Key points from today’s guests:
Kelly Specht, Carl’s Cause founder
- In 2010, her son Carl was diagnosed with bipolar disorder during his sophomore year of college. Seven years later, he died by suicide.
- He had no mental health issues prior and there weren’t many resources for parents to learn how to help when he was diagnosed in college.
- She and her husband founded Carl’s Cause after the loss of Carl because they wanted to bring mental health awareness to a stadium level awareness.
- Carl’s Cause has evolved to host a golf tournament that has helped Strawberry Hill now fund three mental health navigators to help other people.
- She said it means a lot to hear how these efforts are helping other people and it’s something Carl would have wanted.
Dr. Mitchell Douglass, psychiatrist; director, Marillac Campus, The University of Kansas Health System
- Bipolar disorder is a complex psychiatric condition to diagnose and is defined by episodic, longer periods of mood instability.
- This is very challenging to diagnose, especially for those in adolescence and as there are normal stresses from being in school.
- It is ok to talk to your kids about suicide – you are not planting a seed.
- The leading cause of death for children under 19 is gun violence and that is something that is highly preventable.
- Means restriction works to help prevent suicide.
- It is important to get some more help involved, even if it’s the school counselor or a pediatrician.
Stacie Stoltz, licensed specialist clinical social worker; clinical manager, Mental and Behavioral Health Services, The University of Kansas Health System
- The behavioral health navigator program helps families find the right path to get the care they need when dealing with mental health issues.
- It can be confusing, so navigators help figure out what services families need and how to access them.
- We want to help them transition from an inpatient setting to outpatient care.
- We need to de-stigmatize this – mental health care is health care.
- It’s OK to not be OK and we need to be checking in on each other.
Monday, Sept. 9 at 8 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. Hear from one woman who knew something was wrong, but it took months to learn she had ovarian cancer. Learn more about her journey to diagnosis and hidden symptoms to look for.
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