In the first episode of its kind, Mental Health Matters goes to the streets! Real folks from the community ask how to deal with personal and sometimes stressful situations that arise during the holiday season. Host Shannon Eliot chats with BJ North, peer...

In this episode of Mental Health Matters, we break down what the integration of physical and behavioral health care means for doctors and patients. Guests are Dr. Karen Linkins of the Integrated Behvavioral Health Project and Alice Washington from the...

A caretaker's job is rarely easy. Whether you're a counselor, parent, health professional, etc. it can come with a physical and mental toll. How do you manage your own health and wellness, when you're in charge of another's care? Guests Beverly Kyer, founder and CEO...

Bullying is a stressor that anyone can deal with at any time, no matter what the age. Host Shannon Eliot interviews Vicki Abadesco, Executive Director of Soul Shoppe, and Michelle Mateo, a parent and mental health advocate. The two share their views on self-care...

Host Shannon Eliot chats with two peer support experts to discuss the concept of peer support and the new certification process for peer specialists. Sharon Kuehn is the Program Manager for PEERS and Jia Broussard is a peer specialist for Bonita House.

So you've made the decision that you want to pursue therapy. But where do you start, and how do you find the right therapist for you? Join Mental Health Matters host Shannon Eliot and guests Joshua Kogut and therapist Philipe Harrington as they share their personal...

The link between poverty and mental illness is real, although not always acknowledged. Host Shannon Eliot interviews Donita Diamata, Project Coordinator for Financial Self-Sufficiency at Mental Health America of Oregon. Learn how a lack of resources can lead to mental...

Sports can act as a great wellness tool for those with mental health challenges. But intense competition and a pressure to perform can also create or trigger athletes with mental health issues. How do athletes — from casual amateurs to decorated Olympians — balance...

Emotional eating is an issue that many of us have experienced at one time or another. And one doesn't need to be labeled with an eating disorder to struggle with it. Learn how you can recognize the signs of emotional eating and alternative ways to seek comfort. Host...

Trauma is a significant cause of mental health issues, but is often overlooked and underdiscussed in both children and adults. In fact, two-thirds of children report trauma by age 16 and face significant challenges later in life if left untreated. Learn about the...

Hearing voices can be a scary thing, but did you know it can also provide comfort to some? Why is such an experience regarded as a gift in some cultures but a diagnosable condition in others? Host Shannon Eliot chats with Adrian Bernard, a mental health advocate and...

The Mental Health Matters team recently had a chance to attend the 2013 Work & Well-Being Conference in San Francisco, presented by the American Psychological Association's Center for Organizational Excellence. Host Shannon Eliot explores the...

It's not uncommon for veterans to struggle with mental health challenges. It is unfortunately all too common, however, for those who need support to either refuse it or get ineffective care. The Coming Home Project is an innovative initiative that uses a virtual world...

With one in five Californians struggling with a mental health issue, it's likely that therapists and providers have similar challenges as their clients. However, how often do they talk about them with bosses or those they are trying to help? And what are the...

Have you ever been in love with someone with a mental health issue? Have you ever been the loved one with the mental health issue? Host Shannon Eliot joins Sarah Ward and Daniel Morgan in exploring mental health challenges in the context of romantic relationships.

Music is perhaps one of the most underutilized tools in mental health recovery. Host Shannon Eliot chats with Michael Kessler, a veteran music therapist, and Paulette Franklin, a lifelong vocalist, about the roles of rhythm and melody in healing. Learn how music can...

Will Hall is a nationally recognized mental health advocate, counselor, and speaker. He is also the author of the Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs, a 52-page pamphlet containing valuable information on supporting people who are exploring reducing...

How do you define a mental health issue? What does it mean to be normal in today's society, and what are the implications for those who don't fit that mold? The Exploratorium, a museum of science, art, and human perception in San Francisco, is exploring the issue in a...

Mental health challenges can be trying for anyone, but for those who are forced to flee their home country and take up residence in a new one, they can seem downright impossible to manage. Learn about the unique challenges that refugees face when trying to manage...

Veterans now account for one of every five suicides in the U.S., according to the George Washington University Face the Facts Initiative. With numbers like this, some are calling the suicide rate an epidemic. In this month's Mental Health Matters, hear from an veteran...

What better way to kick off the new year than to commit to some healthy resolutions? Learn more about the critical yet often forgotten link between mental and physical health. Discover how the mind and body affect each other and what you can do to stay well. Host...

What is the Internet's effect on our wellness? Is there such a thing as Internet addiction? Does the Web do more good or harm to our emotional health? Discover the answer to these questions and more as host Shannon Eliot chats about the connection with...

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, yet only 1 in 10 individuals suffering from the disorder receive treatment. Host Barbara Meyers talks with Julia F., who has lived with eating disorders for much of her life, and Marybeth...

Peer respite centers are community-based alternative models of mental health residential care. They foster wellness, are holistic in scope, and are staffed by people who are peers in terms of having experience in psychiatric crisis. Join host Barbara Meyers as she...

Wellness Recovery Action Planning, or WRAP, is an evidence-based system that is used worldwide by people who are dealing with mental health and other kinds of wellness challenges. It is a unique form of mental health support in that is peer-led and self-directed. Join...

Joshua Walters, a comedian living with bipolar disorder, chats with host Shannon Eliot about art, theatre, mental health empowerment, and his definition of madness.

The creative use of a mask-making workshop to help people living with mental health difficulties to have transformative experiences and change negative self-images. Host Shannon Eliot interviews workshop creator Adella and participant Jader Tadefa.

Join host Shannon Eliot as she chats with PEERS Spirituality Liaison Minister Monique Tarver and BOSS Executive Director boona cheema as they discuss the importance of spirituality in maintaining mental health and wellness.

Join host Shannon Eliot as she interviews Dan Reilly, Director of Shine, a documentary that highlights the inspirational and personal stories of three youths overcoming mental health challenges born from trauma. Executive producer and PEERS Associate...

Beats, Rhymes, and Life, or BRL, is an Oakland-based community organization that aims to promote mental health and wellness among youth through rap, hip hop, and other forms of pop culture. Host Shannon Eliot chats with founder Tomas Alvarez III and alum Damontae...