Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions around mental health challenges and suicide. Please listen when you feel ready and take care of yourself as needed.
What if everything you thought you knew about mental health and behavior was flipped on its head? In this powerful conversation, Jeff sits down with Dr. Jacqueline Pei, psychologist, professor at the University of Alberta, and senior research lead with CanFASD, to explore how mental health really shows up for individuals with FASD and how reframing what we see changes everything about how we respond.
Dr. Pei explains why up to 90% of individuals with FASD experience mental-health challenges, how anxiety and depression often hide behind behavior, and why understanding the brain through a “nervous-system-first” lens can completely transform care.
Together, Jeff and Dr. Pei talk about what it means to “sit in the frustration,” the danger of misunderstanding in schools and systems, and the power of empathy to calm chaos and restore hope.
In This Episode You’ll Hear
- Why mental health challenges are so common in FASD — and what’s really driving them
- How anxiety and depression often disguise themselves as “defiance” or “bad behavior”
- Why traditional definitions of depression and anxiety don’t always fit
- How to use the “Pause and Reframe” tool to see behavior through a nervous- system lens
- The emotional toll of systemic misunderstanding on caregivers and families
- Guidance for recognizing mental-health signs and supporting emotional stability
- A compassionate, science-backed discussion about suicidality and safety planning
• Why connection, purpose, and relationships are the strongest protective factors
• The future of FASD research — and how collaboration between families and scientists is changing everything
Why It Matters
This episode is a reminder that behavior is communication, not defiance — and that healing starts with understanding. Through Dr. Pei’s research and Jeff’s lived experience, you’ll walk away with tools to replace judgment with curiosity, fear with empathy, and burnout with hope.
Dr. Pei’s message is clear: we can’t fix everything, but through connection, compassion, and collaboration, we can help individuals with FASD — and their families — thrive.
👉 You’re not alone. You’re doing better than you think.
Resources & Links
📘 Join our FASD Success Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/FASDforever
▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: @FASDSuccess
🎧 Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
📸 Follow Jeff on Instagram: @FASDSuccess
📝 Full show notes: fasdsuccess.com/podcast
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