Digital Distraction

Join Kristin and Dr. David Vigerust discussing the vaccination for Covid-19.

Listen in to a great show as Kristin speaks with Aaron Wanserski about helping remove mental health stigma within the gaming community.  Aaron Wanserski, the Video Game Outreach Director for The Center for Suicide Awareness, spent 12 years as a police officer before branching out into helping people in a new way.  As a self-proclaimed nerd, he realized that mental health is rarely talked about and set out to change that.  With their new podcast here on MHNR Network, The Center for Suicide Awareness, he hopes to help shatter the stigma.  The slogan for their podcast is "Everyone has a story."  This is to help people understand that their stories are just as worth sharing.  Be kind, you are loved, you are important, and remember, you are not alone.www.centerforsuicideawareness.org

You may have heard of grounding as a spiritual practice, but did you know it is the best way to detox from all things digital? Listen to Kristin, and co-host Georgia, speak with Laura Koniver, MD about her book, "The Earth Prescription: Discover the Healing of Nature with Grounding Practices for Every Season," and the health benefits of grounding. We hear how science reflects an ongoing practice of grounding your body to the Earth has incredible physical and mental health benefits. Dr. Koniver discusses further how helpful grounding is for anxiety and depression, even your circadian rhythm.Laura Koniver, MD, is an artist, author, holistic physician, and internationally recognized grounding advocate. Koniver has been featured as an expert in four motion pictures about grounding, and is also the author of the children's book, "From the Ground Up."https://www.intuition-physician.com/

Kristin discusses tech wellness with August Brice and what exactly electromagnetic sensitivity is and how to manage it.August is a Tech Wellness Advocate. That means her passion is making sure that you have the information you need to thrive in a world brimming with tech. She loves tech, however, her relationship with her digital devices and tech gadgets is guided by mindfulness… it’s from that place, that she founded TechWellness.comShe began this tech wellness journey over 25 years ago when she developed something called Electromagnetic Sensitivity. ES led her to 25 years of research and discovery, unlocking the key to health and wellness, safety and security. The energy of a cellphone did not react well with her body, so she was able to watch as friends developed affection and dependence on their devices. This led her to pursue research on tech addiction and cyber-security issues with technology. The path culminated in a nice balanced ratio and respect for technology which we call the Tech Wellness Ways.www.techwellness.com

Craig DeLarge, one of the founders of The Digital Mental Health Project, joins Kristin for a unique discussion about how the use of digital media has impacted our mental health. Craig has been working on this topic since 2014 and shares why this topic is his passion and mission. Kristin and the team at Digital Tech Initiative are excited to have come across The Digital Mental Health Project as we've looked for organizations that discuss the positives and not so positive effects of digital technology on our mental health.Craig and his wife, Cheryl L. DeLarge, are the principals at Digital Mental Health Project. They are both mental health advocates and caregivers as well as healthcare executives. Craig is a digital health strategist and Cheryl is a learning & development leader. This Project brings together their occupational expertise and their vocational calling to positively impact mental health outcomes.Over 3 decades of his earlier career, Craig held healthcare marketing and digital health roles with Takeda Pharma, Merck, Sharpe & Dohme, Novo Nordisk, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Communications Media, Inc, IMS Health (now IQVIA) and the (U.S.) National Alliance on Mental Illness. He has additionally been a marketing, strategy, change leadership & communications professor at Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University, St. Joseph’s University, Chestnut Hill College, Drexel University, Penn State – Great Valley. He has degrees in Marketing from Philadelphia University (BSc), and Design Management (MBA) from the University of Westminster (UK). He is a candidate Public Health Masters student at Kings College, London. He is further a certified professional coach and published author of The WiseWorking Handbook (2014).During this same time, Cheryl held IT and HR learning & development roles with Merck, Sharpe & Dohme implementing innovative learning approaches and technologies for leaders and managers. She has degrees in Computer Information Systems from Messiah College (BSc) and Human Resources Development (MS) from Drexel University.Their team have put together some notes to help you reference the information shared on this episode.Please visit www.digitalmentalhealthproject.com and enjoy a tutorial video: https://youtu.be/p1cCYBNpXTwThe NAMI Family-to-Family Program which was a life saver for Craig and Cheryl when they first encountered severe mental illness in their family. https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/NAMI-Programs/NAMI-Family-to-FamilyThe blog post on “embedded digital mental health”: https://digitalmentalhealthproject.com/embedded-digital-mental-health-gateway-to next-wave-of-adoption/The MentalTech Wearables presentation that was alluded to during this episode: https://digitalmentalhealthproject.com/anxietytech-conference-mentaltech-wearables-talk/Their StressTech Literacy Series that was alluded to during this episode: https://digitalmentalhealthproject.com/stresstech-literacy-series-using-digitaltech-to-achieve-healthier-stress-levels-is-launched/Blog about The Digital Stress Management Survey, one of their research offerings, which they welcome your participating in: https://digitalmentalhealthproject.com/digital-stress-management-survey-dsms-findings-barriers-to-dmh-adoption/Blog about the Breath Tracker Wearable alluded to which has taught Craig how to breath better: https://digitalmentalhealthproject.com/mentaltech-i-use-spire-stone-breath-tracker-trainer/Blog about mental health chatbots Craig has used to get real time access to very helpful cognitive behavioral health scripts: https://digitalmentalhealthproject.com/the-mentaltech-i-use-mental-health-chatbots/For a download of all of the notes: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s33/client/snv?noteGuid=ac743d7a-e200-4fb8-8cd9-0e80c7a39999¬eKey=18e8bcb96da95526&sn=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.evernote.com%2Fshard%2Fs33%2Fsh%2Fac743d7a-e200-4fb8-8cd9-0e80c7a39999%2F18e8bcb96da95526&title=Mental%2BHealth%2BRadio%2BNetwork%2BDigital%2BDistraction%2BShow%2BNotes%2Baddendum

Join Jennifer and Kristin as they talk about why the answer to all addiction is connection. Seeking healing through connection is the answer for us in this tech connected and online world. The need for treatment programs to tackle digital media addiction is starting to take off and it is long overdue. Jennifer explains how a new kind of addiction treatment is what will move us through our collective and individual pain in 2020 and beyond. Jennifer Nicolaisen is the co-founder and Executive Director of SeekHealing, an Asheville-based non-profit pioneering a novel protocol for treating addiction and fighting the opioid overdose crisis. Her approach to helping individuals by first addressing addiction as a community disease is grounded in harm reduction and the importance of recognizing connection as a basic human need. www.seekhealing.org

Join Dr. I and James Asher with host Kristin Walker as they discuss how digital media distractions are affecting the mental health of teenagers.

What can we do to help high school students understand the impact of social media usage? Present at Michigan's first Student Mental Health Summit. We are honored to have been invited to speak and hold presentations and workshops in Lansing, Michigan. Tune in to hear what the state of Michigan is doing to provide Mental Health services to all of their secondary schools. It's much needed and we hope other states follow their lead!Matt Alley is the Director of Student Services for MASSP and MASC/MAHS Michigan Student Leadership. Our student association facilitates over 30 programs and events a year, working with hundreds of schools and over 10,000 students from across the state of Michigan. Matt graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and with a Master of Arts in Counseling. Matt and his wife, Riley, are the proud parents of four wonderful children (debatable depending on the day): Auden, Laken, Reddick and Sutter.https://massp.com/SMHThis event is the first summit and SOLD OUT! We are excited to participate with Dr. Lisa Day, Frank King, Sahen Garcia and Kristin Sunanta Walker talking about Social Media Addiction!

Minisode teaser with Joseph Fusaro of www.hysteriaradio.net. Social Media can be like a slot machine! Careful how you use it.

Join hosts Sahen Garcia and Kristin Walker with Dr. David Vigerust discussing genetics and digital media use. Could an addiction to social media, our smartphones, online gaming, online anything be in our genetic makeup? Is there a genetic test we could take to determine this? Does epigenetics play a part? Let's hear from someone who completed their education with honors and is an actual geneticist! Dave Vigerust, MS., Ph.D. is the Director of Clinical Affairs for Volente Healthcare and a founding member of Digital Tech Initiative. After earning his bachelor’s in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Texas at El Paso, his master’s in Microbiology and Immunology from Texas Tech, and a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from Vanderbilt University, Dr. Dave Vigerust conducted post-doctoral research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in viral glycosylation, host defense from influenza, and bacterial secondary infection. He then transferred back to Nashville where he completed a second fellowship on the molecular biology of pediatric respiratory viruses at Vanderbilt.While serving on the faculty at Vanderbilt University in the Department of Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, he was concurrently a Health Research Scientist and managed his own laboratory in the Nashville U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Dr. Vigerust later served as the Chief Scientific Officer for a molecular diagnostics laboratory focused on prevention medicine.Dr. Vigerust has been published extensively in international journals, is an active editor and reviewer for several scientific journals and is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences. Dr. Vigerust is also an inventor and innovator and has developed several novel molecular diagnostic assays for predicting cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes, infectious disease and cancer.Over the past 20 years he’s received many awards for his research and was selected as a TEDx speaker on the subject of precision medicine. Dr. Vigerust currently maintains Assistant Professor positions at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the University of Maryland.www.digitaltechinitiative.com

Join registered nurse and psychologist, Dr. Lisa Day, for a discussion about digital media addiction. The rise in depressive disorders since the advent of the smartphone and social media is discussed, as well as, the impact on our mental well-being.Dr. Lisa Day is a founding member of Digital Tech Initiative and a practicing psychologist for over twenty years with Meier Clinics. www.digitaltechinitiative.comwww.meierclinics.com

Join Tommy Dahlborg, Jr. (Author, Blogger, Financial Analyst) who happened to be born in the age of the internet: The iGen Generation. Tommy talks about how digital media impacts his life and what he and his friends do to foster authentic human connection. Raised in Gorham, Maine, Tommy is a proud son to Thomas and Darlene Dahlborg, a proud brother to Samantha and Haylee Dahlborg, and a proud follower of Jesus. Over the years, Tommy has grown to have a passion in fitness and has lost 80 + lbs over the course of four years. Tommy is a financial analyst by day with a passion for sharing the Gospel as a Young Life Leader by evening. The Big Kid continues to passionately play basketball weekly and loves others daily. For more information about Tommy visit his blog at https://heartofthelion.wordpress.com and www.tbkid.org.

Join Dr. John Huber with Dave Ballenberger discussing Smartphone usage and how it has impacted our mental health. We cover a lot of ground from the facts around using our phones as well as why it is a public safety warning if an individual claims they are a doctor and they aren't. Fact checking when it comes to social media boasting and false claims is not often undertaken. This is dangerous especially when it comes to our mental health. Check credentials and question, question, question. Dr. John Huber is a forensic psychologist, comedian, and founder of Mainstream Mental Health. www.mainstreammentahealth.orgDavid Ballenberger, MSW is the CEO of an electronic healthcare records company for behavioral health, NextStep Solutions, Inc. www.nextstepsolutionsinc.com

Dr. Mark Leeds joins us to discuss digital media and where you might land as a user: addiction or distraction.Mark Leeds, DO, host of The Rehab Podcast on the Mental Health News Radio Network, is an osteopathic family physician with a focus on addiction care in his medical practice. He provides affordable and personalized medical treatment to patients suffering from substance use disorder. With a small and dedicated practice, he is able to give his patients the time and attention required to help them through this difficult, chronic illness. Dr. Leeds’ approach to addiction medicine allows for a level of support and attention that is not possible in a large, primary care clinic. On The Rehab Podcast, Dr. Leeds interviews guests on the topic of healthcare and addiction treatment to explore the expanded universe of ways to help people traveling on the path to recovery from addiction.Dr. Leeds studied osteopathic medicine at Des Moines University after completing his undergraduate degree in mathematics at Vassar College. During his early years of medical practice, he began to study and apply the concept of developing useful electronic medical records software within a primary care setting. Since 2004, Dr. Leeds has contributed to the OpenEMR open source medical records software project, developing bug fixes and improvements. He has served on the board of directors of Open Source Medical Software and as a lecturer at the Monroe Osteopathic Medical Association Annual Conference in Islamorada, Florida.Dr. Leeds has contributed significant tools to the OpenEMR project which have been available to the public for many years, including: Formscript, a self-contained, automated form building program to facilitate the creating of plug-in forms for OpenEMR; and CAMOS (Computer Aided Medical Operating System), an EMR within an EMR. This comprehensive tool is still maintained as part of the core of the OpenEMR open source electronic medical records software and used by physicians all over the world.Dr. Leeds continues with the efforts of software development, providing unique electronic medical records solutions to local physicians. In recent years, he has applied his experience, talent and skill to the development of content marketing, using existing open source software online to reach out to prospective patients. He is a pioneer in building a micro-practice and creating a patient base using technology-based marketing skills. He regularly meets with other physicians interested and involved in micro-practices to discuss solutions to building their medical practices using technological solutions.www.drleeds.com

Join Kristin Walker and Sahen Garcia as they talk about the new metrics for love in this digital world.Sahen is a U.S. Marine and the CEO of Uptown Motives, a Social Media & Digital Marketing Agency, Founding Member of Digital Tech Initiative and former VP of Centro Latino Americano’s board. He was diagnosed at an early age with Chronic Depression and a Hyperactive Brain. As he grows older so does his passion to learn more about mental health in order to help others, especially today’s youth because he has witnessed the incredible positives to the unimaginable negatives that Social Media can enable first hand.www.uptownmotives.com

Join Dr. Lisa Day, Kristin Sunanta Walker and John W. Whitehead discussing social media and how it has been used to help make sex trafficking a billion dollar industry.John Whitehead is an attorney and author who has written, debated and practiced widely in the area of constitutional law, human rights and popular culture.Widely recognized as one of the nation’s most vocal and involved civil liberties attorneys, Whitehead’s approach to civil liberties issues has earned him numerous accolades and accomplishments, including the Hungarian Medal of Freedom and the Milner S. Ball Lifetime Achievement Award for “[his] decades of difficult and important work, as well as [his] impeccable integrity in defending civil liberties for all.” As nationally syndicated columnist Nat Hentoff observed about Whitehead: “John Whitehead is not only one of the nation’s most consistent and persistent civil libertarians. He is also a remarkably perceptive illustrator of our popular culture, its insights and dangers. I often believe that John Whitehead is channeling the principles of James Madison, who would be very proud of him.”Whitehead’s concern for the persecuted and oppressed led him, in 1982, to establish The Rutherford Institute, a nonprofit civil liberties and human rights organization located in Charlottesville, Virginia. Deeply committed to protecting the constitutional freedoms of every American and the integral human rights of all people, The Rutherford Institute has emerged as a prominent leader in the national dialogue on civil liberties and human rights and a formidable champion of the Constitution. Whitehead serves as the Institute’s president and spokesperson.Whitehead has filed numerous amicus briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court, has been co-counsel in several landmark Supreme Court cases and continues to champion the freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights in and out of the courts. His law review articles have been published in Emory Law Journal, Pepperdine Law Review, Harvard Journal on Legislation, Washington and Lee Law Review, Cumberland Law Review, Tulsa Law Journal and the Temple University Civil Rights Law Review.Whitehead is also a member of various groups that seek nonpartisan consensus solutions to difficult legal and constitutional issues through scholarship, activism and public education efforts.John Whitehead is a frequent commentator on a variety of legal and cultural issues in the national media and writes a weekly opinion column, which is distributed nationwide. He has authored more than 30 books on various legal and social issues. His most recent books include the best-selling Battlefield America: The War on the American People and the award-winning A Government of Wolves: The Emerging American Police State. In addition, he wrote and directed the documentary video series Grasping for the Wind, as well as its companion book, which focus on key cultural events of the 20th Century. The series received two Silver World Medals at the New York Film and Video Festival.Born in 1946, John W. Whitehead earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arkansas in 1969 and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1974. He served as an officer in the United States Army from 1969 to 1971.www.rutherford.org

Join Kristin Sunanta Walker and comedian, Frank King, for a discussion about social media and its impact on mental health.Frank King, aka The Mental Health Comedian, is a Suicide Prevention and Postvention Public Speaker and Trainer who turned a lifelong battle with depression into a keynote worth spreading.After writing for the Tonight Show for 20-plus years and performing corporate comedy, Frank’s attention…His mission is to end the stigma surrounding mental health by share his insights with anyone and everyone who will listen in an effort to “start the conversation.”Frank has thought about killing himself more times than he can count. Like many of us, depression and suicide run in his family. He addresses his own trials and tribulations using a tool people from all walks of life can relate to, humor. With his TED Talk A Matter of Life or Death” he openly addresses topics considered taboo in today’s society.As a Motivational Public Speaker and Trainer who travels the world, Frank uses comedy and personal life lessons to help break the ice and start an engaging conversation amongst those struggling with mental and emotional stability. This act of faith helps those struggling to find a voice to express themselves. Additionally, it helps create a pool of common knowledge where those who suffer, and those who care about them, can swim.He believes that where there is humor there is hope. And where there is laughter there is life… Nobody dies laughing.Frank is originally from North Carolina and now spends his off days in the Pacific Northwest. He travels the United States and beyond spreading his message, hoping to end the stigma surrounding mental health, and influencing the general public to start the conversation.www.thementalhealthcomedian.com