podcast

episode 5 - trauma and suicide

Trauma and suicide are mental health topics that continue to be highly stigmatized. In this episode, our storyteller shares the experiences in their life that led them to become suicidal. Tune in to hear Dr. Will Meek, the director of Counseling and Psychological Services at Minerva, talk about how trauma can impact our lives, how to talk about suicide, and the resources that are available for us. 

Resources mentioned in the episode:

  1. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 
  2. We Can All Prevent Suicide – webpage about different suicide risk factors and warning signs 
  3. Seize the Awkward – campaign with conversation starters to help promote healthy conversations about mental health 
  4. My SSP app – mental health provider

episode 4 - loss and grief

Coping with loss and grief can be an isolating experience and the pandemic has produced a sense of collective grief. This week, our storyteller shares about how they lost their dad and how they coped while in college. Tune in to hear Dr. Grace I-Ching Hung, the former director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Minerva, share her words of wisdom about how to cope with loss and grief through a Buddhist psychology lens. 

Resources mentioned in the episode:

  1. The Discomfort You’re Feeling is Grief– an HBR article featuring Dr. Kessler, leading expert in grief, about how we can manage grief during the pandemic.
  2.  Hope Again – youth website where students can read others’ stories about loss and share their own 

episode 3 - loneliness and the pandemic

Feeling lonely during these uncertain and socially distanced times is quite normal. Our story teller this week explains how they have struggled with loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tune in to hear Dr. James Lyda, the regional clinical director at Two Chairs, a personalized therapy provider, share his insight about maintaining structure amid an uncertain time, weighing risk in decisions, and remaining social despite our constraints. 

Resources mentioned in the episode:

  1. Nod App – helps students build meaningful social connections
  2. UnLonely Project – an initiative that raises awareness about loneliness and promotes creative arts approaches to counter its negative effects
  3. UnLonely Film Festival features short films that inspire viewers

Dr. James Lyda

episode 2 - eating disorders

Food is an essential component of our daily lives and cultures, embedded into the fabric of our communities. However, how does having a challenging and complicated relationship to food affect the lives of individuals with eating disorders? This week, our story-teller shares the raw challenges of having an eating disorder while in university. Tune in to hear Dr. Will Meek, head of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Minerva, talk about the significance of eating disorders and how they are often stigmatized.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

  1. Emily Nicole’s Youtube channel – she chronicles her eating disorder journey
  2. Nia Marie Patterson’s blog – her articles describe how she has endured recovery and what inspires her while she faces the challenges of having an ED. 
  3. Eating Disorder Hope – a website that offers information and resources for individuals with EDs, their families, and treatment providers 
  4. Six Common Types of Eating Disorders – a useful, introductory article on the most common types of eating disorders

episode 1 - depression and anxiety

Depression and anxiety can be overwhelming, but they are a lot more common than we think. Listen to this week’s story, which reminds us that although life can be very challenging when living with depression or anxiety (or both), there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Dr. Doris Iarovici, a psychiatrist at Harvard, shares her insight about what we can do that is within our control to take care of ourselves. 

Resources mentioned in the episode:

  1. Mental Health Issues and the University Student -book by Dr. Iarovici
  2.  Active Minds – a nonprofit present in over 800 schools
  3. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255