IMPACT STIGMA

In this episode of Impact Stigma, Kaylee and Josh welcome Rachel Hensley, Program Coordinator for Healthy Transitions, a life-changing initiative that empowers young adults ages 16 to 25 across Greene, Sullivan, and Hawkins counties. Rachel shares how the program supports young people through crucial life changes—offering free mental health services, peer support, leadership opportunities, and lifeskill groups that promote independence, resilience, and advocacy. You’ll also hear some light-hearted “get to know you” fun, learn what makes the Young Adult Leadership Council so powerful, and debunk common myths about young adults and mental health. If you or someone you know is navigating this challenging stage of life, you’ll definitely want to hear what Healthy Transitions has to offer. As always, this podcast is not a substitute for professional care. If you’re in crisis, call or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

In this episode, we’re joined by two remarkable individuals from Frontier Health who have dedicated their lives to supporting youth and families in need. First, we sit down with Richard Rourk, a team member with the TRACES Therapeutic Foster Care program. From his roots in James Island, South Carolina, to his current role in the Appalachian Highlands, Richard shares his inspiring journey—from working as a funeral director and earning a degree in history, to becoming a passionate advocate for children in foster care. His unique background and heartfelt commitment to service shine through as he talks about finding purpose and building community. We’re also joined by Margaret Powers, Safe Place Coordinator for Frontier Health’s Safe House program. With a career at Frontier Health that began in 1998, Margaret brings decades of experience and a deep love for working with teens. She shares what motivates her, the impact of the Safe House, and why creating safe spaces for youth is more important than ever. This episode is a powerful reminder of the difference one person can make—and how passion, purpose, and compassion drive meaningful change.

Chad Duncan is a seasoned Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has dedicated over 20 years to serving the community through Frontier Health. A proud graduate of East Tennessee State University with both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Social Work, Chad has held various roles throughout his career, working with individuals of all ages. His extensive background in direct care, coupled with his leadership in overseeing numerous mental health and addiction programs, has positioned him as a key figure in the field. Currently, as the Senior Director of Outpatient Addiction Services, Chad leads efforts to provide essential support and treatment for those battling addiction, offering hope and guidance to countless individuals in need.

Join us as Gary shares his story, his challenges, and the triumphs that have shaped his path. Through his candid discussion, we aim to shed light on the realities of mental health and the power of peer support in fostering recovery and hope.

Join Kaylee Murphy and Josh Moore as they talk with Rebecca Roosa of the Regional Intervention Program, also known as RIP. Rebecca talks about her journey from client to instructor and how the RIP program impacts families throughout the community.

Join Kaylee and Josh for an inspiring conversation with Peggy Barker, who shares her journey of triumph over addiction. From her struggles beginning at the tender age of 13, Peggy is now commemorating four and a half years of sobriety and freedom from addiction, offering hope and insight into the path of recovery.

Join Kaylee Murphy and Josh Moore for an inspiring conversation with special guest Monica Tucker. Hear Monica's powerful journey of overcoming sexual abuse and battling drug addiction. Discover how her path to recovery and triumph not only transformed her life but also led her to a meaningful career. Today, Monica serves as the Program Coordinator for the very program that played a pivotal role in her journey to healing and success.

In this insightful episode, we're honored to welcome Robby Kilgore, a distinguished former army officer, as our special guest. Robby delves into the invaluable lessons he garnered during his service and how these experiences shaped his unique approach to leadership. He emphasizes the importance of leading with empathy, drawing a compelling parallel between the disciplined environment of the military and the diverse challenges of civilian leadership. Join us as Robby shares his journey, offering profound insights and practical advice for anyone aspiring to lead with compassion and effectiveness. Whether you're a budding leader or an experienced professional, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom on how to inspire and guide others with empathy at the forefront.

Join us as we talk with Representative Tim Hicks of District 6 in Washington County, Tennessee to get a look at his perspective on mental health needs and how he fights for bills that help support the growth of children and youth in school.

Join us as we dive into the inspiring career path of Leslie Salling, President & CEO of the United Way of East TN Highlands. With a diverse background spanning from journalism to nonprofit management, Leslie's journey is a testament to the power of leadership and mentorship. Discover how she transitioned from the Director of Development at the ETSU Foundation to leading CASA of Northeast TN, ultimately becoming its Executive Director. Along the way, Leslie harnessed her expertise in Communications Arts/Journalism and a Master’s in Public Administration with a specialty in Nonprofit Management. Tune in to gain valuable insights into leadership, mentorship, and the impact of dedicated professionals like Leslie in our communities

Join us in celebrating a momentous occasion on the latest installment of Impact Stigma! We are thrilled to introduce the newest addition to our podcast family, none other than the remarkable Kaylee Murphy, who joins us as a Co-host. In this episode, we delve into Kaylee's impressive professional journey, offering you a captivating glimpse into her background. So, buckle up as we embark on this exciting new chapter together, exploring the impactful conversations that lie ahead on Impact Stigma!

Our guest is an Associate professor of Psychology at Carson Newman University and a licensed practicing psychologist with Performance Medicine. Her research interests include the emotional impact of COVID, health psychology, women’s issues, and college student health. Join us and Dr Robyn Branca as we talk about mindfulness and resilience practices she uses while teaching at Carson-Newman.

Join Dr Robert Pack on Impact Stigma as he goes through ways to use resilience and mindfulness practices to help you overcome those challenges. Robert Pack, PhD, MPH is Executive Vice Provost at East Tennessee State University and Professor of Community and Behavioral Health in the ETSU College of Public Health. He is Director of the ETSU Addiction Science Center, Director of the ETSU/NORC Rural Health Equity Research Center, and Co-Director of the Opioids Research Consortium of Central Appalachia. 

Hello everyone and welcome back to another episode of Impact Stigma. Excited for our guest today. He grew up in Johnson City and received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing from East Tennessee State University. He also had an extensive hospitality career with Hyatt, Opryland, and Marriott Hotels. Then worked with Scott Niswonger managing the Morgan Inn Corporation for ten years. In 2016, he started his own consulting company called Internity Development, of which the most recognized project is the Model Mill Redevelopment in downtown Johnson City. He is the Past Chairperson for the Ballad Health Foundation and has served on the BrightRidge Board of Directors and has been involved in many leadership roles at Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church. He is a certified facilitator for Co. Starters which is a business development course for start-up or new businesses. He is also experienced in entrepreneurial start-ups and has experience with venture capital access. On July 1, 2019, he became the President/CEO of the Chamber of Commerce serving Johnson City, Jonesborough, and Washington County. Welcome, to Impact Stigma Bob Cantler. 

Get ready to kick off season four of Impact Stigma with a truly inspiring guest: Melanie Feathers, Executive Director of CASA of Northeast Tennessee. With six years of experience at CASA and a background in Domestic Violence Advocacy, Mental Health Case Management, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Children’s Ministry, Melanie brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the table. Her expertise in public leadership and legal studies, earned through her BA in Public Leadership and Service from Milligan University, makes her the perfect guest to tackle the tough issues at the heart of this podcast. In this episode, Melanie shares her insights and experiences in a moving conversation that's sure to leave a lasting impact. Don't miss out on this thought-provoking discussion - be sure to subscribe for more episodes of Impact Stigma!

Listen as Jennifer and Josh wrap up Season 3 of Impact Stigma! We share some holiday self care tips and look back on the last season. We share a sneak peak into our upcoming Season Four to wrap it all up! Thankful for our family of listeners because without you we wouldn’t be here. Thank you Food City for sponsoring this episode!! Have a wonderful holiday and remember to go make an impact!

We have talked many times on Impact Stigma about the positive connection between our mental health and music. Join us for this fun Season Three episode with special guest, Leah Ross, Executive Director of Advancement for the Birthplace of Country Music in Bristol, VA. Over the past 16 years, she has played an integral role in the development and growth of Bristol establishing its identity as the birthplace of country music. From serving as a Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion volunteer during the first Festival in 2001 to becoming the executive director of the Festival in 2005, her dynamic vision and creativity led the Festival to become the region’s largest annual three-day event, which now has over 45,000 attendees annually. Leah’s take on music and mental health is one you won’t want to miss! Thank you to our episode sponsor, Food City, for your continued support.

Join us for this episode of Impact Stigma as we spend some time with Frontier Health’s President and CEO, Kristie Hammonds. Listen as she shares her story of loss and her experience with a family member that lived through suicide. This is an intimate look into the heart of leader so join Jennifer and Josh as we dig deep and share a few laughs for this impactful episode. If you, your child, or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis call 988 and you will be able to speak with a crisis specialist right away.

This episode joins our hosts with the Executive Director for The Scars Foundation, Naomi Fabricant! The Scars Foundation was established by Sully Erna, the lead singer of the heavy metal band, Godsmack. We are sharing all about The Scars Foundation started and its mission! Naomi talks about the new kids’ event Frontier Health is bringing to our Foundation’s 2nd annual euNoia a well mind concert on August 13th, euNoia 4 Kids! The Scars Foundation along with Grace Notes Project is bringing a fun interactive music experience for kids all over our area! This event is free and happens from 3-5pm on August 13th at Cumberland Square Park right before euNoia! Check out this great interview! Thank you to Food City for sponsoring our podcast and coming onboard as our Presenting Sponsor for euNoia A Well Mind Concert 2 years in a row! Get your tickets before they sell out!  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eunoia-a-well-mind-concert-2022-tickets-337496199217

It’s June and this month we want to celebrate the LGBTQ+ Community and Pride Month on Impact Stigma. Join our conversation as we share Morgan Bartley’s life journey through the pain of abuse and addiction into peace and sobriety. Morgan served in the Army as a Combat Support Military Police from 2005 to 2011 in Italy and Peru along with a combat deployment to Iraq. He just graduated with an associate degree in Criminal Justice from Northeast State and will attend ETSU in the fall to complete a bachelor’s degree focused on Probation and Parole. He also hosts a recovery group called the Granola Gang focused on supporting and advocating for those in recovery through recreational therapy and activities. His story of transition and becoming who he was meant to be is eye opening and inspirational. This conversation was a true joy to be a part of, thank you Morgan! Thank you to Food City as well for continuing to support mental health and Impact Stigma.

Join us for this special episode of Impact Stigma as we talk with Adam Dickson, Supervisor of the Langston Centre, a facility promoting multicultural awareness. Langston Centre sits on the site of the former Langston High School, Johnson City, TN's black high school from 1893-1965. He is an Adjunct Instructor of Political Science at East TN State University. For 16 years he has taught the course “Black American Political Thought” which examines black political ideology and the role of race in American political development. He also currently serves as Vice-Mayor for the Town of Jonesborough, TN, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Carson-Newman University and obtained his Master of Public Administration degree from East Tennessee State University in 2004. Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, observed annually on June 19. Mr. Dickson is an avid historian and taught us a thing or two. Listen to find out why August 8th is so important for Black Americans in Appalachia and what Mr. Dickson’s favorite childhood memory. Thank you to Food City for sponsoring this episode of Impact Stigma.

Are you a parent, coach or physician of a student athlete? Dr. Emily Campbell, physician with Holston Medical Group, shares about the importance of including mental health in every aspect of physical health practice. Her refreshing perspective on the effects of physical injury on the mental health of student and professional athletes is one that should be shared with every parent, coach and physician. She is Board Certified in Family and Lifestyle Medicine and fellowship trained in Sports Medicine. Dr. Campbell is also the lead sports medicine physician at King University and Virginia High Schools. She serves on the Holston Medical Group Board of Directors and has also served on the Board of Directors for Girls on the Run Northeast Tennessee. Dr. Campbell has received the Tri-Cities Business Journal 40 Under 40 award and her primary work is serving patients in both Primary Care, Non-Surgical Orthopedics, and Sports Medicine. Thank you to Food City for sponsoring this episode of Impact Stigma.

Join us for Season 3, Episode 3 of Impact Stigma as we host Brandy Milhorn, Master Scheduler with Bell Helicopter. May is Foster Care Awareness Month so tune in as she shares her personal journey as a foster parent with all of our listeners. Her story is as informative as it is inspirational. You don’t want to miss this moving episode and be sure to subscribe for more! Thank you to our sponsor, Food City!

Season 3 of Impact Stigma is all about sharing stories with familiar names and faces from our local community leaders! We are connecting with community leaders from NETN and SWVA with laughter and stories while we shed light on mental health stigma. For Episode 2, our special guest grew up in rural South West Virginia and graduated with degrees in business management and mass communications from Emory & Henry College. She has more than 21 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations and served on several boards and committees in the community, including United Way Bristol and Kingsport, and was named a 40-under-40 honoree. In addition, the Grundy, Virginia, native served as Marketing Director for William King Museum and the Program Director for Keep Bristol Beautiful at the Bristol Chamber. Before becoming the new CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of the Mountain Empire, she served as regional director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee. We are honored to host Kathy Lowdermilk on Episode 2 of Impact Stigma.

Our new season of Impact Stigma brings new voices to our listeners! We have invited community leaders from all over Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee to share their stories for Season 3 of our Impact Stigma podcast! Our first special guest keeps us laughing the whole time while he shares his love for Tillamook Strawberry Ice Cream, yoga and his personal journey to sobriety after years of addiction. Join us for this real conversation about stepping out of the past and discovering a true passion for helping others see that recovery is possible.Be sure to subscribe to our podcast and share it with your friends and family because you never know who it might inspire. We can’t wait for you to join us!

This past year was one for the books and we are so grateful for the support of our fans, our guests and our sponsors. Join Jennifer and Josh as they say goodbye to Season 2 with a few laughs, grateful hearts and some great news about the upcoming Season 3 of our award-winning podcast, Impact Stigma!

Frontier Health Foundation and Impact Stigma are excited to bring a very special episode to our faithful listeners!!! This is the episode we have been so excited about because we are announcing our big secret along with a special surprise for everyone! The last 18 months have been hard for all of us. That is why we wanted to do something really cool that brings all of Northeast TN and Southwest VA together as one big community. Nothing brings people together like awesome music, great food and a sense real of purpose. The Frontier Health Foundation is officially having a Big Event! Listen as we make our announcement and share time with two very special guests!! You have to listen to find out but check out the links for a clue! Enjoy and we will see you all in November! https://www.frontierhealthfoundation.org/eunoia/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pocyxlNOxdw

Our 8th episode of season 2 on Impact stigma is all about early childhood behavioral and neurodevelopmental issues in children. The stigma and heartache parents face from the world and their families, friends and themselves is exhausting so we are talking about it. We are giving those parents a voice and having a great conversation talking about younger kiddos and their parents. Frontier Health has a fabulous free internationally recognized parent-implemented program that helps parents work with their own children with behavioral and neurodevelopmental issues. Come and listen while we laugh and dig deep with Regional Intervention Program Resource Consultant and a Case Manager for Holston Children and Youth, Rebecca Roosa! You don’t want to miss this one!https://www.frontierhealth.org/directory/frontier-health-holston-children-youth-services/Thank you to our Episode Sponsor: Food City! www.foodcity.com Food City is an American supermarket chain with stores located in Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Virginia. It is owned by K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc., a privately held family and employee-owned corporation headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia.To become a sponsor, go to our website below and find out more.Become a Sponsor! https://www.frontierhealthfoundation.org/podcast-sponsorships/

ATTENTION ALL PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS!!! This episode of Impact Stigma was made just for you! Mental health issues affecting children and youth in our communities and across the world is certainly not a new concept, however, with a dramatic increase directly related to the struggles and stress of dealing with COVID-19 our children’s mental wellbeing is more important than ever. We must be their mental health champions!For this episode, we share how stigma specifically effects children and youth in need of mental health treatment, how to better communicate with them, and we share types of treatment that actually work. Our guest today is the Site Director for Frontier Health’s Adventure Program. This program is for youth under 17 that are struggling with substance use disorder and have a cooccurring mental health issue as well. Maranda Conner has her MS, LPC, LPC-MHSP, EMDR Certified, CSOTP and is almost finished with her EMDRIA Consultant Training.Maranda is quite passionate about her “Babies” as she calls them and is joining us to share her personal story and talk with us about how mental health stigma is stopping our children and youth from getting help. She shares sound advice for parents and caregivers about effective communication when talking about mental health and what we can all do to Impact Stigma! Thank you to our Episode Sponsor: Food City! www.foodcity.com Food City is an American supermarket chain with stores located in Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Virginia. It is owned by K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc., a privately held family and employee-owned corporation headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia.To become a sponsor, go to our website below and find out more.Become a Sponsor! https://www.frontierhealthfoundation.org/podcast-sponsorships/

May is Mental Health Awareness Month along with Foster Care Awareness Month! Join us for Season 2, Episode 6 of Impact Stigma as we welcome our two special guests from Frontier Health’s two therapeutic foster care programs, Traces representing Northeast Tennessee and Values representing Southwest Virginia.Courtney Mauk is the TRACES Parent Trainer and Recruiter for Northeast TN and Jessica Keith is the VALUES Therapeutic Foster Care Coordinator for Southwest, VA. Foster care is a topic that unfortunately has been riddled with negative stigma in the media, movies and the news. This is a message we hope spreads far and wide! We loved this conversation and had such a wonderful time with both ladies! We are honored to announce our first Impact Stigma Podcast Episode Sponsor, Food City! Thank you to Food City for sponsoring 5 upcoming episodes of Impact Stigma and for your continued support for the Frontier Health Foundation! If you would like to learn more about becoming a sponsor, please go to our website to find out more. Foster Care Links:Values Therapeutic Foster Care: https://www.frontierhealth.org/foster/values/Traces Therapeutic Foster Care: https://www.frontierhealth.org/foster/traces/Resources and Outreach: https://isaiah117house.com/SPONSORSHIP:This Episode is Sponsored by: www.foodcity.comBecome A Sponsor: https://www.frontierhealthfoundation.org/podcast-sponsorships/

Join us as we have a fun and interesting conversation with Vonda Wagner, LPC, Director of Rehabilitation Services of Frontier Health’s Victory Center during April’s Counseling Awareness Month! We honor mental health counselors, school counselors, substance abuse counselors, and career counselors. We asked all of our Frontier Health counselors to answer the question, What’s Your Why? Vonda shares her answer to our “why? question along with her passionate views and educated experiences with psycho-social rehabilitation. We absolutely loved our conversation with Vonda and left with a new understanding for what it means to treat the whole person!

We are happy to share that our podcast is quickly approaching over 700 listeners and is listened to by our dedicated fans in over 19 states across the country! We can’t say a big enough thank you to everyone for your continued support! Join us for this very special episode of our award-winning podcast, Impact Stigma. For our fourth episode of season two we are honored to offer a different look at how addiction effects families. This special story is all about a mother’s unyielding love for her son, her battle with his addiction and the victory she celebrates with him today. This is a story of hope in the face of darkness. A story of a mother's battle for her son’s survival that every parent or loved one that loves someone effected by substance abuse disorder needs to hear. Brenda Seals is the author of Son Down, Son Up, a story she wrote to bring hope to others with loved one’s suffering with addiction. If you would like more information on how to get your business recognized on our podcast as sponsor because mental health matters to you then please email us at [email protected] or call 423-467-3742.

Join us for an enlightening conversation with our special guest, Kenneth Knight, during this episode of Impact Stigma as we discuss his journey to recovery from addiction and Bipolar Disorder. He is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist with Frontier Health and devotes his time to educating and helping those that are working towards recovery while also contending with a mental illness. His story takes us on a journey that begins with his difficult time growing up in Philadelphia all the way to his successful career as a CPRS for Frontier Health where he is an inspiration for so many of those we serve. We share the most common myths that create the negative stigma so often associated with Bipolar Disorder. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did!

Impact Stigma is proud to celebrate Black History Month! This episode we are honored to not only recognize historical Black Pioneers that made an enormous impact in the field of Mental Health but to welcome our very special guest and share her unique story! We truly enjoyed this enlightening conversation with our special guest, Latonia Collie, Director of Adult Housing at Frontier Health. Join us as we share some laughs and dig deep into one of the remaining taboos within the Black Community, the stigma around mental illness. Latonia shares her personal experience growing up with her beloved family member that suffered with mental illness and she answers our questions on the difficult topic of how mental health stigma is felt so differently within the Black Community. Her vulnerability is contagious, and her story is one that we know relates to so many of our listeners. Thank you, Latonia, for being a part of Impact Stigma!"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."-Nelson Mandella

Happy New Year and welcome back to Season Two of Impact Stigma! We are officially an award-winning podcast heard in over 13 states! Thank you all for helping us change hearts and minds from Tennessee to Florida, Virginia to Massachusetts and as far west as Colorado. On this episode we get real about how COVID-19 has affected the mental health of each and every one of us. Our special guest for this episode is Kristy Tipton, Division Director of Crisis Services at Frontier Health. She has led the charge for our Virtual COVID Crisis Counseling Service for the East TN Region. As we promised in this episode here is the number for the free COVID CRISIS hotline, 833-4FH-COVID.As always, we strive for candid, open and sometimes even humorous conversations here on Impact Stigma so please remember this podcast is never intended to be a substitute for professional advice, formal diagnosis or treatment for mental and behavioral health issues. If you need further assistance or have questions, please visit the Frontier Health website at www.frontierhealth.org for more information.

This episode of Impact Stigma is very special to both Josh and Jennifer because we have some great news and it’s also the end of Season One for Impact Stigma. Listen as we share this news, present our informative and timely “Surviving the Holidays” toolkit, as well as catch you up on what we’ve been up to the last month. The holidays can create stress and anxiety for all of us and individuals dealing with mental health issues the holidays can be the most challenging time of year. So, please make sure to care for yourself while you care for others, be proactive before stress hits and give yourself lots of grace during the holidays. Take a deep breath and remember this time of year is more about making memories than anything else.As always, we encourage candid, open and even light-hearted conversations about stigma on this podcast, so please remember what we talk about should never be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment for a mental and behavioral health issue. If you have a loved one dealing with mental health issues and need guidance, there are many resources online, including the Frontier Health website, that you can utilize. If you need help now or someone you know is having a mental health crisis, please don’t hesitate to call our 24-hr Crisis Line at (877) 928-9062. If you are one of our fantastic listeners from outside of our region, please reach out to your local mental health organization or call 911 if you are dealing with an emergency. Your mental health matters and please remember it is ALWAYS 100% ok to reach out and ask for help!Thanks everyone for joining us for this special holiday episode of Impact Stigma and the end of Season One. We will be back in January with more stories and special guests with Season Two of Impact Stigma. Until then, we wish you and everyone you love a blessed and happy holiday season and hope you have a very Merry Christmas! Go be an Impact Maker!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month! During this episode of Impact Stigma, we are joined by our special guest, Tina Johnson as she brings her own personal experience as a survivor of domestic violence along with her expertise and years of dedication as the Program Director for Safe House, Frontier Health’s safe confidential undisclosed shelter program providing any victim of domestic violence as well as their dependent children with a place to stay as well as multiple services to ensure they can get the help they need to start over. Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship. Listen as we share our stories and dig into the difficult questions about overcoming the storm of domestic violence.For all our listeners out there, we want you to know that first of all, you are not alone, and it doesn’t matter the circumstances of your relationship or your past, no one deserves to be abused and your partner’s abusive actions are never your fault. Second, if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence and you are inspired at all during this podcast to reach out for help or feel triggered in any way please don’t hesitate to call our 24/7 Domestic Violence hotline @ 844-578-7233 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline @ 800-799-SAFE. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment for mental and behavioral health issues. If you need further assistance or have questions, please visit the Frontier Health’s website www.frontierhealth.org for more information.

Join us for another special episode of Impact Stigma as we talk with Molly Colley, the Northeast Tennessee Regional Director for the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network. Molly shares her personal experience with us as a person who has lost a loved one to suicide and had someone she cares about survive an attempted suicide and how it felt to be the person on the other end. We discuss myths about suicide as well as how stigma creates a severe disconnect with those in need of help. She also has a very interesting love for opossums that has us all laughing and seeing them in a very different light. She is a well-known face in the world of suicide prevention and prior to becoming part of the TSPN team, she was an adult outpatient therapist for Frontier Health at Watauga Behavioral Health Services in Johnson City, TN, and at Scott County Behavioral Services in Weber City, Virginia. She has also worked as an adjunct professor at East Tennessee State University, teaching undergraduate courses for the Department of Counseling and Human Services. She is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and holds a Master of Arts degree in Counseling, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, both from East Tennessee State University.TPSN: https://www.tspn.org/NAMI: https://www.nami.org/Home

Join us for a special episode of Impact Stigma as we visit with our very first guest from outside of Frontier Health, Jason Abernathy, AKA, “The Beard”. We invite you to listen along as he shares his colorful story and takes us on a journey through his life, his recovery from addiction and answers some interesting and unexpected questions. Jason has worked since August 2013 on Insight Alliance’s Lifeline Peer Project of Tennessee here in Johnson City, TN and serves as the Region 1 Lifeline Peer Project Coordinator. Since March of 2014 Jason has served as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) and provides direct peer-to-peer support services for those who have mental illness, substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders. Jason served 4 years in the United States Marine Corps before transitioning into a 16-year career in law enforcement. He then made a career change which allowed him to give back by assisting others in finding their way to the road to recovery. Jason is a person in long term recovery from co-occurring disorders and desires to work to help others break the chains of addiction. He is a certified Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) trainer through the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network, a Trauma Informed Care (TIC) trainer, a Wellness Recovery Action Plan 1 (WRAP) facilitator, and a Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) trainer. He recently graduated from King University in December 2019, where he received his Bachelor of Social Work Degree, and is currently working toward his Master of Social Work degree through the University of Tennessee.

Suicide is certainly a topic that is considered very taboo even today. We are continuing to honor Suicide Prevention Month during September with our special guest as she shares her experience of losing a loved one to suicide and talks all about suicide prevention. Join us on this episode of Impact Stigma as we talk with Cicely Alvis, Director of Specialty Services, as she shares her story that brings such an important aspect to how suicide affects those that are left behind. When we talk about stigma on this podcast, we want to take a stand and be the voice that says it’s ok to ask for help. Cicely has worked very hard and used her voice to speak up about suicide and suicide prevention for years as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Director of Specialty Services with Frontier Health.We would like to make sure that our listeners know that if you have someone in your life that maybe dealing with thoughts of suicide or you are inspired at any time during this podcast to reach out for help or feel triggered by this topic, please don’t hesitate to call Frontier Health’s Crisis 24/7 Hotline (877) 928-9062 or the 24 hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number (800) -273-8255 and someone will be there to help you. Also, if you have been a past listener you know we are all about candid and sometimes humorous conversations about the stigma surrounding mental and behavioral health issues, so please know that this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment for mental and behavioral health issues. If you need assistance, please visit the Frontier Health website www.frontierhealth.org for more information.

We are honoring Suicide Prevention Month and National Recovery Month during September here on Impact Stigma by sharing the moving and miraculous story of our special guest’s journey through recovery and redemption. Join us on this episode of Impact Stigma as we talk with Polly Jessen, a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and Tennessee Recovery Navigator for Frontier Health Crisis Services at our Turning Point facility. Polly’s story will surprise you, warm your heart, and give you a new perspective on the topic of suicide and addiction. She has been a featured speaker for the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network’s Connection Matters 2020 event, the 2019 Stigma Stops Now Gala, and is a favorite speaker throughout Frontier Health. We are all about having candid and humorous conversations about stigma, so please know that this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment for mental and behavioral health issues. If you are inspired anytime during this podcast to reach out for help or feel triggered in any way, please don’t hesitate to call our 24/7 crisis hotline @ (877) 928-9062, and someone will be there to help you.

In this episode of Impact Stigma, we invite you to join us as we discuss a very personal topic. Body image and weight are subjects we can all relate to and whether you see yourself as to thin, to fat or even just right society’s standard of beauty can leave even the most confident person feeling insecure. Join us and our special guest, Krista Johnson, the Director of Employee Wellness for Frontier Health, as we have an interesting conversation about food and superpowers while we learn about how the pain of stigma and weight can be detrimental to our overall health. This podcast is produced and directed by the dedicated folks from the Frontier Health Foundation.

In this episode, join Jennifer and Josh as we have a candid conversation with our special guest, Eric Williams who is a Friendship Connection Peer Coordinator with Frontier Health. Eric’s story of how a major health crisis changed his life and put him on the path to be his best self. His story of triumph over tragedy almost didn’t happen until he had a little help from his momma and a realization that asking for help was a strength and not a weakness. Self-Stigma can be just as harmful as social stigma. Eric’s moving story of how his comeback was bigger than his setback is that can help us all. This podcast is produced and directed by the dedicated folks from the Frontier Health Foundation.

Welcome to Impact Stigma! During this trailer you will be introduced to the people behind the Impact Stigma movement and find out what this podcast is all about. We are the voice for the voiceless and our guests bring their experiences and wisdom to our listeners with new spin on how stigma effects all of us. Come along with us for this fun and informative conversation as we laugh together and learn lessons along the way. This podcast is produced and directed by the dedicated folks from the Frontier Health Foundation.