Essential Reasons to Reframe Your Thinking Around Mental Health Stigmas
June 16, 2022
Today we continue our conversation with Eric Kussin. The founder of the organization #SameHere, a global mental health movement.
Eric previously shared his personal story of battling a severe mental health crisis, his misdiagnosis, the missing piece of the puzzle, and what led him to find #SameHere. If you missed it, I highly recommend you go back and check out Episode 68 first.
In this episode, we openly discuss suicide and suicidal ideation. If you’re vulnerable to this right now, please check out the resources in the show notes where you can reach out for help.
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
- It’s time to talk about the root of the mental health crisis.
- Discover what it means to be vulnerable and open.
- Learn about # SameHere’s revolutionary apps.
Episode Highlights
Recap of Episode 68 with Eric Kussin
- Eric is the founder of the global mental health movement #SameHere.
- He shared his personal story of fighting against a severe mental health crisis.
- Eric was misdiagnosed for years and discussed how he discovered the missing part of the equation and how he came to find a global mental health movement.
Returning to the subject of suicide
- Most of the time, our parasympathetic response is dominant.
- Eric discusses what happens when a build-up of life “stuff” triggers the sympathetic response.
- Though stress and life trauma affect everyone in society, Eric gives an example of what this looks like for college athletes.
- *Trigger warning* He gives a “pill bottle example.”
Removing the stigma
- Asking for help about suicidal thoughts is not something to feel ashamed about.
- Eric acknowledges that we’ll never be able to save everyone, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make some significant progress.
- He discusses the need for more education so that we feel comfortable talking about suicidal ideation.
Tiffany shares a story
- During a safety training at work, Tiffany brought up the topic of “Naloxone” and how if it weren’t for this drug, her brother would have passed away sooner.
- The conversation allowed someone else to say aloud that he had attempted suicide three months earlier.
- This caused a ripple effect, and it created a safe space.
Vulnerability is the “not-so-secret” formula
- Eric talks about someone he works with, former NHL player Theo Fleury.
- Theo’s story creates a safe place and shows that being authentic and vulnerable isn’t a secret formula.
- Eric addresses how rare it is today to find a celebrity that is willing to be genuinely vulnerable.
What is behind addictions?
- Most people become addicted to things because they distract them from dealing with other issues.
- There is a connection between trauma, addiction, suicide, mental health, and overdose.
- The media purposefully separates these things.
A note to talk about Naomi Judd
- We explore if it was a coincidence or a plausible possibility that she committed suicide the day before her Hall of Fame induction.
- In an interview with People magazine in 2018, Naomi Judd discussed the breakdown of neural circuitry and how we don’t know exactly how it happens.
- When the people we lose speak, it’s important to listen because they tell us they don’t want these feelings to happen.
#SameHere Scale
- A numerical scale from 0 to 10 does not suffice to assess someone’s mental health.
- With the #SameHere Scale, they’ve devised language that doesn’t allow a middle answer.
- The six spots on the scale range from the most optimal neural circuitry: thriving, gliding, surviving, fluctuating, struggling, and sinking.
- The words and the emojis that go with them are “ing” words, indicating that you’re constantly moving on that scale and not stuck in one place.
More about the #SameHere Scale
- There are two versions of the app.
- One is a personal #SameHereScale where you can track your progress.
- You can text a friend, email the link, download it, and talk to each other using WhatsApp.
- That is something you can do with an unlimited number of people.
The School Version (#SameHere Teacher and #SameHere Student)
- The school provides the #SameHere team with every teacher and the students they want to be associated with that teacher, then the #SameHere team uploads data to the backend.
- With a single click of a button, the teacher asks, “How are you?” and is sent to every child’s device.
- The kids move their fingers on a sliding scale and can also write more about why.
- This gives an emotional snapshot of everyone in the class.
Other benefits of the app
- The teacher has the option of sorting the answers from sinking to thriving.
- They can forward any answers they want directly to the school professional with the click of a button.
- You give the child the authority to say. I’m feeling this way; this is why, and these are some of the things I’m going through.
- All the information comes from one source, and everyone is looking at the same thing simultaneously.
Things to be grateful for
- Tiffany is grateful that it’s raining today.
- Eric is heading to Daytona Beach and is thankful to have a friend and collaborator who forces him to stop working and focus on himself.
A Powerful Quote from this Episode
17:49 – “Why can’t I reach out to you, who’s next to me, and go, ‘ma’am, I’m having those suicidal thoughts that are telling me to hurt myself. Can you keep me safe right now? Can you keep me out of the situation?'”
Connect with Eric Kussin
Resources
Ep 68: #SAMEHERE Global Mental Health Movement with Eric Kussin
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Thanks for listening,
Tiff
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