Farewell to Raising Joy: Dr. Powderly on Mental Health Progress and Finding Your Curtain Call

In this powerful final episode, hosts Kristen Pyrc, M.D. and Wini King announce that Raising Joy is going on a hiatus after five successful seasons and over 125 episodes. They celebrate that the mission of the Joy Campaign—to support the mental well-being of children—will absolutely continue at Cook Children's.To close out their run, they welcome back their very first guest: Kathleen Powderly, M.D. Dr. Powderly was the "canary in the coal mine" who first sounded the alarm on the youth mental health crisis during the pandemic.She shares vital progress:Reduced Stigma: Fewer severe suicide attempts and a massive shift in families being willing to seek help earlier, before the situation becomes desperate.Better Resources: Increased availability of therapists, more insurance options, and the growth of employee assistance programs (EAPs).Success Stories: Dr. Powderly shares the professional "joy" of seeing her former patients—who accessed help during the crisis—now in college and "better".To our listeners, thank you for many moments of JOY! We are grateful for each and every one of you. Remember, Just Breathe, Open Up, You Matter!