In My Backyard

Today’s podcast discusses suicide, which might be painful and triggering for some listeners. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or are worried that someone you love might be suicidal, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Help is available. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2019 suicide was the […]

Today's podcast is the fourth installment of the “In My Backyard” series: STORIES. In this episode, Patricia speaks with two parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association published the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, or DSM. In this edition, what had been referred to as Autistic […]

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, reported in 2019 that 9.4% of children in the US aged 3 to 17 were diagnosed with clinical anxiety, representing an astounding 5.8 million young ones. Significantly, this data predates the COVID-19 pandemic. Global research by Drs Nicole Racine, Brae Anne McArthur et al found that […]

Today's podcast discusses childhood bullying, how it is defined, the impact it has and, most importantly, any possible link between bullying and school shootings. According to the Center for Disease Control, bullying is a form of youth violence and is an adverse childhood experience that can lead to trauma. The CDC defines bullying “as any […]

Today's podcast discusses the role of Parent Partners in the children's mental health system. According to United Parents, a nonprofit focused on the concept of “parents helping parents”, a Parent Partner is a “clinically supervised para-professional who has raised a child with a mental, emotional or behavioral disorder. They understand the frustration, being blamed, losing hope, losing patience and all the challenges that go with raising children with mental health needs”.  Casey Family Programs, a national nonprofit influencing policy change to better the lives of children, notes there is an inherent power differential between families served and those serving them. The power gaps are socioeconomic, educational and systemic in nature. The clinician or case worker will always hold more power in the relationship when only one side is sharing personal details and subject to mandated child abuse reporting, despite the best efforts of therapists to engage clients with empathy and authenticity. Casey Family Programs writes, “one innovative approach that has emerged over the past decade is the use of peer mentors, or Parent Partners, who serve to bridge the gap between … parents and a complex, often challenging, and overwhelming system”.  In this episode, Patricia speaks with two staff members of The Guidance Center, Irving Martinez, a licensed clinical social worker from our Compton Clinic and supervisor to The Guidance Center's team of Parent Partners and Arlene Escobar, a Parent Partner supporting families and engaging in client outreach from our Long Beach clinic.  In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Today’s podcast discusses a subject that has become increasingly relevant in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic: what happens to children who experience the death of a loved one, particularly a parent or caregiver. According to Dr. Dan Treglia from the University of Pennsylvania, there are an estimated 200,000 children (in the US) who have lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19, and that realistically, the numbers are likely quite a bit higher. Dr. Treglia reports, “children who lose parents or caregivers are more likely to experience PTSD and depression. My worry is that those who feel stigmatized (by the COVID-19 deaths) won't admit what their parent or caregiver died of, and those kids need care.” In today’s episode, Patricia speaks with with Lauren Schneider, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Clinical Director of Child and Adolescent Services at Our House. Our House is a nonprofit organization that provides grief support following the death of a loved one, believing that the bereavement experience deserves greater understanding and acceptance. Specifically, they provide grief support groups to adults, teens, children and toddlers, geared to the age of the griever and their relationship to the person who died. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Today's podcast is the third installment of the “In My Backyard” series: STORIES. Patricia speaks with Guidance Center staff members, Debbie Lambert and Saira Patino. Debbie has been with The Guidance Center for over 20 years, as a Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist, a clinician, and now as the Supervisor of the agency's Intensive Care Coordination Services. Saira is a clinician in our Long Beach Intensive Services program. Both serve the children and families facing the greatest struggles within the outpatient system of care. In today’s episode, they will discuss what in their life inspired them to pursue a career in community mental health and share the routines they incorporate into their lives to maintain a sense of self-care in such demanding roles.  In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Today’s podcast discusses First-Episode Psychosis, sometimes referred to as a first psychotic break. First-Episode Psychosis is when a person begins to lose contact with reality and starts to experience delusions, hallucinations and something called “disorganized speech”.  According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, “psychosis is characterized as disruptions to a person's thoughts and perceptions that make it difficult for them to recognize what is real and what isn't. These disruptions are often experienced as seeing, hearing, (feeling, smelling) and believing things that aren't real or having strange, persistent thoughts, behaviors and emotions. While everyone's experience is different, most say psychosis is frightening and confusing”.  The most common age for a person to experience First-Episode Psychosis is between 15 and 25 years, those adolescent years that are already tumultuous. Identifying the signs of a first psychotic break and knowing what to do about it are absolutely key to a better long-term prognosis, but they are also commonly written off initially as the normal turmoil of adolescence.    In this episode Patricia speaks with Catrina Flores, a clinician from Mental Health America – Los Angeles. Catrina specializes in working with a population we call transition-aged youth, namely those complicated years from 16 to 25. Further, MHALA is reknown for their work with the most displaced mentally ill adults in our community. In this setting, Catrina works very closely with youth who are experiencing First-Episode Psychosis and all the complications that accompany that.  In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Today's podcast is the second installment of the “In My Backyard” series: STORIES. Patricia speaks with former Guidance Center client, Lexie, about her life, the experiences that led her to treatment, and what it's like receiving treatment as a young person. Before coming to The Guidance Center, Lexie struggled with feelings of depression, anxiety and being disconnected from herself or from her body. She worked closely with her therapist, Dr. Chloe, to build insight and process difficult emotions, develop coping skills and learn grounding exercises to help her overcome the hardships she endured. Lexie is strong, confident and she wants to share her story so that she may give hope to others who are struggling. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Today’s podcast discusses the impact of foster placement on children. According to researchers Sarah Font and Elizabeth Gershoff, at any given time in the United States there are approximately 700,000 children living in out of home placement away from their parents due to substantiated child abuse or neglect. While foster placement is an effort to protect vulnerable children, there is no question that placement itself brings its own level of trauma. Removal from a family home to an already traumatized child adds another layer of trauma and loss. As Font and Gershoff note, however, “the alternative to foster care may be continued abuse, neglect and traumatization of vulnerable children. Leaving children in homes with caregivers investigated for maltreatment can have dire consequences”.   Dr Putnam-Hornstein studied children born in California between 1999 to 2006 and found that children who were reported to the system for maltreatment, substantiated or not, were 6 times more likely to die from intentional injury by their caregiver and 2 times more likely to die from unintentional injury. Further, Drs. Kim and Drake found in 2019 that one in four child victims of confirmed maltreatment were revictimized. Foster care may not be ideal, but nor are the alternatives. In this episode, Patricia speaks with Wendy Carpenter, Chief Executive Officer of Penny Lane Centers. Founded in 1969, Penny Lane today offers preventative services, Substance Abuse Treatment, residential care, transitional and permanent housing for former foster youth, foster care and adoption services as well as outpatient mental health care. Wendy began her career at Penny Lane as a clinician, finding a professional home where she has served since then. Wendy today is a leading advocate across the county and the state for services to our foster youth. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Today’s podcast discusses suicide, which might be painful and triggering for some listeners. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or are worried that someone you love might be suicidal, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. That is 1-800-273-TALK, or 8255. Help is available.  This episode discusses the recent heartbreaking pattern of completed suicides by elite female student athletes. Since March of this year, four high-profile female athletes have taken their own lives on college campuses. All were top performing athletes at major universities and seemed to have everything going for them. Katie Meyer was a star goalkeeper for the Stanford University soccer team – an elite athlete at an elite school. Sarah Shulze was a top cross-country runner for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was a local California girl before heading to college. Lauren Bernett was a champion softball catcher for James Madison University. Her death by suicide so impacted the team, the season was cancelled. Arlana Miller was a freshman on the cheerleading team at Southern University and A&M College in Louisiana. She as only 19 when she died by suicide.  Being an elite college athlete does not statistically mean greater risk of mental illness, depression or suicide. Dr. Ashwin Rao et al found in 2015 that suicide rates among NCAA athletes was “lower than that of the general and collegiate population of similar age,” although it was still the third leading cause of death among this group. In fact, school sports bring with them many potential mental health benefits – being outside, being a member of a team, and physical activity are all things that we know improve mental and emotional well-being.  

Today’s podcast discusses an area of mental health that has gained increasing levels of attention over the past decade: mental health diagnoses and treatment of very young children aged birth to five.  Conversations about mental health and very young children are often met with skepticism. As Drs Osofsky and Lieberman write, there is a “pervasive, but mistaken, impression that young children do not develop mental health problems and are immune to the effects of early adversity and trauma because they are inherently resilient and grow out of behavioral problems and emotional difficulties”. Drs Tronick and Beeghly go further, explaining that the false assumption is that infants and toddlers can't have mental health problems because they “lack mental life”. In reality, we know this isn't true.   According to Drs. Stygar and Zadroga of the Mayo Clinic, “many mental health concerns have roots traceable to challenges occurring in infancy and early childhood, and early interventions for these developing minds are necessary to prevent future mental health disorders.” Briefs from the Harvard University Center on the Developing Child explain, “our genes contain certain instructions that tell our bodies how to work, but the environment leaves a signature on the genes that authorizes or prevents those instructions from being carried out – or even speeds up or slows down genetic activity. Thus, the interaction between genetic predispositions and sustained, stress-inducing experiences early in life can lay an unstable foundation for mental health that endures well into adult years”. In this episode Patricia speaks with Guidance Center clinicians, Megan Bunting & Safiya Tormo, who specialize in the assessment and treatment of young children aged birth to five. Megan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at The Guidance Center's Long Beach Outpatient Clinic and Safiya is

Today’s episode discusses the pros and cons of offering our most troubled children intensive field-based treatment, over long-term residential placement or hospitalization.   Current data tragically still shows us that only 25% of the children in the United States who need mental health care actually receive it; however in California real efforts have been made to create community-based programs that can effectively treat our most troubled children without the need for residential care. In 2004, California voters approved Proposition 63, which was signed into law as the Mental Health Services Act, or MHSA. The MHSA levied a 1 percent tax on all personal incomes over $1 million, resulting in a substantial investment in mental health for California residents. The intent of the act was to address the urgent need for expanding accessible, recovery-based, community mental health services. This episode will focus on one aspect of the act that allocates funding for intensive and comprehensive field-based care, known statewide as Community Services and Supports, or CSS.   According to the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, these intensive field-based services are the “signature programs of the (state's) 2004 Mental Health Services Act and a foundational program for an effective community based mental health system.” Intensive field-based programs have been established across the state, with the core mission of doing “whatever it takes” to maintain clients in the community and help lead them to a path of wellness. These programs offer very intensive mental health, psychiatry and case management services in the community.   Today Tricia speaks with Vanessa Ayala, an Associate Clinical Social Worker at The Guidance Center's Compton Clinic. She is a clinician in the intensive services program and shares her knowledge about treatment for these very high need children and families.  In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

This week’s episode discusses one element of the mental health experience, standardized psychological testing in the clinical assessment.   When an individual begins mental health treatment, any competent clinician regardless of discipline will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the client at the outset. This assessment generally includes a detailed interview of the client, and perhaps other interested parties such as parents and teachers. It will include what is said in the interviews, as well as data that the clinician observes. Observational data can include, for example, whether the client makes eye-contact, their affect, or emotional expression, if they seem agitated or depressed, or whether they are cleanly and appropriately dressed. There might be informal questionnaires, school or medical records and perhaps a referral for a medical examination. These assessments are essential to understand what is troubling a client, what might be an appropriate mental health diagnosis and how treatment should be structured to be most useful.  According to the American Psychological Association, or APA, standardized psychological testing is related to but separate from the clinical assessment. It may be administered as part of clinical assessment, particularly when there is some question about appropriate diagnosis. Psychological testing may also be used to test the suitability for a job, or to predict future academic abilities.   Today Tricia speaks with Dr. Dawn Vo-Jutabha, Chief Clinical Officer of The Guidance Center. Dawn earned her doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis in children and families from Clark University in 2005. Since then, she has dedicated herself to working with underserved children and families in community mental health. In addition to her role at The Guidance Center, Dawn has also held multiple leadership positions in her field. These include the Co-Chair of the Southern California Association of Psychology Training Programs, committee member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Programs and a membership on the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation.   In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Today’s episode discusses the ongoing trauma of gang involvement, specifically the lasting impact on those who joined as minors. According to a National Youth Gang Survey, two out of every five active gang members are juveniles, and therefore particularly vulnerable to the pressures and traumas associated with gang affiliation and community violence. As this relates to gangs, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network explains, “while traumatic stress is certainly not the sole cause for gang involvement and delinquency, it can increase a youth's vulnerability to a gang's appeal. Gangs can offer a sense of safety, control and structure often missing in the lives of traumatized youth”. Gangs offer traumatized youth an opportunity to experience affirmation, often for the first time. These are children who have not experienced a family, community or society that is able to protect and provide for them, to offer them a vision of a positive future. The gang then steps in to fill that role. This week Tricia speaks with Luis Javier Rodriguez, a renowned poet, novelist, journalist and community activist. He was named the 2014 Los Angeles Poet Laureate by Mayor Eric Garcetti and is perhaps best known for his memoir Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in LA, for which he received the Carl Sandburg Literary Award. Luis is also the founder of the Tia Chucha Press and Tia Chucha Cultural Center. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

This week’s episode addresses something that strikes at the heart of most parents of school-aged children, namely how to keep schools safe for our students. According to the ACLU of Southern California, “In the wake of the Columbine shooting, 9/11 and the 2008 recession, school districts in California (made choices) to cut mental health services in favor of more police.” Data shows, however, that this increase in school police has not created a greater security.  Without mental health resources at hand, teachers are compelled to request help from law enforcement, who themselves are put in this position without adequate mental health training. Police are trained to respond to conflict with detention and arrest. Reports show that 25% of school police have no prior experience with youth. They have limited training on emotional and social well-being or how to de-escalate a crisis. Schools with campus police report 3.5 times more arrests than schools without police, most often for low-level incidents that could have been handled differently if mental health supports had been available. Police are being asked to take on tasks outside of their skill set while our children are being criminalized.  Los Angeles Unified School District presents an interesting case study on this topic. Dr. Elianny Edwards et al from UCLA found that LAUSD increased campus police spending by 48% from 2010 to 2019, despite an 18% decrease in student enrollment. During that same time period, on-campus critical incidents – including suicidal threats – increased by an appalling 906%. The district is now taking steps to replace police funding with greater mental health supports.  Today Tricia speaks with Jackie Ochoa, AMFT, and Yessenia Arevalo, ASW, School Resources Clinicians from The Guidance Center who work in partnership with campus police for the Long Beach Unified School District to develop the School Crisis Response Clinician Program that provides therapeutic crisis intervention and assessment services, in lieu of an armed law enforcement response. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In today’s episode, we have a conversation about Substance Use Disorders, what is commonly referred to by the general public as drug or alcohol addiction. Substance Use Disorders are included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition, or DSM-5, as qualified mental health impairments that can benefit from treatment, such as any other mental health issue. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, 1 out of every 12 Americans suffer from a Substance Use Disorder. That represents 18.7 million individuals. Of those, 8.5 million have a second co-morbid mental health disorder, such as PTSD, Major Depression or Bipolar Disorder. It is time to stop stigmatizing these people, instead supporting them on their journey to recovery as we would anyone else with a debilitating illness. The new terminology of the DSM-5 represents an important change in our understanding of substance use, moving away from the more pejorative labels of addict or substance abuser to focus instead on the problematic behaviors themselves. The word “addict” conjures up any number of negative stereotypes in our minds, a skinny scary guy with loose morals and a lack of willpower. The word abuse is always negative in nature – sexual abuse, physical abuse, domestic abuse, all terms that imply victim and perpetrator. Changing the terminology from “addict” or “abuser” to “person with a substance use disorder” more properly places the attention on the behavior, not the person, and makes it clear that these disorders are in fact illnesses. Today we have Dr. Jessica Schneider to help us better understand this important topic. Jessica is a one of the founders of Evidence Based Therapy Partners. She is a licensed psychotherapist and consultant-trainer in a number of evidence-based treatment modalities, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Her specialties include emotional dysregulation, relational aggression and substance use disorders, amongst others. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Eating disorders are an area of mental health that are least understood by the general public. Although there are a number of eating disorders, today's podcast will focus on the most dangerous and commonly known, specifically anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. According to the Mayo Clinic, anorexia nervosa, or anorexia as it is commonly called, is a “potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of weight or shape”. It includes extreme calorie restrictions, excessive exercise, the use of laxatives and diet aids and self-induced vomiting after eating. People with anorexia are underweight to the point of serious health problems, up to and including death by starvation. Again according to the Mayo Clinic, bulimia nervosa, or simply bulimia, is a serious, potentially life-threatening disorder that includes “episodes of binging and purging (with a) feeling of lack of control over eating.” Bulimia is characterized by the consumption of a large amount of food, often deliberately high caloric food, in a short period of time. Intense shame and even panic about gaining weight follows, which is resolved by self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise and the misuse of laxatives. People with bulimia often have periods of self-starvation, which contribute later to episodes of binging. People with bulimia are usually normal weight or slightly overweight. In this episode, Tricia speaks with Dr. Julie Orris. Julie is the owner and Executive Director of Evidence Based Therapy Orange County and one of the founders of Evidence Based Therapy Partners. Julie is a licensed psychotherapist and consultant in a number of evidence-based treatment modalities. She is certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy by the Linehan Board of Certification and is a Diplomate with the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. Her specialties include self-injury, suicidal thinking and eating disorders, amongst others In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

This episode is a very important conversation about suicide, which might be painful and triggering for some listeners. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or are worried that someone you love might be suicidal, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. That is 1-800-273-TALK, or 8255. Help is available. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2019 47,500 lives were lost to suicide, making it the 10th leading cause of death overall in the United States. Controlled by age, the numbers are even more grim; Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 35, second only to accidental injury. The US Department of Health and Human Services found that in the last ten years, suicide rates among children have increased by a horrifying 56%. Behind each of these lives tragically lost to suicide, there are loved ones left to struggle with the emotional aftermath. For definitional purposes, a suicide survivor refers to someone who has lost a loved one to suicide. By contrast, a person who has survived a suicide attempt is referred to as an “attempt survivor”. In today's podcast, Tricia speaks with Rick Mogil and Julia Asea, from Suicide the Bereavement Services at Didi Hirsch Mental Health. Created for people bereaved by suicide, this program addresses the special needs of people struggling with complex grief, which often accompanies a loved one's suicide. Co-facilitated by a therapist and a peer who has also lost a loved one to suicide, the groups help survivors cope with their loss in a positive and productive way. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

This episode is a very important conversation about suicide, which might be painful and triggering for some listeners. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or are worried that someone you love might be suicidal, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. That is 1-800-273-TALK, or 8255. Help is available. Suicide is a major public health issue, one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Rates of death by suicide were already on the rise prior to the devastating mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the period between 1999 and 2019, deaths by suicide increased a tragic 35% in the United States. It still remains to be seen what effect the isolation, anxiety and loss that arose from the pandemic will have on the number of people taking their own lives, but expert predictions are grim. Speaking specifically to children, the US Department of Health and Human Services found that in the last ten years, rates of major depression among teens have more than doubled. Hopelessness and suicidal thoughts have increased by 71%. Suicide rates among children have mirrored these changes, increasing by 56%. It is, as one researcher wrote, “an epidemic of anguish.” In today's podcast, Patricia speaks with Sal Pena and Courtney Cruz, from the Suicide Prevention Center at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services. The Suicide Prevention Center was founded in 1958 as the nation's first 24/7 suicide crisis line. It remains a model today for effective suicide crisis services, training professionals nationally and internationally in preventing suicide. They field roughly 100,000 crisis calls annually. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

The use of psychotropic medications in the mental health treatment of children, a key element of treatment for many but one that is not without controversy. In today's podcast, Patricia speaks with Dr. Rubina Najeeb, a Board-Certified Adult and Child Psychiatrist at The Guidance Center. Dr. Najeeb offers consultation on some of the more complex cases at The Guidance Center and, where indicated, prescribes the medications that help children be successful in achieving their treatment goals. In this episode, Dr. Najeeb helps us learn more about these medications and unpacks the things that might make them controversial. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Today's podcast topic is the troubling issue of physical self-harm among children. Dr. Donald Greydanus writes in the Psychiatric Times that “deliberate self-harm is a behavior in which a person commits an act with the purpose of physically harming (themselves) with or without a real intent of suicide.” Self-harm is an effort to cope with unmanageable emotional pain. While the effort might be maladaptive, it is also effective. Dr. Joe Franklin writes, “One of the most common reasons individuals give for injuring themselves is that it reduces emotional pain. That may be because the physical pain relief that follows a self-injury event, (the relief when the physical pain is over), basically tricks the brain into perceiving relief for emotional pain, too”. Unfortunately, that relief is temporary and does nothing to ameliorate the underlying issues that led to self-harm in the first place. A vicious cycle can follow, with self-loathing, judgement from others and an increase in depression and anxiety. In fact, the risk for eventual suicide increases following each subsequent incident of self-harm. In this episode, our guest is with Daniela Ruiz-Cedeno, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at The Guidance Center's San Pedro Clinic. Daniela is our certified lead in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT. DBT is a mental health treatment developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan from the University of Washington, which has been shown to be highly effective with chronically suicidal clients and those who have eating or substance abuse disorders or engage in self-injurious behaviors. Daniela treats our highest crisis clients and trains her peers in the provision of DBT care. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In all prior podcasts, Patricia and guests have spoken about the varying needs for mental health services across populations facing extraordinary stressors and vulnerabilities. In this episode, Patricia and her guest Sarah Duncan discuss more globally what might prevent a child from accessing treatment, how to know when a child needs help and what might actually happen in a therapy session. Child mental health treatment can be mystifying. Today’s podcast aims to provide some greater clarity. Sarah is a Marriage and Family Therapist with a particular emphasis in art and play therapy. She is a clinician at The Guidance Center, where she started working with children in it’s School-Based Program. She transitioned to the Outpatient Clinic where she could work more with little ones and currently offers mental health treatment and support with very young children on-site at a local Head Start Program. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In our last episode, Patricia had an interesting conversation with Dr. Tiffany Dawson about LGBTQ youth, and how being a member of a marginalized minority group negatively impacts their mental health. Today’s podcast takes a closer look at a subgroup of the larger LGBTQ population, specifically transgender children and youth. In this episode, Patricia speaks with Dr. Robin Cooper, a Licensed Psychologist and clinician at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. Robin's area of clinical practice is working with transgender young adults. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

As we continue to explore the impact of trauma and stress on mental health, today we will be taking a closer look at mental health and LGBTQ children and youth. Any conversation about the mental health of lesbian, gay and bisexual youth needs to be understood within a complicated historical perspective. It wasn't until 1973 and after considerable debate that homosexuality was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a classified mental illness. Sadly, that decision by the American Psychiatric Association didn't end the debate. Even today so-called conversion therapy is allowed in a plurality of states in the US even though all expert bodies have denounced it as abusive and harmful, increasing suicidal risk in those subjected to it. Dr. Judd Marmor was President of the American Psychiatric Association when homosexuality was first declassified as a mental illness. He wrote, “In a society like ours where homosexuals are uniformly treated with disparagement or contempt – to say nothing about outright hostility – it would be surprising indeed if substantial numbers of them did not suffer from an impaired self-image and some degree of unhappiness from their stigmatized status. It is manifestly unwarranted and inaccurate, however, to attribute (this) to intrinsic aspects of homosexuality itself.” Scientific data does indeed demonstrate the vulnerability of our LGBTQ youth. As reported by the National Alliance on Mental Illness: LBGTQ youth are twice as likely to endorse persistent sadness and feelings of hopelessness; They are four times as likely to have attempted suicide; Twice has likely to misuse alcohol and drugs, and; Have a greatly heightened risk of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In this episode, Patricia speaks with Dr. Tiffany Dawson about mental health and LGBTQ+ youth. Tiffany is a Licensed Psychologist and the Program Manager of The Guidance Center's Compton Program. She and her staff serve children and families from the communities in and surrounding Compton, one of the most under-resourced and highest need areas in the county. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

For those who missed it, we are happy to re-release Episode 7 of In My backyard, a conversation with Dr. Perry of the Child Trauma Academy. Dr. Perry chats with us about the neuro-sequential model of the brain, explaining how trauma impacts the brain and what we can all do to be trauma-informed. We are off taking our Freshmen to college for the first time, but will be back in two weeks with a new episode, a conversation with Dr. Tiffany Dawson exploring how discrimination impacts the mental health and emotional well-being of our LGBTQ youth. We look forward to having you with us then. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, chronic illnesses in children can affect the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of young patients. It also takes a serious toll on parents and siblings, leading to strained familial relationships that add yet another layer of stress. Depression and anxiety are common co-morbid illnesses in children with chronic health concerns. Additionally, very often with a chronic or potentially terminal illness, families and medical staff are so understandably focused on the physical health of the child that the emotional, developmental and psychological impacts of the illness and treatment are overlooked. In today's episode, Patricia speaks with Dr. Lauren Ford, a licensed pediatric psychologist in The Guidance Center's Whole Child program. The Whole Child is a program that places Guidance Center pediatric psychologists in Miller Children's and Women’s Hospital, to provide consultation and mental health support to children and families with chronic illness. In many cases, therapists are able to support the child when they are inpatient in the hospital as well as between hospital visits. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts

In this episode, Patricia speaks with Stevie McBride to help us understand in practical terms what we might do in our lives to be trauma-informed while interacting with a traumatized child. Stevie McBride is a Guidance Center clinician from It's About T.I.M.E., a Trauma Informed Movement in Education. It's About T.I.M.E. is a program that uses trauma research to provide educators the tools to create trauma informed cultures on primary school campuses. A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at The Guidance Center, Stevie provided intensive treatment to children and families in our Long Beach clinic for many years, before transferring to the It's About T.I.M.E. program two years ago. He currently serves as the trauma-informed consultant at Barton Elementary School in Long Beach. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In this episode, Patricia had the great pleasure of speaking with Nathan Swaringen, a Guidance Center clinician from It's About T.I.M.E., a Trauma Informed Movement in Education. It's About T.I.M.E. is a program based on Dr. Bruce Perry's research into how trauma impacts the brain of the developing child. The program uses this research to provide educators the tools to create trauma informed cultures on primary school campuses. Nathan is a licensed clinical social worker. He began his career at The Guidance Center fifteen years ago, as a therapist in its school-based program. After years of seeing first hand how trauma-based behavior is misunderstood as “a bad child” Nathan sought out training from Dr. Perry on how to create trauma-informed schools. The It's about TIME program was formed. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray.  Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In this episode, Patricia speaks with Dr. Bruce Perry, founder and Senior Fellow of the Child Trauma Academy. He is a Psychiatrist and an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago.  He is a tremendous advocate and leader in the field of child trauma treatment. Dr. Perry originally founded the Childhood Trauma Academy within the University of Chicago Baylor School of Medicine, but it soon became clear that child maltreatment was too complex to be answered by a medical model alone. At that point, the Child Trauma Academy evolved to be a community of practice, meaning that it represents a collaboration of all disciplines that might interact with a traumatized child.  This may include child protection, educators, law enforcement, and mental health.  The Child Trauma Academy translates what Dr. Perry understands about the impact of childhood trauma on the brain into practical and viable interventions that help a child recover.  Their mission is to help improve the lives of traumatized and maltreated children by improving systems that educate, nurture, protect and enrich these children.  They focus their efforts on education, program consultation, research and disseminating innovation in the field. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Production assistance provided by Lorraine Lyou. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In this episode, Patricia speaks with Aubree Sweeney, Marriage and Family Therapist and Director of Rancho San Antonio Boys' Home. Rancho is a non-profit Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program, providing specialized treatment and 24-hour care and supervision to court-ordered teen boys. Services span from initial assessment through treatment, all the way to the transition back into the community. Rancho provides a safe space to begin the process of change. In My Backyard is brought to you by The Guidance Center, a children's mental health agency in Long Beach, CA. In My Backyard is produced by Tricia Costales and Matthew Murray. Production assistance provided by Julie Ruano. Thank you to Jay Vincent B for original music. All other music licensed through SoundStripe. Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Please visit tgclb.org or text HOPE to 562-262-5689 to make a one-time donation or join our Hope and Healing Club to become a monthly donor today. And subscribe to In My Backyard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.