-FREE NUMBER IS 1-800-543-8242.

OUR EMAIL ADDRESS IS CONNECT AT WPSU DOT ORG.

MARISA VICERE AND ELISABETH JAMES, THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US TONIGHT.

>> MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS ARE TOPICS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION.

WHEN IT COMES TO SUICIDE AND SUICIDE PREVENTION THERE SEEMS TO BE LESS DISCUSSION OR A HARDER TIME TALKING ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT CAN BE A DIFFICULT TOPIC.

AND MARISA, I WONDER IF YOU CAN SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WHY IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO TALK AND HOW WE CAN MOVE PAST THAT STIGMA.

>> YEAH, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SUICIDE IT IS A VERY SCARY TOPIC PAUSE WE NEVER WANT SOMEONE WE LOVE AND CARE ABOUT TO BE EXPERIENCING SO MUCH EMOTIONAL DISTRESS THEY MIGHT BE THINKING ABOUT ENDING THEIR LIFE.

IT IS A TOPIC THAT WE DON'T TYPICALLY HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AND THAT ADDS TO FEARS IN ENGAGING IN THESE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS.

WHAT IF I SAY THE WRONG THING OR DO THE WRONG THING AND IT'S IMPORTANT WE ARE BREAKING DOWN THOSE BARRIERS AND MAKING THE CONVERSATIONS MORE COMFORTABLE SO WE CAN REACH OUT TO SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE GOING THROUGH THAT DIFFICULT TIME.

SOME THINGS WE CAN DO, WE CAN WORK TO TALK ABOUT OUR EMOTIONS AND OUR MENTAL HEALTH OPENLY SO IF SOMEBODY ASKS HOW ARE YOU DOING, MAKING SURE WE ARE GIVING A TRUE ANSWER RATHER THAN SAYING I'M FINE OR OKAY LIKE WE STIPULATE CALI DO.

AND WE CAN DISPEL THE MYTHS THERE'S MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND MISINFORMATION THAT IS OUT THERE AND WE NEED TO DISPEL THOSE MICTS TO -- MYTHS SO WE UNDERSTAND THE WARNING SIGNS, UNDERSTAND HOW TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

AND REALLY BE THERE TO CREATE THOSE DIFFERENT SUPPORT NETWORKS.

AND THEN IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE USE PERSON FIRST LANGUAGE THAT WE'RE NOT THROWING LABELS AROUND OR MISUSING THE TERMS THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR MENTAL HEALTH OR FOR SUICIDE AND MAKING SURE WE'RE MINDFUL OF THE LANGUAGE WE ARE USING.

>> THOSE ARE HELPFUL IDEAS.

ELISABETH AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE HOW DO YOU WORK WITH THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE.

MAYBE THEY ARE AFRAID TO REACH OUT FOR HELP.

>> WORKING WITH YOUNG INDIVIDUALS AUTHENTICITY, HONESTY, VULNERABILITY IS KEY.

ONE THING I DO BECAUSE I AM IN THE SCHOOLS I RYE TO MAKE MYSELF VISIBLE TO KIDS.

I AM NOT A SCARY THERAPIST, I AM AN INDIVIDUAL HOW ARE YOU WHAT'S GOING ON.

MODELING IS IMPORTANT, WHEN PEOPLE ASK HOW ARE YOU, OH, I'M FINE.

IT'S TOUGH BUT WE'RE GETTING THROUGH IT YOU CAN HAVE A SPIN ON THINGS THAT IS HONEST AND NOT COOKIE CUTTER, TYPICAL RESPONSES WE GET TO THAT QUESTION.

>> THOSE ARE GREAT IDEAS.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED IS MYTHS WHAT ARE THE MYTHS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THE BIGGEST ONE THAT STOPPED PREVENTION WORK IS THE IDEA IF WE TALK ABOUT SUICIDE WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE IDEA IN SOMEONE'SED.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

IF WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT SOMEONE AND WONDERING IF THEY ARE SAFE, WE NEED TO FIND THAT COURAGE AND VULNERABILITY AND ASKING DIRECTLY ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE?

AND BY DOING SO WE CAN HELP THEM OPEN UP ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR LIFE.

CREATE THOSE SAFE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THEY CAN FEEL LIKE THEY CAN SHARE.

AND LOWER THAT RISK OF AN IMPULSIVE ACT.

IT'S IMPORTANT WE ASK DIRECTLY AND WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

>> AND ONE OF THE OTHER IDEAS WAS PERSON FIRST.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> SOMETIMES WHEN IT COMES TO SPEAKING ABOUT HEALTH, WE THROW AROUND LABELS.

YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT SAY THEY HAVE DEPRESSION OR THEY ARE AN ADDICT.

AND WE WANT TO BE CAREFUL WITH THOSE LANGUAGES AND INSTEAD REALLY REMEMBER THAT EACH ONE OF US IS AN INDIVIDUAL FIRST BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE.

SO IT MIGHT BE A PERSON LIVING WITH DEPRESSION OR SOMEONE WHO HAS A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT GIVING THEM LABEL AND THAT IS BECOMING THEIR IDENTITY.

>> IS THAT SOMETHING THAT COMES UP WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE?

I MEAN YOUNG PEOPLE THEY ARE SO ASSOCIATED WITH CATEGORIES WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG.

>> YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU ARE AND GROWING UP IN MY DAY AND AGE YOU MIGHT HEAR SOMEONE SAY SHE'S CRAZY OR HE'S DEPRESSED WHAT DO THE WORDS REALLY MEAN?

STRUGGLE WITH DEPRESSION, EVERYONE EXPERIENCES SADNESS, WORRY AND ANXIETY NOT ALL LEVELS ARE DIAGNOSABILITY.

HOW WE CAN EDUCATE AND HELP WE HAVE BASIS OF THE EMOTIONS AND YOU SEEK A DOCTOR WHEN THEY IMPACT YOUR LIFE AND FUNCTIONING.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO REACHING OUT FOR HELP THERE IS THE 9-8-8 SUICIDE CRISIS HOTLINE, AND A WEBSITE.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT AS A SOURCE.

>> 9-8-8 IS A WONDERFUL RESOURCE THAT IS NATIONWIDE.

24/7 YOU CAN CALL OR TEXT OR GO ON-LINE TO 9-8-8 LIFELINE.ORG AND BE ABLE TO TALK TO SOMEBODY WHO IS TRAINED AND ABLE TO LEND THAT LISTENING EAR.

THEY WILL ASK GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

GET A FEEL FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING AND THEY CAN DO THE FORMAL RISK ASSESSMENTS AS WELL.

THERE IS A LARGE DATABASE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THEY ARE ABLE TO CONNECT YOU TO SERVICES WHETHER THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE YOU ARE AT THAT LEVEL OF CRISIS, OR BEING ABLE TO CONNECT YOU TO OUTPATIENT SERVICES AS WELL.

>> THAT IS A GREAT RESOURCE FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR LOVED ONES.

ARE THERE WARNING SIGNS TO LOOK FOR?

YOU CAN SEE SOMEONE THEY KNOW TEAR CLOSE TO THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEM MAYBE THEY SEEM DEPRESSED OR DIFFERENT.

BUT THEY ARE NOT SURE HOW SERIOUSLY TO TAKE IT.

ARE THERE SPECIFIC WARNING SIGNS WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF?

>> ONE OF THE BIG THINGS ALREADY WARNING SIGNS MOST OF THE TIME.

BUT SOMETIMES THERE ARE NO SIGNS.

SOMETIMES IT'S IMPULSE DECISIONS THAT IS WHAT MAKES THE TOPIC HARD TO TALK ABOUT AND SCARY IT'S NOT BLACK AND WHITE.

SOME PEOPLE COULD BE FINE AND LATER AT NIGHT THEY ARE ALONE AND I DON'T KNOW IF LIFE'S WORTH LIVING ANYMORE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE, LEND THOSE CARING EARS.

HAVE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE RESOURCES OUT THERE.

WHEN THERE ARE WARNING SIGNS WE LOOK AT PEOPLE FROM WITHDRAWING FROM ACTIVITIES THEY ONCE LOVED AND THEY THINK THEY WOULD BE BETTER OFF DEAD AND A BURDEN TO OTHER PEOPLE.

GIVING AWAY POSSESSIONS AND IT IS LOOKING FOR WAYS AND MEANS TO HURT TESTIMONY SELVES.

>> SO AS ELISABETH MENTIONED IT'S THE BIG CHANGES IN SOMEBODY'S THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, ACTIONS AND APPEARANCES.

ANYTIME WE NOTICE THE CHANGES WE WANT TO START A CONVERSATION AND CHECK IN.

IF WE'RE NOTICING MORE WARNING SIGNS OR BIGGER CHANGES THEN WE WANT TO PIECE THAT TOGETHER AND RECOGNIZE THIS COULD BE MORE SERIOUS.

AGAIN IF WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THAT SAFETY MAKING SURE WE ARE ASKING DIRECTLY ABOUT THEIR THOUGHTS AND ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM.

SO THAT WE CAN GET THEM CONNECTED TO THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES.

>> THOSE ARE THE STEPS YOU SHOULD TAKE.

YOU HAVE 9-8-8 AS A RESOURCE SO OR CONTACTING ONE OF THE LOCAL RESOURCES.

IS THERE A POINT YOU SAY I THINK THERE'S IMMEDIATE CONCERN?

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN THAT IS?

IT'S HARD FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL TO KNOW?

>> I THINK IF THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT IT.

IF THEY ARE ACCESSING MEANS, IF YOU'RE NOTICING BIG CHANGES OR REALLY IMPULSIVE BEHAVIORS OR AN INCREASE IN USE OF SUBSTANCES, THOSE ARE TIMES THAT WE GET PRETTY CONCERNED WITH JUST WITH THE BIGGER RED FLAGS AND IN THOSE CASES WE WANT TO TURNPIKE TO THOSE EXPERTS WHO CAN DO THE SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENTS AND HELP US FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT THIS INDIVIDUAL AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE SAFE AND HERE TOMORROW.

>> YEAH, AS YOU SAID IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT.

I WANT TO PUT ONE STATISTIC OUT THERE AND SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG THOSE 10-14 AND 25-34.

A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE THAT IS VERY SURPRISING.

>> AND THIS IS A CHOICE, RIGHT?

IT'S LEADING CASS OF DEATH IS A CHOICE AND IT'S WHAT MAKES THIS TOPIC HARD TO TALK ABOUT.

ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO LOST SOMEONE.

I THINK THAT DOING THIS TYPE OF WORK YOU HAVE TO BE READY TO ASK THOSE TYPES OF QUESTIONS.

AND ASKING DO YOU WANT TO HURT YOURSELF?

ARE YOU FEELING SAFE?

AND LEADING UP SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DO YOU WANT TO DIE?

BUT YOU CAN PLAY WITH THEM A LITTLE BIT TO ASK A QUESTION DEPENDING ON THEIR LEVEL, TOO.

>> FINDING AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO DISCUSS IT WITH THEM.

GREAT TO KNOW AND WE HAVE CALL FROM SUSAN.

I'M NOT SURE WE MIGHT HAVE LOST HER.

WE'RE WAITING TO SEE IF WE GET A CALL BACK.

I WONDERED IF YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE RISK FACTORS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH SUICIDE?

ARE THERE CERTAIN RISK FACTORS?

I KNOW IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE PREDICTED.

>> THERE ARE DIFFERENT RISK FACTORS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

IF SOMEBODY LOST A LOVED ONE TO SUICIDE.

IF THEY HAVE SOMETIMES A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER THERE ARE THINGS THAT COULD BE THE RISK FACTORS.

ONE OF THE THINGS AT JANA MARIE FOUNDATION IS FOCUS ON THE PROTECTIVE FACTORS.

THERE'S NOT ALWAYS A LOT WE CAN WITH THE RISKS FACTORS BUT PROTECTIVE FACTORS WE CAN HELP MITIGATE THAT RISK.

THINGS LIKE BEING CLOSE TO A TRUST ADULT FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

IC MAAING SURE THERE ARE ROUTINES AND SCHEDULING AND THEY ARE MAINTAINING THE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND LEARNING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO WITH GROWING CONFIDENCE AND RESILIENCY CAN BE THE LIFE SKILLS THAT CAN HELP THEM NAVIGATE LIFE'S UPS AND DOWNS.

>> DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE RISK FACTORS AND YOU DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER THOSE SO IT'S GOOD TO FOCUS ON THE PREVENTATIVE STEPS.

>> RISK FACTORS, MEDICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH AND OUR HISTORY.

SO FOR MEDICAL, WHAT ARE DIAGNOSIS AND HEALTH, KEEPING AN EYE OUT AND LOOKING FOR THE WARNING SIGNS CAN HELP PROTECT AND KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT THE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE IF YOU FEEL THERE IS THERE IS A RISK THIS PERSON COULD TAKE THEIR LIFE.

AND LOOKING AT THAT.

ANY OF THOSE STEPS CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THOSE?

>> SO SOME THINGS WE CAN DO TO CREATE THE SAFER ENVIRONMENTS IS THINKING ABOUT OUR HOME.

AND SO IF WE START IN THE KITCHEN, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES WE HAVE A REFRIGERATOR WE CAN PUT MAGNETS OR THINGS ON.

PUTTING OUR CRISIS NUMBERS UP THERE AND MAKING SURE 9-8-8 IS VISIBLE IN SOME KIND OF WAY.

I HAVE MYSELF CARE PLAN ON MY REFRIGERATOR IF I'M FEELING OVERWHELMED I CAN REMEMBER THE THINGS THAT HELP ME FEEL MORE GROUNDED.

WHEN WE GO INTO LIKE THE BATHROOMS OFTENTIMES WE KEEP MEDICATIONS IN THERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO IS MAKING SURE WE'RE REMOVING UNUSED MEDICATIONS THAT ARE NOT NEEDED FROM OUR HOUSEHOLD.

OFTENTIMES POLICE STATIONS HAVE DROP BOXES OR PHARMACIES, SO WE CAN GET THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE.

WE CAN ALSO LOOK AT GETTING A LOCK BOX TO STORE MEDICATIONS IN.

SO SOMETIMES IF SOMEBODY IS AT A HIGHER LEVEL OF RISK WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ADDED PROTECTION IN THERE.

AND THEN IF SOMEBODY HAS GUNS IN THE HOME IF THEY HUNT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE SAFE STORAGE PRACTICES HAPPENING.

MAKING SURE THE GUN IS LOCKED UP, AMMUNITION IS LOCKED UP AND SEPARATE FROM THE GUN.

JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS SOMETIME FROM IF SOMEBODY'S HAVING THOSE BIG THOUGHTS AND OVERWHELMING THOUGHTS TO WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE MEANS.

>> SOME CONCRETE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERMANENT SOME THINGS WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

ELISABETH DO THESE APPLY TO YOUNG PEOPLE?

SHOULD PARENTS TAKE IMMEDIATE CONCERN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SAFETY IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE COMMON ITEMS WE MIGHT NOT THINK ABOUT.

LIKE RAZORS OR KITCHEN KNIVES OR PENCIL SHARPENERS.

THINGS THAT CAN BE DAMAGING WE WANT TO BE AWARE OF AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN A SAFE LOCATION AND THIS IS TEMPORARY WHILE THIS INDIVIDUAL IS GOING THROUGH A HARD TIME.

WHEN I TALK TO PARENTS OR STUDENTS IT FEELS LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE MY LIFE FOREVER IT IS A TEMPORARY MOMENT-AND-A-HALF DATING BIG FEELINGS AND BIG THOUGHTS HOW WE CAN HELP THAT INDIVIDUAL.

AND 9-8-8 IS A GREAT RESO SOURCE FOR THEIR WEBSITE.

THEY HAVE SO MANY ARTICLES AND LINKS ABOUT RISK FACTORS AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR HOME IS SAFE.

AND WHAT DOES THE PROCESS LOOK LIKE FOR 9-8-8.

THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT CAN BE UTILIZED IF WE DON'T ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS TONIGHT.

>> GREAT TO KNOW.

AND THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO LISTEN TO KRISTEN A FACULTY MEMBER IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF NURSING AND THE GRADUATE PROGRAM AND I HAD SPOKEN WITH HER EARLIER.

LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY AND WE'LL COME BACK AND DISCUSS.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU ARE A PEDIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER AND A PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST.

IN YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD, IS THERE STILL A STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH YOUNG PEOPLE GETTING SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH OR GETTING SUPPORT IF THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT SUICIDE?

IS THAT STIGMA STILL SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE?

>> GOODNESS, ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE.

THERE'S THE STIGMA AROUND FORT D MENTAL HEALTH RELATED WHEN IT COMES TO ANG SITED IT'S LESS BECAUSE WE ARE ALL EXPECTED TO HAVE SOME DEGREE OF ANXIETY.

BUT AROUND DEPRESSION, AROUND ADHD, SUICIDAL IDEATIONS IT IS ABSOLUTELY THERE.

WHICH MAKES IT SUPER IMPORTANT.

>> YES, WHAT DO YOU DO AS A SPECIALIST WORKING WITH PEOPLE ON ALL SIDES OF THAT TO TRY TO, COMBAT THAT STIGMA AND MAKE PROGRESS TOWARD GETTING RID OF IT?

>> YEAH.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT OVERALL THAT WE ALL NEED TO BE DOING.

THIS MONTH IN SEPTEMBER, THIS IS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.

AND WORLDWIDE ON SEPTEMBER 10TH, IT WAS THE WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY.

AND INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SUICIDE PREVENTION PUT SOMETHING INTO EFFECT WE WILL BE HOLDING FROM 2024 TO 2026 CALLED CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.

WHAT WE ALL NEED TO DO IS CHANGE THE CULTURE AROUND THE SILENCE AND STIGMA AROUND SUICIDE.

SO INSTEAD OF HAVING BEING SCARED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS, WE NEED TO START BEING MORE OPEN, MORE SUPPORTIVE.

WE NEED TO HAVE HONEST CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SUICIDE.

WE NEED TO REALLY DECREASE THE BARRIERS, RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITHIN OUR COUNTRY, WITH OUR YOUTH AND SUICIDE IS FOR ALL AGES ALL SOCIOECONOMIC STATUSES WE NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE CHECKING IN WITH FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, A WAY TO CHANGE THE STIGMA.

PEOPLE SHOULD NOT SAY YOU ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE ARE ARE YOU?

OR YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DO SOMETHING STUPID ARE YOU?

INSTEAD WE NEED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS LIKE THAT ARE DIRECT AND OPEN.

ARE YOU THINKING OF ENDING YOUR LIFE?

THEY ARE TOUGH WORDS BUT IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.

SO WITHIN MY PRACTICE, I SCREEN INDIVIDUALS FOR ANXIETY, SUICIDAL IDEATIONS DEPRESSION AND I JUST MAKE IT A COMMON CONVERSATION SO HOPEFULLY IT REALLY HELPS TO DECREASE THE STIGMA.

>> I WONDER IF YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE IDEA HOW YOU ASK THE QUESTION IS SO IMPORTANT IF YOU SAY SA TO SOMEONE YOU ARE NOT DEPRESSED ARE YOU?

THAT CAN PUT THEM ON THE DEFENSIVE AND MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM TO TALK ABOUT IT?

THAT IS SOMETHING YOU MIGHT NOT THINK ABOUT, YOU MIGHT BE CONCERNED THAT OH, BY BRINGING THIS UP AM I ACTUALLY CAUSING A PROBLEM OR MAKING THE PROBLEM WORSE?

>> RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

AND I WILL TELL YOU A LOT OF PARENTS BECOME WORRIED WHEN WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY ASKING ABOUT SUICIDAL IDEATIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN PUT WE NEED TO ASK THE QUESTIONS TO MAKE IT MORE OF A COMMON CONVERSATION.

AND WE MIGHT BE THE ONLY PERSON THAT IS ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY ARE HAVING THOSE THOUGHTS.

SO YOU HAVE TO APPROACH IT IN AN OPEN, HONEST WAY WITHOUT MAKING PEOPLE FEEL SHAMED IF THEY ARE HAVING THOSE THOUGHTS.

IT'S REALLY NOT ANYTHING DIFFERENT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION ANYTHING RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH THAN ASTHMA WOULD BE OR CONSTIPATION.

THEY ARE ALL CHRONIC CONDITIONS AND MEDICAL DIAGNOSES WHEN IT COMES TO THE MENTAL HEALTH WORLD FOR YEARS THERE'S A STIGMA THAT WE HAVE TO START TAKING THESE BABY STEPS AND THEN LARGER AND LARGER STEPS TO TRY AND IMPROVE THIS FOR EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES AND BEYOND.

>> AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE DO YOU THINK IT'S ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT OR UNIQUE BARRIERS FOR THEM THAT MIGHT MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO REACH OUT TO A LOVED ONE OR SOMEONE IN A SCHOOL OR SOMEONE THAT THEY KNOW, A DOCTOR TO TALK ABOUT THIS?

WHAT STANDS IN THE WAY OF A YOUNG PERSON FEELING COMFORTABLE IN DOING THAT?

>> A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH ATTACHMENT TO THEIR PARENTS WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS THERE.

THAT'S A BIG THING.

IF INDIVIDUALS HAVE ONE CAREGIVER ONE ADULT THEY CAN SPEAK WITH IT GREATLY REDUCES THE CHANCES OF IDEATIONS.

THE OTHER IS ACCESS TO CARE.

THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS SO IT REALLY MEANS THAT PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS OR INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE SCHOOLS NEED TO START HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.

>> AND YOUNG PEOPLE FACE UNIQUE STRESSES, TOO, THAT ADULTS OBVIOUSLY CAN HAVE STRESSFUL LIVES BUT IT IS A DIFFERENT SET OF STRESS.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO YOU WORK WITH?

>> THERE'S DEFINITELY MORE OF THESE STRESSORS FOR YOUNG KIDS AROUND BULLYING, AROUND CYBERBULLYING.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOCIAL MEDIA AT THE KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO WHICH WE KNOW INCREASES THE CHANCE OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL IDEATIONS IT MAKES THEM FEEL THEY NEED TO BE KEEPING UP WITH THEIR PEERS.

AND IN REALITY, SOCIAL MEDIA JUST A SNAPSHOT OF SOMEONE'S LIFE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY HOW THEY ALWAYS ARE.

THEY CAN EDIT THINGS AND POST THE MOST POSITIVE THINGS BUT IT MAKES KIDS FEEL LIKE THEY NEED TO KEEP UP WITH THEIR PEERS AND THAT IS NOT REALISTIC.

>> I'M SURE IT VARIES FROM PERSON 0 PERSON AND FAMILY TO FAMILY ARE THERE GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS YOU MAKE FOR PEOPLE IN THE SITUATIONS THAT ARE FEELING CYBERBULLYED OR JUST FEELING SADDENED BY WHAT THEY ARE SEEING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

ARE THERE BASIC RECOMMENDATIONS YOU MAKE?

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT SOCIAL MEDIA ITSELF, I STRONGLY FEEL THAT ANY CHILD SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SOCIAL MEDIA.

TEENAGERS AS WELL.

AND IT SHOULD BE MORE IT NEEDS TO BE LIMITED.

ABSOLUTELY LIMITED.

PARENTS NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE RESTRICTIONS TO MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN ARE BEING SAFE.

ALSO, THERE NEEDS TO BE SELF CARE.

NOT JUST FOR KIDS NOT FOR TEENS NOT JUST FOR ADULTS BUT FOR EVERYONE.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON BEING MINDFUL AND PRESENT AND LEARN TO SAY NO TO THE AING ON MORE STRESSORS AND PUTTING MORE ON OUR PLATE AND LEARNING TO STEP BACK AND TAKE TIME FOR OURSELVES AND OUR OWN MENTAL HEALTH.

AS WE WOULD FOR ANY OTHER HEALTH CONCERNS.

>> SO I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE IDEA OF SOCIAL MEDIA YOU THINK YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE LIMITED OR NOT DO SOCIAL MEDIA AT ALL?

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

IN ONE, I WILL SAY, THAT FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE A GOOD THEN, BECAUSE THAT MIGHT BE THE ONLY WAY THEY ARE CONNECTING WITH THEIR PEERS.

IF IT'S NOT DONE IN A HEALTHY WAY, THEN IT CAUSES MORE STRESS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL.

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE MIGHT BE A CHILD WHO FEELS THAT THEY ARE GETTING BEHIND IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY PRACTICE BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN -- THEY HAVE ALL OF THE NEW ALERTS THEY NEED TO KEEP UP TO SPEED WITH.

SO IT ABSOLUTELY CAUSES EXTRA STRESS ON KIDS AND IT EXPOSES THEM TO THINGS THAT KIDS SHOULD NOT BE EXPOSED TO.

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY.

THAT IS A CONCERN AND I KNOW MANY SCHOOLS ARE TAKING STEPS WHERE THEY ARE HAVING KIDS TURN THEIR CELLPHONES OFF OR NOT HAVE THEM WITH THEM IN SCHOOLS.

IN SOME WAYS IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS A REAL CHALLENGE TO TAKE SELL PHONES AWAY OR LIMIT THEM.

WHEN YOU MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CHILDREN, TO PARENTS THAT YOU WORK WITH, WHAT TYPE OF FEEDBACK DO YOU GET?

DO PEOPLE GIVE IT A TRY?

DO YOU SEE SUCCESS STORIES WITH THAT?

>> SUCCESS STORIES ABSOLUTELY.

IT DEPENDS ON THE CHILD AND THE PARENT WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO PUT IN PLACE.

I WOULD SAY START OFF WITH ESTABLISHING A LITTLE BIT OF A COMPROMISE.

IF IT'S NOT GOING COLD TURKEY AND GIVING IT A BREAK AND SEEING HOW MUCH BETTER YOU FEEL OVER TIME, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE OKAY, LET'S START WITH AN HOUR A DAY OF BEING ON OUR PHONES AND CONNECTING WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT WAY.

SO LITTLE BABY STEPS TO SEE WHAT IS MORE REALISTIC FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL.

AND ABSOLUTELY NO SCREEN TIME AN HOUR BEFORE BED.

KIDS ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP, TEENAGERS ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH SOVIET LEADER AND IF THEY ARE FOCUSING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, DECREASED SLEEP INTERFERES WITH THE FUNCTION AND INCREASES OTHER MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSES AND CONCERNS.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED THE PREVENTION SIDE OF THINGS.

THE IDEA OF BEING PREVENTATIVE AND NOT JUST COMING IN AND TREATING THINGS WHEN THERE IS AN ISSUE.

TREATING IT LIKE YOU HAVE A YOUNG PERSON THEY GET THEIR VISION AND HEARING CHECKED IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE PUT IN PLACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TREAT A DIAGNOSIS THAT IS EXISTING BUT IF WE CAN BE PROACTIVE AND WORK WITH OUR YOUTH TO BUILD THEIR SELF ESTEEM THAT MIGHT BE THE BIGGEST THING THAT THEN PREVENTS A BIGGER PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING.

IF WE CAN FOCUS ON POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS WHERE EAT WITH YOUR FAMILY AT THE TABLE.

AND THEN LET'S START TO TALK ABOUT A FEW THREE GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPENED TODAY.

AND IF WE CAN START TO BUILDUP THE POSITIVES IN LIFE, AND TEACH KIDS TO SLOW DOWN AND TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY ARE FEELING, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT STEP IF WE COULD DO THAT ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH US AND SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE ON THIS TOPIC.

IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US, I'M ANNE DANAHY, AND THIS IS WPSU'S CONVERSATIONS LIVE: SUICIDE PREVENTION.

WE'RE TALKING WITH TWO EXPERTS, AND WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR QUESTIONS.

OUR TOLL-FREE NUMBER IS 1-800-543-8242.

YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL US AT CONNECT AT WPSU DOT ORG.

WE ARE LISTENING TO AN EXPERT TALKING ABOUT THE IDEAS OF MENTAL HEALTH, SUICIDE PREVENTION AND WELLNESS AND ONE OF THE THINGS SHE MENTIONED IS TAKING SOCIAL MEDIA CELLPHONES AWAY FROM YOUNG PEOPLE.

I WONDER ELISABETH, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

YOU WORK DIRECTLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE DOES IT SEEM LIKE IT INTERFERES IN THEIR WELL-BEING DURING THE SCHOOL DAY WHEN YOU ARE WITH THEM?

>> I AM FORTUNATE TO HAVE MY POSITION AS A MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN IN THE SCHOOL SO I GET TO SEE STUDENTS ONE-ON-ONE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

I THINK ONE BIG THING IS THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL IS DIFFERENT.

SO WHILE WE'RE TALKING HERE AND WE HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS, A LOT OF TIMES FAMILIES KNOW THEIR KIDS AND SYSTEMS AND KNOW WHAT THEIR KIDS MIGHT NEED.

I WOULD AGREE THAT CUTTING OFF SCREEN TIME BEFORE BED IS A GOOD THING AND LIMITS.

WHEN YOU LIMIT EVERYTHING IN GENERAL WITH SCHOOL, SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN TAKING PHONES AWAY OR KEEPING PHONES LOCKED UP AND LIMITING THEM, BECAUSE IT'S BECOME DISTRACTION IN THE CLASSROOM.

SO LOCALLY, WE ARE ALLOWING THEM IN THE HALLWAYS OR LUNCHTIME.

BUT DURING THE CLASS DAY AND CLASS TIME THE PHONES ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THEIR BAGS SO THEY CAN FOCUS AND BE PRESENT IN THE MOMENT.

>> DIFFERENT SCHOOLS ARE HANDLING IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND THAT IS ONLY PART OF THE DAY.

IT COULD ELIMINATE THE DISTRACTIONS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY BUT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE EVENING.

DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT?

WHAT TYPES OF FACTORS THAT ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA MIGHT PLAY INTO MENTAL WELL-BEING AND IT VARIES BY PERSON AND THE VERDICT MIGHT BE OUT ON THE RESEARCH ON THAT?

>> ONE OF THE INTERESTING PROGRAMS WE RUN IN THE SCHOOLS IS A PROGRAM CALLED TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID FROM THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR WELL-BEING.

IN ONE OF THE SESSIONS ITS A CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE.

AND WE GET INPUT FROM TEENS HOW THEY FEEL SOCIAL MEDIA AFFECTS MENTAL HEALTH AND IF THEY THINK IT'S POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.

AND IT'S PRETTY OVERWHELMING THAT THE MAJORITY WILL SAY IT'S IN-BETWEEN.

BECAUSE THERE CAN BE THOSE POSITIVE THINGS THAT COME OUT OF IT.

IT COULD BE THAT SOURCE OF CONNECTION.

IT CAN HELP US STAY TOGETHER WITH FAMILY THAT MAYBE ISN'T IN THE SAME GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

IT CAN SOMETIMES HELP US CONNECT TO GROUPS THAT HAVE SIMILAR INTERESTS THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND IN A COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY A SMALLER COMMUNITY.

AND SO THERE CAN BE A LOT OF REALLY HEALTHY BEHAVIORS THAT CAN COME OUT OF IT.

AND WE KNOW IT CAN LEAD TO THINGS LIKE CYBERBULLYING, COMPARISON OF SELF AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NOT AS HEALTHY FOR OUR TEENS.

I REALLY THINK IT COMES DOWN TO HOW IT'S BEING UTILIZED.

THERE ARE A LOT OF STUDIES COMING OUT NOW THAT SHOW IT MAYBE WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO HOLD OFF UNTIL LATER, UNTIL TEENS AT THE EARLIEST FOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND MAKING SURE THERE ARE LIMITS OR BOUNDARIES IN IT.

AND AS ELISABETH MENTIONED I THINK IT'S COMING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY TO DECIDE WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU.

SO OUR HOUSEHOLD YOU KNOW THEY GET PUT UP AT A CERTAIN TIME AND WE MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT THEM OVERNIGHT AND THOSE THINGS.

JUST TO START ESTABLISHING THE BEHAVIORS NOW.

I WILL SAY THAT MODELING BEHAVIORS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO IF I'M GOING TO SET THE RULES UP FOR MY KID I NEED TO BE WILLING TO ALSO DO IT.

AND SOMETIMES THAT CAN BE HARD FOR THE ADULTS BECAUSE WE ALSO USE OUR PHONES QUIT A BIT.

QUITE A BIT.

BUT WE DO KNOW ONE OF THE PROGRAMS WE'VE CREATE SECOND MIND MATTERS IN THERE WE TALK ABOUT JUST FOCUS AS WELL.

AND IF YOU GO AND LOOK AT YOUR PHONE OR CHECK AN E-MAIL ON IT, YOU LOSE ABOUT 64 SECONDS OF FOCUS.

IF WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONVERSATION AND LOOK AT MY ELECTRONIC AND COME BACK TO YOU I'M MISSING ABOUT A MINUTE OF THAT CONVERSATION AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE SEEING IN THE SCHOOLS AND THAT'S WHY SOME OF THE LIMITATIONS HAVE NOW BEEN PUT ON IT DURING THE SCHOOL DAY TO HELP KIDS BE IN AT THAT TIME PRESENT MOMENT AND BE MINDFUL ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND THEM.

>> ALL THAT DISTRACTION.

>> AND ONE THING I WANT TO ADD, WHAT IS ON THE PHONE MATTERS.

SCREENING WHAT IS ON THE PHONE.

SNAPCHAT, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, TWITTER THE GOOGLE SEARCHES.

THE TEXT MESSAGE TO TEXT MOM AND DAD MIGHT BE ONE THING OR GOOGLING SOMETHING BUT WHAT IS INSIDE THE APPS IS IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING PARENTS SHOULD BE MONITORING, I THINK, FOR -- AGAIN IT'S UP TO EACH INDIVIDUAL FAMILY.

BUT I WOULD WANT TO BE MONITORING MY KIDS' DEVICES TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON AND HAVING OPEN CONVERSATIONS NOT I'M TAKING IT HEY SHOW ME WHAT YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING AT.

CAN WE WATCH A TIKTOK TOGETHER?

SCROLLING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA TARGETS WHAT KIDS ARE SEEING AND GIVES THEM MORE.

YOU SIT DOWN WITH YOUR KID AND SCROLL FOR 10 MINUTES YOU WILL SEE WHAT THEY ARE SEEING ON A DAILY BASIS.

>> THE PARENTS SHOULD FEEL OKAY TO TAKE THEIR KIDS' PHONE AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT.

I CAN HEAR TEENAGERS ESPECIALLY AS YOU GET OLDER GIVING PUSHBACK TO THAT.

>> THAT'S WHERE OPENING THE DOOR LET'S DO IT TOGETHER.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PUNITIVE LIKE A PUNISHMENT BUT STARTING FROM AN EARLY AGE LET'S WATCH TIKTOKS TOGETHER.

AND THEN YOU ARE IN THEIR PHONE WITH THEM IT'S NOT PUNITIVE IT'S BONDING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALSO MONITORING WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

>> FINDING OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT -- WHAT WE WERE GOING TO SAY.

>> I AGREE WITH ELISABETH WITH THAT AND MAKING SURE IF YOU SET IT UP EARLY THIS IS THE EXPECTATION I'M GOING TO THOUGH YOUR PASSWORDS I HAVE THE RIGHT TO LOOK AT YOUR PHONE.

AND THEN SITTING DOWN AND LOOKING AT IT TOGETHER, AS THEY GET OLDER, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM MORE FREEDOM WITH THOSE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES, BUT IF THEY KNOW THAT HEY, WE HAVE THE RIGHT AT ANY POINT TO LOOK, IT REALLY DOES HELP WITH JUST MONITORING AND BEING AWARE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING.

AND ALSO SETS THE GUIDE RAILS FOR THEM WHICH ALL OF US NEED IN LIFE.

>> IT MIGHT HELP ME IF I HAD GUIDE RAILS ON MY PHONE OR IPAD.

I WILL THROW ONE STUDY THAT CAME OUT CENTRES FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION AND HIGH RATES OF FEELINGS OF SADNESS AND HOPELESSNESS AMONGST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT MIGHT BE COMING FROM DIFFERENT PLACES.

ONE IDEA THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS THIS IDEA OF A MENTAL HEALTH CHECK IN WITH YOUNG PEOPLE OR ADULTS.

ELISABETH HOW WOULD THAT WORK?

IF KIDS ARE GOING TO THE DOCTOR FOR A CHECKUP IS THERE A WAY TO DO A MENTAL HEALTH CHECKUP?

>> SOME DOCTORS ARE DOING THIS.

SAYING HOW ARE YOU FEELING OVERALL?

DO YOU HAVE FEELINGS OF HOPELESSNESS AND ISOLATION AND DEPRESSION.

SOME ARE BEING ASKED.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT IS WHY I LOVE THIS CONVERSATIONS LIVE, BECAUSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH SUICIDE PREVENTION CONVERSATIONS IS WHERE IT STARTS.

CONVERSATION IS ABOUT PHONE.

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FEELINGS.

CONVERSATIONS WITH A DOCTOR AND LEARNING WHERE THESE FEELINGS COME FROM AND IF THEY ESCALATE HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY ARE ESCALATING?

WE ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS OF SADNESS AND WORRY BUT WHEN THEY RISE TO THE LEVEL THAT IS DIAGNOSEABLE AND THAT FEEDS INTO THE STIGMA, TOO.

EVERYBODY EXPERIENCES WORRY TO SOME LEVEL.

SO I WOULD SAY LEADING THE CONVERSATIONS TALKING TO THE DOCTORS, AND HAVING THEM IN AUTHENTIC MANNER IS ESSENTIAL.

>> AND THAT'S WHAT YOUR ORGANIZATION DOES, YOU REACH OUT AND YOU DO LOTS OF DISCUSSIONS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT NORMALIZING THE DISCUSSIONS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT'S WHAT BREAKS DOWN THE BARRIERS AND MAKES IT KNOWN IT'S OKAY TO REACH OUT FOR HELP OR REACH OUT TO HELP.

>> YOU LOST YOUR SISTER TO SUICIDE.

I WONDERED IF YOU COULD TELL US HOW YOU DECIDED TO START JANA MARIE AND KEEP IT RUNNING AND FOCUS ON SUICIDE PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY BUILDING.

>> YEAH.

SO JANA AND I GREW UP IN CENTRE COUNTY FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN WE ARE LIVING THAT AMERICAN DREAM.

LIVING WITH OUR PARENTS.

ALLOWED TO HAVE PETS OF ALL KINDS REALLY HAD ACCESS TO RESOURCES BECAUSE OUR PARENTS WERE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN OUR LIVES.

AND YET, JANA IS SOMEBODY WHO OFTEN HAD CHALLENGES WHEN IT CAME TO HER MENTAL HEALTH.

AND STRUGGLED WITH HERSELF CONFIDENCE THROUGHOUT LIFE.

AFTER SHE DIED, I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT GAVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY BUT ALSO CHANGE THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH.

SO WHILE JANA HAD A LOT OF CHALLENGES IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WASN'T TALKED A LOT ABOUT OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF JUDGMENTS THAT WERE PLACED ON JANA OR OUR FAMILY BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES AND STRUGGLES THAT SHE HAD.

SO I WANTED TO JUST END THE SILENCE THAT OFTEN SURROUNDED THESE TOPICS AND CREATE PLACES WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE COULD GROW THEIR CONFIDENCE, AND HAVE A SAFE PLACE WHERE WE COULD HAVE OPEN AND HONEST CONVERSATIONS.

JANA USED TO JOURNAL EVERYTHING.

SO I WAS READING HER JOURNALS AND A LOT OF IT CAME TO PROGRAMS THAT SHE WANTED TO RUN OR IMPLEMENT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE IDEA SPARKED FROM WAS FROM JANA HERSELF.

AND SO EVER SINCE THEN, WE'VE HARNESSED THE POWER OF CREATIVE EXPRESSION, TO SPARK CONVERSATIONS AND PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING WITH THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING UP THE PROTECTIVE FACTORS AND PROVIDING THAT EVIDENCE-BASED EDUCATION OUT THERE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE OPEN AND COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT TOPICS WE OFTEN DON'T TALK ABOUT.

>> AND YOUR ORGANIZATION IS CONTINUING TO GROW.

IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE MAKING HEADWAY IN THAT FRONT.

DOES IT FEEL LIKE IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE IN SEVERAL DISTRICTS OFFERING TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID, FOUR-AND-A-HALF HOURS OF MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION.

WE'RE DOING WELLNESS DAYS AT MANY OF THE SCHOOLS.

GOING IN AND TEACHING GROUNDING EXERCISES, MINDFULNESS ACTIVITIES, JUST EDUCATING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OVERALL.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED THAT COMMUNITY BONDING.

SO HOLDING EVENTS WHERE COMMUNITIES CAN COME OUT AND TAKE PART IN IT AND FOCUS ON THEIR SELF CARE AND BUILDING THE CONNECTIONS TOGETHER.

AND IT'S BEEN AMAZING TO SEE THE GROWTH AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND ELISABETH, SOMEONE WHO WORKS WITH KIDS, YOU PROBABLY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THAT SENSE OF BELONGING THE TEENAGE YEARS CAN BE A DIFFICULT TIME FOR A LOT OF KIDS.

HOW DO YOU DO WHAT MARISA IS TAKING ABOUT MAKING THEM HAVE THAT SENSE OF BELONGING AND HOW MUCH IS IT THE SCHOOL'S RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO TEACH THE KIDS DURING THE DAY TOO.

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

PART IS PARTNERSHIP I'M LUCKY TO PARTNER WITH MARISA.

DOING EVENTS LIKE SUMMITS AND WEEK OF HOPE FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION.

BUT I THINK WITH KIDS, IT'S FINDING PLACES AND SPACES WHERE THEY FEEL CONNECTED.

IT'S FINDED THE TRUSTED ADULTS.

KIDS ARE WITH US EIGHT HOURS A DAY AND IT IS A LOT OF TIME.

HOWEVER, WE GET TO SEE DIFFERENT SIDES OF THEM.

WE DON'T SEE THE LATE NIGHTS WITH THE PARENTS.

AND BEING THOSE PEOPLE FOR THEM YOU CAN COME TO ME AND TALK TO ME I'M HERE.

TELL ME HOW YOU ARE FEELING AND WHAT YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH.

ENCOURAGING THEM TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS AND THEN IF I WERE HEY HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS CLUB YOU WOULD BE GOOD AT THIS.

THIS THING AND THEN HELPING THEM TO BUILDUP THE SELF CONFIDENCE AND ESTEEM IS ESSENTIAL.

>> YOU MENTIONED THIS THERE MIGHT BE RESISTANCE OR THE IDEA IF I TALK ABOUT IT AM I CAUSING MORE PROBLEMS.

I WONDERED IS THAT SOMETHING YOU STILL ENCOUNTER DOING A LOT OF OUTREACH AND EDUCATION DO YOU STILL ENCOUNTER, GOSH I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO BRING THIS UP BECAUSE I MIGHT IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T CARE BUT I DON'T WANT TO INTRODUCE NEW IDEAS?

>> YES, I THINK WE DO STILL SEE IT ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF OUR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT WE WORK IN.

BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT FINDING THAT COMMON GROUND TO START.

AND SO IT MIGHT NOT BE TALKING ABOUT SUICIDE RIGHT OFF THE BAT, IT MIGHT BE LOOKING AT LET'S START WITH TALKING ABOUT SELF CARE.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES SO WE CAN SHOW UP FOR OUR KIDS AND BE THERE FOR THEM.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY JUST CONTINUING THOSE CONVERSATIONS FROM THAT POINT, THEN, AND STARTING TO INTRODUCE MORE AND MORE OF THESE CONCEPTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE THE SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITIES.

>> AND ELISABETH IS THAT SOMETHING YOU ENCOUNTER STILL?

IT SEEMS A LOT OF HEADWAY BUT MAYBE THERE'S CONCERN GOSH WE DON'T WANT TO INTRODUCE THIS SUBJECT AND CAUSE PROBLEMS?

>> THERE'S STIGMA.

I TALK TO STUDENTS AND WE HAVE THE OPEN CONVERSATIONS AND I GET TO SEE STUDENTS ONE-ON-ONE.

IN A GROUP THAT CHANGES, RIGHT?

THE SOCIAL PRESSURES AND WANTING TO DO WHAT'S COOL AND NOT PUT ME ON THE OUTS OF PEOPLE THAT COULD RISK BULLYING.

IT'S HARD TO BE A TEEN NOWADAYS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T END AT THE SCHOOL DAY IT'S WITH SOCIAL MEDIA IT'S EVERYWHERE.

AND YOU DON'T LEAVE IT AND SEE YOU TOMORROW BUT IT'S COMING HOME WITH YOU ALL THE TIME.

PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THEIR IMAGE AND HOW THEY ARE PERCEIVED.

AND THAT'S ALSO WHERE IF I SAY I SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND INVOLVED IN DIFFERENT PLACES WAIT, IT'S OKAY TO DO THAT.

KIDS ARE FUNCTIONING AND NOT FULLY DEVELOPED THEY ARE GREAT AND I LOVE THEM SO MUCH AND THEY NEED GUIDANCE AND MODELING AND HELP TO FIGURE WHO THEY WANT TO BE AND EMBRACE IT.

IT IS SCARY TO ASK FOR HELP.

AND KIDS JOINING A CLUB IF I AM PART OF MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS CLUB WHAT DOES THAT MEAN ABOUT ME?

THE POINT IS TO BREAK STIGMA.

WE DON'T SIT THERE AND GO WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU.

HOW DO WE BECOME CHAMPIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH?

IT'S PROTECTIVE AND BUILDING KIDS UP.

WHERE WE MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

>> WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT AND WE'LL TAKE A MOMENT TO REMIND PEOPLE IF YOU ARE JOINING US I'M ANNE DANAHY AND THIS IS WPSU'S CONVERSATIONS LIVE SUICIDE PREVENTION.

WE ARE TALKING WITH TWO EXPERTS AND WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR QUESTIONS.

OUR TOLL-FREE NUMBER IS 1-800-543-8242.

YOU CAN ALSO E-MAIL US CONNECT@WPSU.ORG.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF HEADWAY AND NEWS START REPORTS AND AND STUDIES AND RECENTLY SOME ON THE OTHER SIDE GIVING PUSHBACK AND SAYING BY TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH SO MUCH ARE WE ACTUALLY CAUSING PROBLEMS NOT THAT WE DON'T WANT TO TREAT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERIOUS DEPRESSION OR MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

BUT THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE KIDS WHO HAVE NORMAL DAY-TO-DAY STRESS THAT TEENAGERS HAVE, THAT WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE.

THERE'S PUSHBACK ON THAT.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT TOO MUCH?

IS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL IN THAT WAY, MARISA?

>> YEAH, I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL AND MINDFUL THE LANGUAGE WE'RE USING AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT EARLIER AS WELL.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR MENTAL HEALTH JUST LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH.

BECAUSE WE'RE ALL ON A SPECTRUM FOR IT.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE ARE STRESSED.

THERE ARE TIMES WE ARE OVERWHELMED.

THERE ARE TIMES WE ARE SAD OR ANXIOUS AND IT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER OR A DIAGNOSIS.

PART OF THAT IS JUST OUR NORMAL LIVING.

DAY-TO-DAY LIVING.

AND SO WE WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THE LANGUAGE WE'RE USING.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S OKAY TO HAVE ALL THE DIFFERENT EMOTIONS THAT WE'RE IN IT AND WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE COPING STRATEGIES AND THE WAYS TO BUILD RESILIENCY.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH IT'S IMPORTANT PO REMEMBER THAT RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE.

WE DON'T ALWAYS GIVE THAT PIECE OF HOPE WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH AND THAT IS A BIG PART OF THAT EDUCATION AS WELL.

IS RECOGNIZING THAT WE CAN HAVE A CHALLENGE THAT COMES UP, AND WE CAN FIND THAT WAY BACK TO THAT ROAD OF RECOVERY.

SO IT'S REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE POSITIVE MESSAGES OUT THERE ABOUT OUR MENTAL HEALTH.

MAKING SURE THAT EDUCATION IS HAPPENING AND AGAIN THAT WE'RE DISPELLING THOSE MYTHS AND NOT OVERLABELING EVERYTHING.

>> ELISABETH DO YOU ENCOUNTER THAT?

PEOPLE THINK WE'RE OVERTALKING THIS AND KIDS NEED TO NOT FOCUS ON IT THAT MUCH?

>> AND THERE'S GENERATIONAL SHIFTS.

WHEN I LOOK BACK WHEN I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL, 10 YEARS AGO, IT WASN'T SOMETHING WE OFTEN TALKED ABOUT.

IT DIDN'T MEAN IT DIDN'T EXIST.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DYING BY SUICIDE FOR YEARS.

IT IS NOT A NEW THING AT THAT TIME HAS BECOME SOMETHING THIS PAST YEAR OR PAST FEW YEARS.

IT'S BEEN ONGOING CRISIS.

PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING AND FEELING ISOLATED AND ALONE.

AND I THINK BY STARTING THESE CONVERSATIONS, BREAKING THE STIGMA, BUT EVEN JUST ENGRAINING IT INTO EVERYDAY LIFE.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE HEY HOW'S YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.

IT'S ORGANIC.

IT'S HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

ARE HOW ARE YOU REALLY TODAY TO GET THE VIEW OF SOMEONE IS IMPORTANT.

WE ARE ALL MULTIFACETED AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND EACH INDIVIDUAL IS UNIQUE.

HONORING THAT AND THEIR EXPERIENCE IS OUR FIRST STEP.

KIDS ARE AMAZING AND INSIGHTFUL AND THEY ABSORB SO MUCH INFORMATION AND THEY PICK UP ON SO MUCH AND THEY WILL BE THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW.

GIVING THEM THAT CREDIT, AND YES, I AM STEWS THEY DO STRUGGLE BUT A STATEMENT I HEAR THIS IS REALLY HARD RIGHT NOW WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?

OR DO YOU NEED MY ASSISTANCE WITH THAT ASSIGNMENT?

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE DAYS MAYBE WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT WHAT IS NEXT?

DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING TO SOMEONE ABOUT THIS.

BEING THAT GAUGE AND HELPING PEOPLE GET THE RESOURCES IS IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS AND ADULTS IN TEENAGERS' LIVES.

THAT IDEA IS NICE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A BIG DEAL.

SAME WAY IF SOMEBODY HAD A COLD OH, YOU HAVE A COLD IT CAN BE SOMETHING NOT TO MINIMIZE IT BUT MAYBE MAKE IT A SUBJECT IT'S EASIER.

>> IT'S NORMAL WE ALL HAVE MENTAL HEALTH.

>> SOMETHING WE WILL ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

RELATED TO THAT, TOO.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING HELP FOR MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN GO TO.

I WONDER HOW THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR YOUR ORGANIZATION HANDLES THAT IF SOMEBODY NEEDS A REFERRAL TO A MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST AND THERE IS A WAITING LIST WHAT CAN YOU DO?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

AND SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW.

AND ACCESS TO CARE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO.

ONE, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUAL.

SO IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT A FAMILY MEMBER OR WORRIED ABOUT A FRIEND, A NEIGHBOR CONTINUING TO CHECK IN WITH THEM AND ASK HOW THEY ARE DOING AND IF THEY NEED A CRISIS NUMBER OR SOMEBODY TO TALK TO.

UTILIZING THOSE SERVICES LIKE 9-8-8.

WE CAN ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT NOT EVERYONE NEEDS THAT ONE-ON-ONE CARE.

SO THERE MIGHT BE LIKE A GROUP THERAPY THAT COULD WORK FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL OR THAT KOKO WORK TEMPORARILY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WHILE WAITING FOR THE ONE-ON-ONE CARE TO SEE IF THERE'S A SERVICE LIKE THAT.

THERE ARE PEER SUPPORTS AS WELL THAT WE COULD TAP INTO IT.

AND THAT WOULD BE GETTING CONNECTED TO SOMEBODY WHO HAS A LIVED EXPERIENCE AND A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS THAT IS ON THAT PATH OF RECOVERY AND THEN THEY HELP HOLD THAT OTHER INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABLE AND BE WITH THAT PERSON AND MEET WITH THEM UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO GET INTO THAT PROFESSIONAL CARE.

SO THAT'S ALWAYS AN ALTERNATIVE AS WELL.

AND PROGRAMS LIKE JANA MARIE FOUNDATION THAT WORK TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND INCREASE THOSE PROTECTIVE FACTORS CAN BE HELPFUL FOR SOMEONE AS WELL.

IT'S NOT THERAPY IT DOES NOT REPLACE THAT BUT IT CAN WORK ON THE LIFE SKILLS AND, AGAIN, IT HELPS SOMEBODY GET TO A PLACE WHERE THEY FEEL THEY CAN BELONG AND THEY FEEL THEY HAVE A SAFE PLACE AND THEN THEY CAN STILL BE WAITING TO GET TO THAT ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING THAT IS OFTEN NEEDED.

>> WE'LL GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.

I WANT TO JUMP IN TO MENTION WE HAVE ONE RESOURCE THAT IS AVAILABLE AND IT'S FREE FROM WPSU CALLED LEARNING GRIEF.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MARISA YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH.

LEARNING GRIEF.ORG IT IS A FREE RESOURCE AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES FOR PARENTS IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CHILD OR IF YOU JUST WANT TO TALK WITH YOUR CHILD AND HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE STRESS, THE LOSS, THE GRIEF THAT THEY MIGHT BE FACING.

THAT IS A RESOURCE THAT WE WANT TO PUT OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO.

LEARNING GRIEF.ORG.

AND ELISABETH GETTING BACK TO YOU, WHAT DO YOU DO IN THOSE SITUATIONS YOU CAN GO TO LEARNING GRIEF, 9-8-8, THE JANA MARIE FOUNDATION, HOW DO YOU HANDLE IT WHEN SOMEBODY MIGHT NEED MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST A THERAPIST BUT THERE IS A SHORTAGE?

>> SOMETHING I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT AS A THERAPIST IN THE COMMUNITY.

PART OF MY JOB IS I PROVIDE SHORT-TERM THERAPY AT THE END KIDS ARE GOING TO NEED LONG-TERM.

IT'S NOT A DEFINITE.

BUT THERE ARE AWESOME RESOURCES.

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY IS A GREAT RESOURCE TO PUT ON YOUR INSURANCE, THE LOCATION IF YOU PREFER IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL THERAPY.

ANY THERAPIST IN PA CAN SEE ANY PERSON IN PA.

SO I GO TO A THERAPIST IN ERIE THAT I'M SEEING SATURDAY EVENINGS AND SHE COULD BE PROVIDING ME THERAPY.

ANYONE IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA COULD PROVIDE TO A STUDENT.

IF YOU PREFER IN-PERSON THERE ARE OPENINGS IN THE COMMUNITY AND OFTEN PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS HAVE THE RESOURCES.

SCHOOL COUNSELORS WILL HAVE THOSE RESOURCES.

AND WE'RE TRYING MORE IN THE STATE COLLEGE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HELP PEOPLE KNOW WHERE CAN I GO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A THERAPIST HOW DO YOU START THE PROCESS.

AND IT'S SCARY TO START, TOO.

MAYBE YOU MEET ONE AND YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU LIKE THEM BUT YOU FEEL STUCK.

EVERY THERAPIST IS NOT SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

YOU ARE READY TO TAKE THAT PLUNGE DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD FIT AND IT'S OKAY TO ADVOCATE FOR A DIFFERENT PERSON.

AND IT'S OKAY TO GET HELP WITH THAT, TOO.

>> IF YOU TAKE THAT FIRST STEP THAT IS A BIG PART OF IT.

MARISA BACK TO ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED WE OFTEN DON'T TALK ABOUT RECOVERY.

YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE THAT PATH TO RECOVERY IT IS A GOOD WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT, TOO, IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH DEPRESSION, OR SUICIDAL THOUGHTS THAT IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S FOREVER.

>> NO.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE.

AND THAT LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR EACH PERSON.

IF I HAD A SHOULDER SURGERY, MY RECOVERY MIGHT LOOK DIFFERENT THAN IF YOU HAD THE SAME PROCEDURE.

BUT THAT RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE.

WE ARE GOING TO GET BACK TO A PLACE WHERE WE ARE CONTENT AND WHERE WE CAN COPE WITH THE DALEY STRESSES OF LIFE.

AND THAT IS WHAT THERAPY CAN DO AND THERE IS A LOT OF TYPES OF THERAPY.

AND SO THAT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, TOO.

BUT YOU KNOW, WITH DIFFERENT SUPPORTS, WE ARE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT SOME NEW SKILLS THAT WE CAN USE AND HAVE IN OUR TOOLBOX TO HELP US OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES FROM DAY-TO-DAY THAT WE MIGHT FACE.

>> AND WE'VE COVERED A LOST OF THIS.

I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING ALL THESE IDEAS AND THOUGHTS AND RESOURCES WITH US.

SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH.

WE HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT.

ELISABETH YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS FOR PEOPLE IF THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEMSELVES OR A LOVED ONE.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THEY CAN DO?

>> AS A THERAPIST AND YOU WANT TO SUMMARIZE OUR HOUR, I THINK WE LOOK AT IT IS WHAT CAN I DO FOR THIS PERSON.

IF WE DID CIRCLES WHO IS FIRST, PEERS, FRIENDS, FAMILY, CHECKING IN.

HEY, HOW ARE YOU?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

LET'S CATCH UP.

I MISS YOU WE'RE NOT TALKING AS MUCH.

WE START THERE.

AND IT IS A BIGGER NEED ARISES LOOKING FOR THE CONNECTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.

LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GET INVOLVED COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

PROGRAMS, GROUPS.

AND THEN IF SOMEONE THEY ARE IN THE SPACE THEY WANT THERAPY AND LOOKING FOR THOSE, 2.

I WANT TO BREAK THE STIGMA THERAPY DOESN'T JUST HAVE TO BE I HAVE SUICIDAL IDEATION AND I NEED THERAPY BUT THERAPY IS HELP LIKE A LIFE COACH, TOO.

IT'S NOT JUST FOR I'M STRUGGLING IN THIS MOMENT BUT IT'S HOW DO I FUNCTION BETTER AS ME.

HOW DO I BE THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF THERE'S DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SUPPORT AND WE'RE ALL ON TEAM TO GET ACCESS TO THOSE AND HELP PEOPLE THROUGH THAT.

>> IF YOU DECIDE TO SEE A THERAPIST IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU DO LONG-TERM OR SHORT-TERM OR A LITTLE WHILE.

>> A COUPLE MONTHS AND YOU MIGHT GO BACK.

IT'S NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL.

>> MARISA THOUGHTS ON THAT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEMSELVES OR A LOVED ONE SOMEONE THEY KNOW?

WHAT IS A STEP THEY DID TAKE?

>> AS ELISABETH SAID REACHING OUT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT CONNECTION CAN BE LIFE-SAVING.

IT'S ABOUT LISTENING NONE JUDGMENTALLY SHOWING THAT SUPPORT AND BEING THERE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AND KNOWING THE RESOURCES.

ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS.

AND NOBODY HAS ALL OF THE ANSWERS.

RIGHT?

AND SO WE CAN TAP INTO RESOURCES THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY, WE CAN BE HONEST WITH THE PERSON THAT LIKE HEY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU TOLD ME AND WE CAN FIGURE THIS OUT TOGETHER AND IT'S OKAY TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND LOOK THROUGH RESOURCES TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST FIT FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL.

SO THAT THEY CAN GET BACK TO THE ROAD OF RECOVERY.

AND FOR SOME IT MIGHT BE SELF CARE STRATEGIES FOR SOME IT MIGHT BE THERAPY.

FOR SOME IT MIGHT BE MEDICATION.

FOR SOME IT MIGHT BE EVERYTHING.

AND IT'S ABOUT FINDING THAT PATH THAT WORKS FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL.

>> I WONDER IF I CAN PUT YOU ON THE SPOT WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE IN A STRESSFUL SITUATION AND YOU FEEL LIKE I NEED TO RECENTRE HOWEVER IT IS THAT YOU IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU DO FOR YOURSELF?

>> I LOVE NATURE AND MY NEWMAN.

ANYTIME I CAN GET OUTDOORS AND GO HIKING OR KAYAKING, PADDLE BOARDING ANYTHING OUTSIDE REALLY HELPS ME BECOME GROUNDED GROUND.

>> AND ELISABETH?

>> I LOVE COPING SKILLS.

AND IT'S NOT DEEP BREATHING BUT THERE IS A LOT.

I DO LIKE DEEP BREATHING BUT THERE'S LIKE FINDING THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW AROUND YOU.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT SKILLS IT'S NOT JUST TAKE A BREATH.

LISTENING TO MUSIC AND HUMMING THE WORDS HUMMING STIMULATES THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND IT CALMS YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM.

I MIGHT HUM A SONG AT THE TOP OF MY HUMMING LUNGS, GET HELPING MYSELF FIND THAT PEACE.

AND IT'S IT'S WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.

TRY THEM ALL.

>> GOOGLE IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MARISA VICERE AND ELISABETH JAMES THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TO TALK WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

OUR GUESTS TONIGHT HAVE BEEN MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS MARISA VICERE AND ELISABETH JAMES.

I'M ANNE DANAHY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND LISTENING TO WPSU'S CONVERSATIONS LIVE.

AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN ON OCTOBER 24TH WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS.