The Crisis Podcast

In this episode Travis interviews crisis consultant Myranda Green. Myranda has spent much of her career working in crisis residential services as a direct support professional, case manager, and director, opening new programs across the state of Michigan and adding first-of-their-kind co-occurring services to existing programs. Myranda talks about the critical place that peer supports have in the crisis workforce, the importance of preserving agency and choice in treatment, and the ability to carry a vision forward in even the most dire of circumstances. To learn more about the Crisis Residential Association, including the 4th annual Crisis Residential Conference (October 12-14 in Louisville), visit www.crisisresidentialassociation.org.

Emily Blomme is the Executive Director of Foundation 2 Crisis Services in Cedar Rapids, IA. Foundation 2 operates the statewide crisis line for Iowa, as well as mobile crisis and dispatch services.  To learn more about Foundation 2 Crisis Services, visit www.foundation2.org. To learn more about he Crisis Residential Conference taking place October 12-14 in Louisville, KY, visit www.crisisresidentialassociation.org. To download the Roadmap to the Ideal Crisis System, visit https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/031121_GAP_Crisis-Report_Final.pdf?daf=375ateTbd56. 

Beverly Ryskamp is the Chief Operating Officer at Network180. During her career in public behavioral health, Beverly has led conversations around system improvements and been a contributing author to legislative advocacy. In this episode, Beverly talks about the public behavioral health system in Michigan, the story of HB5832 that authorizes Crisis Stabilization Units in Michigan, and other efforts to enhance crisis services.

Hudson Harris is a mental health mastermind, suicidologist, and resiliency expert. In this episode, Hudson teaches me new words like "ikigai" and preaches a powerful sermon on return on investment in crisis services. To learn more about ikigai, go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai#:~:text=Ikigai%20(%E7%94%9F%E3%81%8D%E7%94%B2%E6%96%90)%20(pronounced%20%5B,one's%20ikigai%20resulting%20in%20satisfaction American Association of Suicidology: https://suicidology.org/ Suck It Suicide & Six Feet Over: https://www.sixftover.org/about/

Pete Hilen is a husband, father, licensed therapist, and crisis services advocate. Pete works for Telecare Corporation, one of the largest crisis residential providers in the country. Pete also serves on the board of the Crisis Residential Association. In this episode, Pete talks about his recovery journey, his passion for crisis services, and his admiration for the resiliency of behavioral health professionals. (And he gives accountants a bit of a hard time.)

In this episode, Travis interviews Dr. Debra Pinals, a psychiatrist and leader in the behavioral health crisis world.  To read her Beyond Beds and Beyond Border papers, visit www.nasmhpd.org. 

In this episode, Travis emerges from the depths of social lockdown to provide an update on the crisis system landscape in 2020 and beyond. For more information about the Crisis Residential Conference taking place virtually October 14th & 15th, visit www.crisisresidentialassociation.org/conference.

In this episode, recorded at the 2019 Crisis Residential Conference, Dr. Debra Pinals presents on the importance of a behavioral health crisis continuum in effective service delivery, as well as lessons learned from other countries in mental health policy. Dr. Debra Pinals is the medical director of behavioral health and forensic programs for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Pinals is also a clinical adjunct professor at the University of Michigan Law School. She serves as the director of the Program in Psychiatry, Law, and Ethics and as a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School. Dr. Pinals has also written several seminal papers on the behavioral health crisis continuum in collaboration with the National Association for State Mental Health Program Directors and the Treatment Advocacy Center. Download the NASMHPD/TAC papers for free at www.nasmhpd.org.

In this episode, Travis shares a panel discussion from the 2019 Crisis Residential Conference on the use of substances like tobacco, marijuana, and controlled substances during crisis residential treatment. Moderated by Dan Maccia (Community Research Foundation), panelists include: Dr. Scott Madover (Telecare), Myranda Green (Hope Network), Dr. Bruce Baker, and Holly McNerney (Community Research Foundation).

Hear a quick update from Travis on The Crisis Podcast and a new offshoot podcast starting addressing COVID-19 matters.

Sergeant John Wittkowski is the Phblic Information Officer for the Grand Rapids (MI) Police Department. John talks about the evolution of empathy in law enforcement towards people with mental health and addiction issues. He shares about his police department's journey to bringing CIT training to officers, and the mentors and community partners that have left a lasting influence on him.

Amelia Lehto is a crisis call center expert, a suicide prevention guru, an advocate, and a social media influencer. Amelia has worked in mental health and suicide prevention for over 10 years. She has been heavily involved with organizations like the American Association of Suicidology, Kevin's Song, and Six Feet Over. Amelia also has a personal connection to suicide, losing her best friend to suicide at age 13.

Dr. Bart Andrews is a suicide prevention specialist and mental health advocate. He is a Ph.D psychologist and the Vice President of Telehealth and Home and Community Services at Behavioral Health Response in St. Louis, MO. Bart is also a suicide attempt survivor and board member of the American Association of Suicidology.

Jessica Pirro is the executive director of Crisis Services in Buffalo, NY. In this interview, Jessica shares her story of finding her place in domestic violence response work, her natural empathic tendencies, and her tireless efforts to improve collaboration in her hometown and beyond.

Lyndsay Martin has served her community as a behavioral health clinician, advocate, and change agent for nearly 15 years. She is responsible for much of the innovative changes in her crisis programs that transformed them to be the premier crisis residential programs in the country. In this episode, Lyndsay shares about her experience managing crisis services, the importance of aftercare, and how to make a career out of crisis services.

In this trailer episode, host Travis Atkinson explains the content, format, and purpose of The Crisis Podcast.