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 m ..read more

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 h ..read more

We’re  delighted to welcome a return guest, Jerri Clark. Jerri first joined us on Episode 32, “Channeling Grief and Anger into Advocacy and Acceptance”, and is now working with TAC (Treatment Advocacy Center-, see Episode 71 with Kathy Day. Episode 31  with Lisa Dailey, Episode 35 with Sabah Muhammad ), ) as Family Resource and Advocacy Manager. She has a fellowship as TAC’s DJ Jaffe Advocate this year. Jerri is a family member whose son with SMI died from suicide. The six coping strategies (not linear) Normalize Ambivalence Find Meaning Adjusting Mastery Reconstruct Identity Reviv ..read more

We’re  delighted to welcome a return guest, Eric W.T. Smith. He was also interviewed  in Season 1 of 3 Moms (episodes 15 and 16, an AOT Success Story) In Eric’s words: “There are peers and supports in large numbers for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and a host of other diagnoses, but nothing much available in the world of anosognosia and psychosis where a person in recovery and/or their parents/caregivers can regularly reach out and schedule a meaningful block of time to discuss their individual and/or family needs related to anosognosia and psychosis with a person who succes ..read more

Schizophrenia, a complex and harrowing illness, presents an ongoing challenge for caregivers. In this groundbreaking book, discover the missing links that empowers you to navigate the labyrinth of decisions and actions required to provide the best care for your loved one. Nicole Drapeau Gillen is a mother who recognized that caregivers like herself often find themselves thrust into this challenging, complex and stressful situation with little clear guidance on how to help a loved one with a serious mental illness. Her goal is to create a practical and actionable handbook that offers valuable i ..read more

Ending the Criminalization of Mental Illness: Guest Judge Steve Leifman (Ep. 82) It is estimated that more than two million arrests in the United States each year involve people with Serious Mental Illnesses (SMI) – half of which are homeless at the time of their arrest. Jails have become places where a disproportionate number of people with SMI spend significant amounts of time; their ties to the community severed, their treatment needs unmet, and their illnesses made worse.  But it doesn't have to be that way - This episode dives into a system that works, saves money, and helps those i ..read more

Youthcast Media Group (formerly Urban Health Media Project) trains high school students from under-resourced communities to report, write, and broadcast stories about health and social issues that affect their neighborhoods and cities.  The goal is to help students better understand and communicate about health issues and disparities that directly affect them, and to foster a generation of diverse journalists that will enter and enrich news organizations across the country. The students learn to harness the power of their voices as journalists to share the rich experiences of their commun ..read more

Tony is a man with an unquiet mind who delights in the One who delights in him. He is diagnosed with rapid cycling bipolar disorder with psychotic features. With a lot of professional and spiritual help, he has published three books — Delight in Disorder: Ministry, Madness, Mission; When Despair Meets Delight: Stories to Cultivate Hope for Those with Mental Illness. And, Hope for Troubled Minds: Tributes to Those with Brain Illnesses and Their Loved Ones. (contributors to Hope for Troubled Minds include friends of the podcast Katie R. Dale (associate editor), Jerri Clark,  Laura Pogliano ..read more

Katie R. Dale is no stranger to the storms of Serious Mental Illness. Blindsided by an intense episode of bipolar disorder at 16, she has come a long way. Katie has written a memoir on her psych hospitalizations and how God helped her heal. Dale has conquered many losses including her sanity and firstborn child. Despite these challenges, she has been an award-winning author and advocate, working toward equity for those with Serious Mental Illnesses through her books, blog, and work with nonprofits including National Shattering Silence Coalition, Delight in Disorder, and Fresh Hope for Mental H ..read more

Guest: Kevin “Earleybird” Earley - peer specialist, speaker and artist His challenges with mental health are documented in his father, Pete Earley's 2007 best selling book, "Crazy - A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness", which chronicles his 2002 incident where Kevin broke into a stranger's house and took a bubble bath before being apprehended by the police.  His work deals with mental health, race, privilege and resilience through adversity.  He speaks to inspire and resolve stigma through art.  He currently works with youth who live with mental health issu ..read more