The MHRBWCC Podcast

What does a standard drink look like? And what is binge drinking all about? We take some time this Alcohol Awareness Month to learn about these things and more as we help people make responsible decisions about their alcohol intake and use.

Kim Dooley is stepping down as coordinator of the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Warren County after several years at the helm. She reflects on where the coalition has been and how it has grown since she started.

The MHRB Board of Directors gets a new chair on July 1, 2021 as Rahul Gupta steps into the role. We sat down recently to talk about leading, what he sees as the work still to be done for people with mental health and substance use disorder issues, and community involvement.

Holly Smith and Roy Lutz who both work with the Violence Free Coalition of Warren County, host a new prevention-focused podcast called "Prevention Nation". We sat down recently to talk about it, what kinds of things they look to share, and what they see as the purpose and desired outcomes.

Alcohol affects each person differently, and there are ways for adults to be responsible role models for kids, too. Talbert House Prevention Services discusses its initiative, "Be One of Us" and the role of Alcohol Awareness Month in creating responsible choices and behaviors around alcohol consumption.

The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Warren County works to help prevent the misuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Learn more about the coalition's work in Warren County and how you can get involved.

Peer Support has become a strong component of a person's recovery from mental illness and/or addiction. Two team members, Kendra Carrel and Denise Bells, work with individuals in recovery and share their own experience and what it's like to help someone who is now where they once were in life.

National statistics and local anecdotal information indicate a rising rate of suicide among older adults. Why is that the case, and what can we do about it? Barbara Adams-Marin and Zach McDaniel of Talbert House Prevention Services in Warren and Clinton Counties sat down to discuss what's happened and ways we can step in to help.

Coronavirus has turned our personal and work lives upside down. It's also leading to anxiety and other mental health concerns for many people. Dr. Jason Weisman of Sparks Psychological Services in Cincinnati - one of MHRB's contract partners serving Warren and Clinton Counties - offered some ideas and tips to help anyone who has to stay home, and even some clinicians and first responders, too.

Vaping seems to be all the rage among teens these days. So how do you talk with your kids about it? What are some strategies parents can use? We sat down with Tommy Koopman, MHRB Deputy Director of Prevention and Wellness, to get more info about vaping and what we know now about its effects on a teenager's body. Tommy also provides some strategies parents might use to talk with their kids about vaping.

When people are thinking about starting therapy for a mental health or addiction issue, a lot of questions may come to mind. We talk in this episode with two leaders of agencies we fund to learn what things people should think about when looking for a therapist. Angela Johnsen of Solutions Community Counseling and Recovery Centers and Brad McMonigle of Talbert House provide some thoughts for anyone looking at counseling - and some questions they should ask as they get started.

Recovery means something different to each person who's in it. Whether it's recovery from a mental illness or an addiction - or both, the journey takes a variety of forms. It might even ebb and flow depending on what's happening in the person's life, but it's their journey. September is Recovery Month, and to help you better understand what recovery means, it helps to see it through the eyes of someone in recovery. Kari sat down with me at a local store recently and shared her own journey - one that hasn't always been easy but has brought her to a great place now.

Kids have meltdowns. That's a given for many parents. But sometimes those situations might require a more clinical approach. That's the purpose of the MRSS program. Mobile Response & Stabilization Services started about one year ago with Butler Behavioral Health and Beech Acres Parenting Center leading the implementation for MHRS, and it's had some great successes! Rebecca Tuck and Jennifer Wikette lead their respective organization's teams and talked about how the program works ... and what may lie ahead as it grows.

School's out - and that means many parents will in all likelihood start hearing things like, "I'm bored!" or "I don't want to go to the pool again!" at some point. But Jill Huynh of Beech Acres Parenting Center says that doesn't have to happen, and offers tips on negotiating with kids of all ages - and how to gain buy-in from your kids and avoid the potential for fights over screen time and other "things to do" negotiations.

New MHRS Executive Director Colleen Chamberlain started in April and hasn't stopped moving! Join us for a conversation about how Colleen sees things going so far, and what she sees coming for MHRS down the road.

MHRS Executive Director Brent Lawyer is retiring. After more than 15 years leading the board, Brent is looking to the next chapter of his life - but not before sitting down to take a look back at his career, a look forward at what the behavioral health system may look like going forward.

The Character Effect(TM) is a flexible developmental framework bringing together mindfulness and character strengths into an effective prevention curriculum that promotes happiness and improves the well-being of students and teachers. Jaimi Cabrera of Beech Acres Parenting Center talks about the program's development and initial successes, and where they see the program expanding as it grows.

What's it like to help someone in recovery from a mental illness or addiction when you are also in recovery yourself? Find out more about the Peer Support program through the eyes of a peer supporter, and what kinds of things they do that benefit not just their clients, but themselves, too.