On the Record: Mental health is a matter of life and death

THAT'S TOTALLY FINE. THANK YOU.

>> IT'S TIME TO GO ON THE

RECORD. IT WITH WRAL NEWS.

>> FROM THE ONSET OF THE

PANDEMIC TO THE GREAT

RESIGNATION. MENTAL HEALTH

CHALLENGES ARE SHIFTING.

THE CLIMATE OF LIFE AS WE KNOW

IT, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION ARE

IMPACTING SO MANY OF US RIGHT

NOW. ONE IN 5 NORTH CAROLINIANS

ADMIT TO STRUGGLING, BUT SO

MANY MORE OFTEN TOO AFRAID TO

SPEAK OUT. TAKE SIMONE BILES

WHO BROKE DOWN INTO TEARS AS

SHE MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES FOR

SHARING HER ONGOING STRUGGLES

WITH MENTAL HEALTH. ULTIMATELY

HER BOUT WITH THE TWISTIES

CAUSED HER TO WITHDRAW FROM

MULTIPLE EVENTS IN THE TOKYO

OLYMPICS THIS SUMMER, THEN

THERE'S THE TRAGIC DEATH OF

30 YEAR-OLD CHESLIE KRYST MISS

USA 2019 AND A FORMER MISS

NORTH CAROLINA. AFTER WHAT SHE

DESCRIBED AS MOUNTING PRESSURE.

SHE TOOK HER LIFE BY JUMPING

FROM THE 29TH FLOOR. THE NEW

YORK CITY HIGH RISE. WE WANT TO

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THE

RECORD. I'M MIKAYA THURMOND

THIS WEEK. I'M JOINED BY 2

PEOPLE WHO KNOW THAT MENTAL

HEALTH IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND

DEATH. CHRIS CURRENTLY LOST

HIS SISTER JENNY TO SUICIDE IN

2018 AND NOW HE AND HIS WIFE

LINDSAY ARE WORKING TO RAISE

AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE

OF TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH

WITH THOSE THAT YOU LOVE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING WITH

US. FIRST, TELL US A LITTLE BIT

ABOUT JENNY AND WHAT YOU LOVE

MOST ABOUT HER.

>> WELL, FIRST FOR HAVING US

AND IN MAKING THIS SUCH A TOP

PRIORITY FOR, YOU KNOW, THAT

PEOPLE NOT ONLY TRYING A LITTLE

BIT OF HOPE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

JENNY WAS A VERY YOU KNOW, WE

HAD A BIG FAMILY. YOU KNOW,

WE'RE WAS 1 ONE TO 6. SHE WAS

THE YOUNGEST, YOU KNOW, AND SHE

WAS ALWAYS THE ONE THAT WAS

NEVER AFRAID TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE

A CHANCE, TAKE A WHEN SHE

GRADUATED FROM NURSING SCHOOL,

SHE END UP BEING A TRAVEL NURSE

AND GETTING MARRIED TO HER

HUSBAND, JAY CRUISER AND THE

MILITARY. LET'S GIVE HER AN

OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL THE

COUNTRY TO SEE DIFFERENT PLACES

TO MOVE AROUND AND REALLY

EXPLORE. SHE LOVED THE SO ONE

OF THE PLACES SHE ENDED UP

THROUGH LIKE WAS UTAH. SHE

ENDED UP IN SEATTLE AND I'M

REALLY LOVE ABOUT SPIRIT ABOUT

HER BECAUSE SHE WAS VERY SHE'S

NEVER AFRAID TO JUST RELEASED

ABOUT CIRCUMFERENCE ZONE AND

NOT.

SOME THINGS. WELL, WE'RE HAVING

A LITTLE BIT OF AUDIO ISSUES

LINDSAY, ARE YOU ABLE TO JUMP

IN AT THIS POINT? I THINK IT

WAS JUST THE TECHNOLOGY.

>> WE KNOW THAT SHE AT THE TIME

WAS A TRAVELING NURSE. SHE WAS

A WIFE AS WELL. BUT YOU GUYS

PREVIOUSLY SHARED THAT THERE

WERE NO OBVIOUS SIGNS FOR YOU

THAT SHE WAS STRUGGLING WITH

HER MENTAL HEALTH. TAKE US TO

2018 AND HOW THAT CHANGED.

>> YEAH, I THINK I THINK IF YOU

LOOK AT THOSE PICTURES, YOU

WOULD NEVER THINK THAT TONY

WAS YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW.

LIKE CHRIS SAID SHE WAS VERY

ADVENTUROUS. YOU AS ALWAYS

HIKING TRAVELING AND DOING A

LOT OF THINGS. SO YOU HAVE NO

IDEA. AND HONESTLY, WE DIDN'T

KNOW UNTIL WE FOUND THE THAT

SHE LEFT FOR A SOFTER, SHE

DIDN'T DIE BY SUICIDE. AND SHE

COMMUNICATED THAT SHE HAS

STRUGGLED FOR A LONG TIME WITH

ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. AND WE

JUST WE HAD NO IDEA. WE HAD

NO WARNING SIGNS AND SO I THINK

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO STAY

IN WITH YOUR FAMILY, CREATE AN

ENVIRONMENT FOR COMMUNICATION

AND ALLOW THIS TYPE OF

CONVERSATIONS TO TAKE PLACE.

>> AND, CHRIS, I KNOW IT WAS

JUST DEVASTATING FOR YOUR

ENTIRE FAMILY AND FOR YOU

PERSONALLY TO TRY TO PUT THE

PIECES TOGETHER. THERE ARE SO

MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE LISTENING

RIGHT NOW AND MAY FEEL THE SAME

WAY OF I DON'T NOTICE ANY

SIGNS. WHAT DO YOU SAY AS FAR

AS A WAY THAT YOU WOULD WANT

THEM TO START THAT

CONVERSATION?

>> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS

THAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM THIS

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT IS.

WE DIDN'T DO IT WITH US AND A

TRAGEDY. SO THAT WAS ONE THING

THAT SAYS PEOPLE AS A FAMILY,

WE'VE GROWN ON ONE OF THE

THINGS THAT LINDSAY NAIDU IS

THAT IF WE THINK ABOUT SOMEONE

EVEN FOR THE BRIEFEST OF

MOMENTS TO REACH OUT BECAUSE

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THAT TEXT

MESSAGE, IT MIGHT MEAN WITH

THAT PHONE CALL MIGHT MEAN TO

I THINK THAT THERE'S A REASON

WHY PEOPLE THEIR NAMES UP IN

YOUR HEAD, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO

NEW. THEY NEED PICKING UP TO

KNOW THAT SOMEONE IS OUT THERE

BUT I WOULD JUST SAY IS JUST

COMMUNICATE IS JUST, YOU KNOW,

BE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE AND

JUST LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT

YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THEM WHEN

YOU ARE BECAUSE OF TELL YOU

WHAT THAT'S

THAT'S A REALLY GREAT THING

THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE PEOPLE

IN THEIR CORNER WHEN YOU DON'T

THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN

THERE.

>> AND YOU I HAVE TAKEN THIS

TRAGEDY AND TURNED IT TRULY

INTO A MOMENT OF HEALING FOR SO

MANY PEOPLE. TELL US A LITTLE

BIT ABOUT WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE

NOW AS MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES

TO RAISE AWARENESS.

>> SO WHEN WE CAME WHEN JENNY

DIED BY WIND UP WITH AN EMAIL

FROM A NEW ORGANIZATION CALLED

AMERICAN OF A NICHE FOR SUICIDE

PREVENTION LOCATED IN NEW YORK

CITY. IT JUST RANDOMLY SHOWED

UP ONE DAY AND ONE OF OUR

E-MAIL INBOXES. IT WAS LIKE A

LIGHTNING BOWL. IT WAS A A WAY

TO GET INVOLVED. YOU KNOW,

NEVER BEFORE TO WHAT I THINK

I'D BE INVOLVED WITH AN

ORGANIZATION LIKE IT WAS KIND

OF FORCED MY HAND, WHICH, YOU

KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN SO GREAT.

YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE ON THE WAY

THAT YOU'VE MET. WE SHARE YOUR

STORY. SO THEY DO THIS OUT OF

THE OVERNIGHT WALKS AND A 2

MILE HIKE TO BRING AWARENESS

TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE

PREVENTION. AND ONE OF THE

THINGS YOU YOU FUND RAISE, YOU

RAISE MONEY TO GO TOWARDS YOUR

STATION SO PEOPLE CAN GET, YOU

KNOW, FINANCIAL, YOU KNOW,

SECURITY IS IN THE HANDS.

WE CAN DO THINGS WITH IT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE

DONE IS WE SHARE A STORY WITH

PEOPLE WITH FRIENDS WITH LOCAL

BUSINESSES. AND TODAY WE'RE

JUST NORTH ABOUT $50,000 RAISE

FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND

JENNINGS MEMORY. IN ADDITION TO

THAT, ONE THING THAT YOU GUYS

ARE ALSO DOING IS JUST SHARING

THAT STORY LIKE YOU MENTIONED.

>> AND WHAT YOU'VE SAID BEFORE

LINDSAY IS THAT YOU'RE NOW

SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE

ALSO COMING FORWARD AND SHARING

THEIR STORY. WE'LL SEE. HOW ARE

YOU ABLE TO SEE REALLY, YOU

GUYS RAISE THAT AWARENESS AND

ALSO INCREASE THE PROFILE OF

PEOPLE WHO ARE IN SIMILAR

SITUATIONS.

>> YEAH, I KNOW WHEN THIS

HAPPENED AND JENNY, I REMEMBER

TELLING CHRIS VERY EARLY ON,

LIKE, GOSH, I JUST I DON'T KNOW

ANYONE WHO HAS LOST A MONTH

FROM SUICIDE. AND THEN WHEN

WE STARTED BEING TRANSPARENT

AND SHARING OUR STORY,

UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS ALL

AROUND US. THERE ARE TONS OF

PEOPLE HILL EITHER HAD FAMILY

MEMBERS OR FRIENDS WHO HAD LOST

LOVED ONES TO SUICIDE. AND THEN

YOU KNOW, JUST SHARING THE

STORY HAD AND AND BEING

TRANSPARENT HAS PUT US AND THIS

COMMUNITY AND ALLOWED JUST TO

REALLY NOT ONLY SHARE JENNY'S

STORY, BUT TO HELP THOSE STILL

ARE. I'M STRUGGLING FROM INSIDE

THE DEPRESSION, OTHER MENTAL

HEALTH ISSUES AND JUST

ENCOURAGING THEM TO GET THE

HELP THEY NEED EITHER FROM, YOU

KNOW, THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION

FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION WAR WERE

ALSO HUGE ADVOCATES OF THERAPY

SO, YEAH, I THINK BEING

TRANSPARENT, SHARING OUR STORY

HAS NOT ONLY BENEFIT US TO HELP

US HEAL, BUT I THINK IT'S

HELPED OTHERS AS WELL. THIS

YEAR THEY'RE TURNING KRISTEN

LINDSEY, FIRST OF ALL, OF

COURSE, I AM DEVASTATED FOR

YOUR TRAGEDY, BUT YOU SAID IT

BEST. A TRAGEDY REMAINS A

TRAGEDY.

>> IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING

TOWARD HEALING. AND THAT'S

CLEARLY WHAT BOTH OF YOU ALL

ARE DOING. THANK YOU SO MUCH

FOR BEING WITH US AND OF

COURSE, WE WANT TO REMIND YOU

THAT THERE IS A NATIONAL

SUICIDE HOTLINE. YOU CAN CALL

1 802, 7, 3, TALK OR TEXT

CRISIS. 274-1741. THERE'S ALSO

A NORTH CAROLINA HELPLINE.

IT'S CALLED HOPE FOR INSEE.

IT'S A FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL,

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT LINE STAFFED.

24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK.

THE NUMBER THERE IS 1, 8, 5, 5,

5, 8, 7, 3, 4, 6, 3, WE'LL BE

RIGHT BACK.

>> A GROWING CONCERN FOR

PARENTS IS THE NUMBER OF KIDS

AND TEENS REPORTING POOR MENTAL

HEALTH DURING THE PANDEMIC.

I'M A NEW STUDY POINTS TO THE

SCOPE AND SIZE OF THE PROBLEM.

NEW CDC DATA RELEASED LAST

MONTH FOUND THAT 37% OF ALL

HIGH SCHOOLERS REPORTED

EXPERIENCING POOR MENTAL HEALTH

DURING THE PANDEMIC WITH 44%

REPORTEDLY PERSISTENTLY FEELING

SAD OR HOPELESS IN THE PAST

YEAR. THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR

THEMSELVES. WELL, RIGHT NOW I'M

JOINED BY WRAL, INVESTIGATIVE

DOCUMENTARY REPORTER KRISTEN

SEVERANCE. AND NEXT WEEK PAIRED

DEMICK GENERATION WILL DEBUT.

KRISTEN FIRST, TELL US ABOUT

THE DOCUMENTARY. SO I THINK

THOSE NUMBERS THAT THAT IS SUCH

A GOOD SET UP, BECAUSE, YOU

KNOW, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE

STRUGGLING. NO ONE HAD IT EASY

THESE LAST 2 YEARS. BUT WHEN

YOU SIT DOWN AND WHEN YOU TALK

TO YOUNG PEOPLE

>> OR YOU TALK TO PARENTS, YOU

TALK TO A GRANDPARENT, YOU TALK

TO A CAREGIVER. YOU START TO

UNDERSTAND JUST HOW DIFFICULT

THESE LAST 2 YEARS WERE ON

KIDS. AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW,

AND EXPERTS AGREE, THIS IS THE

BIGGEST MOST UNDERREPORTED

STORY OUT THERE. AND WHEN I

CALLED DUKE, WHEN I CALLED

NONPROFIT, WHEN I CALLED A

PEDIATRICIAN'S, EVERY ONE OF

THEM SAID DO THIS DOCUMENTARY,

WOW, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT

KIDS, MENTAL HEALTH PEOPLE ARE

JUST NOW STARTING TO REALIZE

WHAT A BIG DEAL THIS IS AND

JUST BECAUSE CASES ARE GOING

DOWN AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THESE

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WILL JUST

GO AWAY. AND IT'S VERY

IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT RIGHT

NOW. I WANT TO GET A FIRST LOOK

AT PANDEMIC GENERATION.

>> IT'S BRINGING YOU IN YOUR

MIND

>> STATE ON THE DECLINE.

BUT HEALTH EXPERTS SAY ONE

THING FROM THE PANDEMIC WON'T

BE GOING AWAY. WHAT IT DID TO

MY KIDS.

>> I I JUST COULDN'T SEE MYSELF

AND ISOLATION.

I GUESS I SORT OF FELT TRAPPED.

>> I DON'T WANT ABOUT MASKS

MANDATES, VACCINE YOUNG PEOPLE

MISSING AND TOOK IT ALL IN.

>> THAT WAS ON THE FRONT LINES

FOR PATIENTS.

>> MOST OF ROOMS FOR 2 YEARS.

MY BEDROOM WAS A GIFT AND A

CURSE BECAUSE I SPENT SO MUCH

TIME IN GOING BACK TO IN-PERSON

SCHOOLING WASN'T EASY

ONE IN 5 YOUNG PEOPLE

EXPERIENCE ANXIETY OR

DEPRESSION

>> I DEFINITELY FEEL INSIDE.

SOMEWHAT DEPRESSED.

>> AND NOW SUICIDE IS THE

LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR

CHILDREN, AGES 10 TO 14.

>> WHAT DO WE DO NOW? THE PART

THAT WE'RE GOING TO STRUGGLE

WITH FOR QUITE SOME TIME IS THE

WHY'S IT SO HARD TO CONNECT

KIDS WHO NEED HELP WITH THAT

HELP? IT'S COMPLICATED BY A

LACK OF WORKFORCE. HOW CAN WE

HELP THEM EASE THE STATE DOING

ENOUGH? I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS

OUR POLICYMAKERS THESE MIDDLE

AND HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM

ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA AGREED TO

SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT COVID

THE PANDEMIC AND THEIR MENTAL

HEALTH.

>> THESE EXPERTS TO 2, IT IS

ABSOLUTELY CRISIS. PACE IS THE

PANDEMIC MY GOODNESS, CHRIS AND

I HAVE CHILLS ALL OVER MY BODY,

PARTICULARLY TOUCHED BY THE

YOUNG LADY WHO SAID HER BEDROOM

WAS BOTH A GIFT AND A CURSE,

RIGHT? HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO

NAVIGATE ALL OF THE LAYERS

THERE THAT REALLY NEED TO BE

SORTED OUT? YOU KNOW, MCKAY AT

THAT IS WHY I LOVE.

>> INTERVIEWING KIDS. THAT IS

WHY I LOVE WORKING WITH YOUNG

PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE SO OPEN

THERE. SO HONEST, THEY DON'T

SUGAR COAT ANYTHING. THEY HAVE

NOTHING TO PROVE. SO SITTING

DOWN AND ASKING THEM.

>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE HAVING TO

SPEND ALL THIS TIME IN THEIR

BEDROOM? THEY CAN COME UP WITH

THE PERFECT WORDS BECAUSE IT

WAS IT WAS HOW THEY WERE

FEELING AND, YOU KNOW, ONE

THING THAT REALLY STRUCK ME

IS HOW MUCH TIME THEY WERE IN

THEIR ROOMS AND THEN YOU KNOW,

AND JUST THE SCREENS YOU KNOW,

DOES THAT LACK OF CONNECTION,

THE LACK OF CONNECTION THAT

SO MANY OF THEM FELT? AND OF

COURSE, YOU'RE TACKLING THIS AS

A JOURNALIST FIRST, BUT YOU'RE

ALSO A MOM.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN JUST IN

YOUR OWN HOME, EVEN WITH YOUR

KIDS, FRIENDS AS WELL. SO I'M A

MOM, OF YOUNGER I HAVE 5 AND

HALF YEAR OLD TWINS. AND SO

WHEN I SAT DOWN WITH ONE OF

OUR EXPERTS. YOU KNOW, SHE

DIDN'T KNOW SHE DOES ON THE

JOURNALISTS SHOULD KNOW HOW MY

KIDS ARE. AND I SAID, YOU KNOW,

WHAT DID THESE 2 DUE TO OUR

KIDS? AND SHE SAID SHE LIKES TO

THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF OF JUST

THEIR LIFE. SHE SAID A 5

YEAR-OLD. THIS IS BEEN 40% OF

THEIR LIFE. WOW. AND SHE SAID

THEY DON'T HAVE PREPANDEMIC

MEMORIES INTO SITTING THERE.

YES, I'M A JOURNALIST. I'M ALSO

A MOM AND SHE SAID 5 YEAR-OLD

AND I'M THINKING THAT'S MY

KIDS. THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW.

WORLD BEFORE THIS. AND AND WE

DON'T KNOW KIND OF WHAT THAT

MEANS DOWN THE ROAD. YOU KNOW

SOMETHING ELSE. THE EXPERTS

TOLD ME THIS IS A GENERATIONAL

TRAUMA. SO FROM 5 UNTIL I MEAN,

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUNG

PEOPLE. BUT 5 UNTIL, YOU KNOW,

EARLY 20'S, THEY WERE KIDS IN

HIGH SCHOOL OR HAD TO GO

THROUGH THIS. AND YOU KNOW,

NOW THEY'RE IN AND SO WE JUST

DON'T KNOW WHAT WHAT THIS IS

GOING TO MEAN DOWN THE ROAD.

>> AND WE HEARD IT THERE IN THE

PREVIEW OF THE DOCUMENTARY THAT

SUICIDE IS THE LEADING CAUSE

OF DEATH FOR 10 TO 14

YEAR-OLDS.

HEARTBREAKING TO HEAR SOMETHING

LIKE THAT. WE'RE EXPERTS DOING

IN ORDER TO STOP THAT FROM

HAPPENING. IT IS SUCH A HIT.

IT'S A NUMBER THAT REALLY HAS

STUCK WITH ME. AND I KNOW YOU

FEEL THE SAME WAY TO, YOU KNOW,

THE ONE THING WE UNCOVERED IN

THE DOCUMENTARY GETTING HELP

THE WAIT TO GET HELP. IT IS

TAKING A LONG TIME AND WE KIND

OF UNCOVER WHY THE STAFFING AND

KIND OF THE ENTIRE MENTAL

HEALTH PROFESSION IN NORTH

CAROLINA.

>> IT IS OVERWHELMED TO BE.

SO WHILE THERE IS A STIGMA

ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, IT'S

SLOWLY COMING OFF. PEOPLE ARE

TALKING ABOUT IT. SO THAT MEANS

MORE PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR

HELP, WHICH IS GOOD. BUT WE

JUST DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE OR

SERVICES IN PLACE TO HELP AS

MANY PEOPLE AS NEEDED. SO WHAT

DO WE DO AS PARENTS? SO, YOU

KNOW, THE EVERYONE SAD FROM HAD

WITH KIDS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE

PEOPLE INTERVIEWED, YOU HAVE

TO TALK ABOUT IT. YOU HAVE TO

ASK YOUR CHILD YOUR IT, YOU

FROM 5 AND UP. HOW ARE YOU

DOING? AND LISTEN THAT IS THE

OTHER THING ABOUT THE

DOCUMENTARY. THIS GENERATION,

THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SO OPEN

AND THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

YEAH, IT'S THE OLDER GENERATION

WHO FEELS A LITTLE BIT MAY BE

UNCOMFORTABLE WITH WHAT THEY

MIGHT HEAR. THESE YOUNG PEOPLE

ABSOLUTELY WANT TO TALK ABOUT

IT. THEY WILL TALK ABOUT IT.

THEY SAY THEY'LL MODEL HOW TO

DO THE CONVERSATION MORE YOU IF

YOU JUST ASKED THE QUESTION

AND LISTEN AND YOU KNOW,

EXPERTS SAID AND KIDS SAID YOU

DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO FIX IT.

IF YOU JUST LISTEN BE THAT

LISTENING. EAR AND THEN YES,

YOU HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR

CHILD. YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW,

PUSH TO GET SERVICES AND WE

REACH OUT TO YOUR PEDIATRICIAN.

THAT WAS ALSO SOMETHING MIKAYA

THAT THAT STUCK OUT TO ME.

IF MY CHILD WAS HAVING A MENTAL

HEALTH ISSUE, IT WOULDN'T

NECESSARILY THINK LET ME CALL

MY PEDIATRICIAN, OK? BUT THEY

ALL HAVE THESE INROADS. THEY

HAVE CONNECTIONS THAT I TO.

THAT IS, YOU THAT IS ONE STEP

THAT'S KIND OF BIG YEAR FOR

STAFF. IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT

YOUR CHILD WILL TELL YOU WHAT

PANDEMIC GENERATION IS JUST

ONE EXAMPLE OF A WAY TO GET

THAT CONVERSATION STARTED.

>> AND OF COURSE, KRISTIN,

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING

US IF YOU DO NEED HELP OR ARE

IN CRISIS, WE'VE GOT RESOURCES

AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW. YOU CAN

CALL OR TEXT THE HOPE FOR INSEE

HOTLINE AT 8, 5, 5, 587-3463.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES CAN

SHOW UP AS MORE THAN JUST AN

ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. IT CAN

ALSO LEAD TO SUBSTANCE USE

DISORDER. THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED

WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES

CAN MAKE IT EVEN HARDER FOR

PEOPLE TO GET HELP. AND RIGHT

NOW WE'RE JOINED BY REVIDA

LOCAL FOR A LICENSE SOCIAL

WORKER AND TROY MANZ, THE

STATEWIDE DIRECTOR FOR RECOVERY

COMMUNITIES OF NORTH CAROLINA

WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO HAVE A DEEP

PERSONAL CONNECTION IN TROY.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

YOU ARE CHANGING LIVES THAT ARE

CNC AND YOUR PASSION FOR THE

WORK COMES FROM YOUR OWN LIFE

STORY. TELL US ABOUT HOW MENTAL

HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE

DISORDER IMPACTED. YOU.

>> YES, WELL, THANK YOU FOR

HAVING

WELL, I IMPACTED THE FIRST MY

MINI ME JUST SHARE WITH YOU

GUYS THAT I AM A LONG-TERM

BECOME WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE

PAST. 21 YEARS. I HAVE NOT

FOUND A REASON TO USE ANY DRUGS

OR ANY ALCOHOL IN MY LIFE IS

JUST BEYOND OUR IMAGINATION.

I'M A LOT BETTER. AND THAT'S

DUE THE ABILITY TO GET THE HELP

THAT I NEEDED AT THE TIME.

WHEN I WAS IN CRISIS WITH

SUBSTANCE USE TO.

>> AND AS YOU STRUGGLED WITH A

VARIETY OF SUBSTANCES, IT

WASN'T JUST THE SUBSTANCE

SYSTEM SELF THAT YOU ULTIMATELY

NEEDED HELP OF WITH YOU HAD

ALSO CHALLENGES WITH SELF

ESTEEM.

>> YES, GROWING

>> IN THE HOUSEHOLD, I GREW UP

>> I WANT TO SAY IT WAS JUST

>> LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT

DIFFERENT A MENTAL HEALTH

SUFFER FROM ANXIETY.

THIS MOST OF HIS TEAM AND ALSO

THAT IS WELL AHEAD

OF ME TO SUBSTANCE AND OUT FROM

THERE, MODERATION TO CALL AN

EARLY AGE.

>> AND TORY, YOU ARE NOW 21

YEARS SOBER. CONGRATULATIONS

ON THAT PICTURE. USING YOUR

EXPERIENCE TO TRULY CHANGE

LIVES BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS

CONNECTION OF YOUR PAST.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AS FAR AS

THE STIGMA THAT IS ASSOCIATED

WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND

THEN WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR

THAT TO CHANGE

>> WELL, HISTORICALLY, YOU

KNOW, SUBSTANCE USE IS ALWAYS

TO LOOK AT THAT CRIMINAL

ACTIVITY IN. WE HAVE A HISTORY

OF CRIMINAL LIVES AND PEOPLE

WITH BAD SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES.

SO THAT IS CALLS A LOT OF

STIGMA WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES

WITHIN INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE

THIS ISSUE TO REACH OUT FOR

A LOT OF TIMES IT'S CONNECTED

TO THE FAMILY. THEY DON'T WANT

TO LIVE THAT. THEY HAVE FAILED

THE FAMILY. ONE INDIVIDUAL WAS

FROM SO PART OF MY JOB WHEN

I DID, TODAY'S TRIED TO REMOVE

THAT STIGMA. THIS IS A TASK

THAT WERE IN USE MY LIFE.

MY STORY AS A PLATFORM TO HELP

PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT CAR.

IT'S IT'S A DISEASE AND NOT

PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GET HELP

RIGHT.

>> READ, I WANT TO BRING YOU IN

THE CONVERSATION JUST LAST

MONTH NCDHHS REPORTED THAT 40%

OF ADULTS HAD SYMPTOMS OF

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. WHAT

RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE.

>> IN TERMS OF SEEKING MENTAL

HEALTH CARE PEOPLE USUALLY

THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH WILL IT

COST? SO IF PEOPLE ARE WORKING

AND THEY HAVE INSURANCE, THEY

CAN VISIT THEIR INSURANCE

COMPANY'S WEBSITE AND DO A

SEARCH FOR PROVIDERS BASED ON

GENDER AND ETHNICITY, FAITH IN

ANYTHING THAT CONCERNS IN

PROXIMITY TO THEIR HOMES AND

CHILDREN. SCHOOLS ON WORK AND

ALSO, YES, THEY HAVE EMPLOYEE

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS.

THEY CAN USUALLY CONTACT.

THERE'S HUMAN RESOURCES

DEPARTMENT TO ASK. THEY WOULD

REQUEST AN AUTHORIZATION AND

WITH THAT THEY WOULD BE

ENTITLED TO A CERTAIN NUMBER

OF VISITS AT NO COST TO MAN'S.

AND SOMETIMES THAT'S JUST A

NICE WAY TO GET STARTED WITHOUT

HAVING TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF

THEIR POCKETS. AND PEOPLE ALSO

HAVE THE STATE HEALTH PLAN.

THEY CAN ACCESS SERVICES FOR

PREFERRED PROVIDERS AT NO COST

TO THEM. AND THEN FINALLY,

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY IS ANOTHER

WEBSITE THAT YOU CAN VISIT TO

TIE TO CHECK INFORMATION ABOUT

WHAT KIND OF INSURANCE YOU

HAVE, WHAT KIND OF CONCERN YOU

HAVE AND IT WILL POPULATE A

LIST OF PROVIDERS BE AND CHOOSE

FROM.

>> AND REVEAL YOU'RE ON THE

FRONTLINE OF THIS. I REALLY

WANT TO GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD

HERE. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST

MISCONCEPTION ABOUT PEOPLE

THINKING THAT MAYBE THE HELP

ISN'T AS CLOSE AS IT IS.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE

PEOPLE THAT REACH OUT TO YOU?

>> THE PEOPLE HELP IS

AVAILABLE. I THINK MOST PEOPLE

CAN GET IN THE WAY OF

THEMSELVES. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE

MAKE A LOT OF JOKES ABOUT

MENTAL HEALTH AND THAT MAKES

PEOPLE JUST FEEL CRAZY. IN

UNSTABLE FOR REACHING OUT FOR

SERVICES. BUT IF WE JUST BREAK

IT DOWN AND THINK ABOUT IT IN

TERMS OF MANAGING YOUR

THOUGHTS, YOUR FEELINGS AND

YOUR BEHAVIOR AND YOU GET AN

WHEN THOSE CHANGES MENTAL

HEALTH IS JUST.

PARTNERING WITH SOMEONE TO HELP

YOU GAIN SOME UNDERSTANDING

ABOUT WHEN THESE CHANGES HAPPEN

THAT ARE UNDESIRABLE AND TO

IDENTIFY SOME OPTIONS AND TO

MAKE A PLAN TO FIGURE OUT THE

STEPS TO HELP YOU TAKE TO GET

HIGHER LEVEL

OF FUNCTIONING.

>> ENTER WE ONLY HAVE 30

SECONDS LEFT, BUT I KNOW THAT

THE RESOURCES WAS A GAME

CHANGER FOR YOU BECAUSE NO

ONE'S JUST TALKED ABOUT HELPING

YOUR COMMUNITY.

>> NOBODY AT ALL. AND I WAS

REALLY BLESSED. HAVE SOMEBODY

IN MY COMMUNITY THAT THAT THEN

TO THE PROCESS OF RECOVERY

BEFORE THAT HELPED ME NAVIGATE

THE SYSTEMS IN. AND THAT'S

SOMETHING THAT I'M BIG ON A LOT

OF TIME WITH. THAT PERSON IS

REACHING OUT FOR HELP. THEY

DON'T KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THE

SYSTEMS OF CARE AND SO THAT'S

WHAT WE TRY TO TEACH PEOPLE TO

BE ABLE TO DO AT THAT MOMENT

WHEN THAT PERSON WHO IS SEEKING

RIGHT? YEAH.

>> WELL, TROY AND REVIDA, I

WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR

BEING WITH US. IT IS SUCH AN

IMPORTANT TALK TOPIC AND IT'S

MUCH BIGGER THEN JUST THIS HALF

HOUR CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE

BEEN HAVING RIGHT AND OF

COURSE, THAT IS WHY THIS COMING

WEEK. WRAL IS DEDICATING MORE

RESOURCES TO HELPING WITH THE

MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS ON

THURSDAY. APRIL 21ST, WE'RE

HOSTING MENTAL HEALTH PRO'S

ON CALL DOZENS OF LICENSED

PROFESSIONALS WILL BE ON HAND

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND ACCESS

TO HELP FOR 4 TO 07:30PM, AT

THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN.

BE SURE TO TUNE IN FOR THE

PREMIER OF THE NEXT WRAL

DOCUMENTARY PANDEMIC

GENERATION. THAT'S WEDNESDAY

AT 7.30, ON WRAL. WE WANT TO

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

AND REMEMBER IT ALL STARTS WITH

A CONVERSATION.