October 3, 2023 • 6 mins
We speak with Dr. Alyssa Ward who is representing Anthem Healthkeepers Plus as a corporate sponsor for the Lynchburg Out Of The Darkness Walk, Saturday October 7th, at Peaksview Park in Lynchburg. She is a Psychologist and the Behavioral Health Clinical Director for Anthem's Medicaid Line of Business. Dr. Ward explains how important mental health, along with physical health, is to Anthem Healthkeepers.
More information on the walks both in Lynchburg as well as Salem/Roanoke available here.
More information on the walks both in Lynchburg as well as Salem/Roanoke available here.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
From my Heart Radio and wyy D. I'm Scott Stevens. You've probably heard
us talking about the Out of theDarkness walks coming up this weekend Saturday is
the walk in Saleman, Roanoke atRoanoke College, and also the one that
I'm most involved in is in Lynchburgat Peaksview Park Walk starting at ten am.
It is not too late to register, and I'll tell you in a
(00:22):
few minutes how you can do that, how you can be a part of
it. And even if you don'tregister, we want you to come join
us and just join in the walkbecause it is about us walking hand in
hand, supporting each other and bringingmental health out of the darkness. Thus
the Out of the Darkness Walk.Want to do our sponsors spotlight once again
and talk to one of our sponsors, Doctor Allissa Ward, is with Anthem
(00:46):
Healthkeepers and they're a corporate sponsor forthe Lynchburg Out of the Darkness Walk this
weekend. Doctor Ward, thank youfor joining us. Thanks so much for
having me, Scott, Yes,absolutely so. Anthem Healthkeepers. Hey,
I've got a card in my wallet, by the way, that says that
we'd love to hear that you andthree million other members in Virginia. Yeah,
(01:08):
apparently so. My dad is asenior retired and has one as well.
So thanks for the great work youdo to keep people healthy, not
just physically healthy, but mental healthis so important, and you guys kind
of emphasize that at Anthem Healthkeepers.That is for sure. One of our
biggest values at Anthem is our beliefin whole person care. So really acknowledging
(01:33):
that there is no health without mentalhealth, and we've taken many different strides
towards assuring that our members get reallythe right help at the right time when
they are experiencing any type of mentalhealth or substancuse problem. In fact,
we have even been using technology todetermine when we have members who may be
(01:57):
at additional risk for challenges such assuicide, and we have been able to
demonstrate actually at fifty percent reduction ofsuicidal behaviors and folks that we were able
to outreach because of those technologies.So, you know, moving into this
world where we're able to actually usedata for the powers of good and to
(02:23):
see, you know, who needshealth and reach out to them is really
exciting for mental health in our industry, no doubt. About it. I
mean, we hear a lot ofthe bad stuff that AI is about,
but we don't hear a lot aboutit. We don't hear as much about
the good stuff AI. You know, while it presents its own set of
challenges with technology, like what you'retalking about, it can really be good
(02:45):
to try to help keep people,keep people healthy mentally and physically. That's
right. And it's all about just, you know, determining how we reach
out to the member, connecting withthem, having authentic relationship and supporting them
and finding the services is that they'reready to engage with at that point in
time, no doubt about it.Okay, Well, you have been connected
(03:06):
to the mental health field for quitesome time, and unfortunately you do have
a connection to suicide just like methat you wanted to share with everybody part
of why you're so passionate about thisproject. That's right, Scott. I
am a psychologist by trade and hasbeen been a practicing psychologist for fifteen years.
But like you said, I havebeen touched, as have so many
(03:30):
others. And my mother unfortunately diedby suicide two years ago next month,
and my mother was a long termtwenty year actually a police officer in Burlington,
Vermont. She gave such incredible serviceand care to her community, and
(03:51):
doing work like this helps me tokeep her memory alive and to remind people
that it's really important to talk aboutthis. It's important to talk about it
with our family members, and forthose of us who have endured this experience,
it can be really healing to connectwith other people, like we're going
to do this weekend. To justeven being amongst others that you know have
(04:16):
experienced this kind of pain or griefcan bring incredible hope and healing. And
we know from experience that our policeare first responders, are military, they
are affected by suicide at a higherpercentage than the rest of the community.
That's right, That's absolutely right,and you know within those professional cultures there
(04:40):
can be even greater challenges and havingpeople come forward. It's kind of a
hazard of the workplace, you know, to have some type of mental illness,
but folks who are first responders endureincredible trauma in the course of their
work serving and protecting us, andso at events like this, it's really
wonderful when we're able to have lawenforcement and others there to really acknowledge the
(05:03):
sacrifices and the service that they providefor us and the toll that it can
take on them and their families.And to know that we are demonstrating we're
there for them and we appreciate themis a really great thing. And we
know we will be represented by boththe first responders, police and of course
our military this weekend. Chief Zudimawith the Lynchburg Police Department has been at
(05:27):
our walks in the past. We'vehad fire chiefs, a lot of other
folks that are going to be apart of it. The walk this year
is at Peaksview Park. We've alwayshad it at Riverfront, but Riverfront is
under a remodel. It's going tobe fabulous when it's done, but for
right now, it's a mess,so we had to move it to Peaksview
Park. So everybody needs to comeand I know that you want to extend
(05:48):
on behalf of yourself and Anthem healthkeepersfor everybody to come out and support those
affected by suicide. Everyone, dude, please come out. It's going to
be just a wonderful day in Lynchburg. Many of our team members are going
to be there. We're going tohave giveaways. It's supposed to be beautiful
weather, and I just can't waitto be hand in hand with everybody there
(06:10):
this weekend. I can't wait either. I look forward to meeting you,
and I want to let everybody know. You can find more information, register
a team, even become a corporatesponsor. It's not too late. We
need all the support we can getfor the fine work of the American Foundation
for Suicide Prevention. You can findthe information on the Salem roano Qualk which
is at Roanoke College and at thesame time in Lunchburg the Out of the
(06:33):
Darkness Walk at Peaksview Park. Thecommunity walks going on at the same time.
We've got the info at our website, New Country one oh seven nine
dot com and doctor or List Award. We appreciate your time look forward to
seeing you Saturday. Thank you somuch, Scott. I'll see you there.
From my Heart Radio and wyy D. I'm Scott Stevens. You've probably heard
us talking about the Out of theDarkness walks coming up this weekend Saturday is
the walk in Saleman, Roanoke atRoanoke College, and also the one that
I'm most involved in is in Lynchburgat Peaksview Park Walk starting at ten am.
It is not too late to register, and I'll tell you in a
(00:22):
few minutes how you can do that, how you can be a part of
it. And even if you don'tregister, we want you to come join
us and just join in the walkbecause it is about us walking hand in
hand, supporting each other and bringingmental health out of the darkness. Thus
the Out of the Darkness Walk.Want to do our sponsors spotlight once again
and talk to one of our sponsors, Doctor Allissa Ward, is with Anthem
(00:46):
Healthkeepers and they're a corporate sponsor forthe Lynchburg Out of the Darkness Walk this
weekend. Doctor Ward, thank youfor joining us. Thanks so much for
having me, Scott, Yes,absolutely so. Anthem Healthkeepers. Hey,
I've got a card in my wallet, by the way, that says that
we'd love to hear that you andthree million other members in Virginia. Yeah,
(01:08):
apparently so. My dad is asenior retired and has one as well.
So thanks for the great work youdo to keep people healthy, not
just physically healthy, but mental healthis so important, and you guys kind
of emphasize that at Anthem Healthkeepers.That is for sure. One of our
biggest values at Anthem is our beliefin whole person care. So really acknowledging
(01:33):
that there is no health without mentalhealth, and we've taken many different strides
towards assuring that our members get reallythe right help at the right time when
they are experiencing any type of mentalhealth or substancuse problem. In fact,
we have even been using technology todetermine when we have members who may be
(01:57):
at additional risk for challenges such assuicide, and we have been able to
demonstrate actually at fifty percent reduction ofsuicidal behaviors and folks that we were able
to outreach because of those technologies.So, you know, moving into this
world where we're able to actually usedata for the powers of good and to
(02:23):
see, you know, who needshealth and reach out to them is really
exciting for mental health in our industry, no doubt. About it. I
mean, we hear a lot ofthe bad stuff that AI is about,
but we don't hear a lot aboutit. We don't hear as much about
the good stuff AI. You know, while it presents its own set of
challenges with technology, like what you'retalking about, it can really be good
(02:45):
to try to help keep people,keep people healthy mentally and physically. That's
right. And it's all about just, you know, determining how we reach
out to the member, connecting withthem, having authentic relationship and supporting them
and finding the services is that they'reready to engage with at that point in
time, no doubt about it.Okay, Well, you have been connected
(03:06):
to the mental health field for quitesome time, and unfortunately you do have
a connection to suicide just like methat you wanted to share with everybody part
of why you're so passionate about thisproject. That's right, Scott. I
am a psychologist by trade and hasbeen been a practicing psychologist for fifteen years.
But like you said, I havebeen touched, as have so many
(03:30):
others. And my mother unfortunately diedby suicide two years ago next month,
and my mother was a long termtwenty year actually a police officer in Burlington,
Vermont. She gave such incredible serviceand care to her community, and
(03:51):
doing work like this helps me tokeep her memory alive and to remind people
that it's really important to talk aboutthis. It's important to talk about it
with our family members, and forthose of us who have endured this experience,
it can be really healing to connectwith other people, like we're going
to do this weekend. To justeven being amongst others that you know have
(04:16):
experienced this kind of pain or griefcan bring incredible hope and healing. And
we know from experience that our policeare first responders, are military, they
are affected by suicide at a higherpercentage than the rest of the community.
That's right, That's absolutely right,and you know within those professional cultures there
(04:40):
can be even greater challenges and havingpeople come forward. It's kind of a
hazard of the workplace, you know, to have some type of mental illness,
but folks who are first responders endureincredible trauma in the course of their
work serving and protecting us, andso at events like this, it's really
wonderful when we're able to have lawenforcement and others there to really acknowledge the
(05:03):
sacrifices and the service that they providefor us and the toll that it can
take on them and their families.And to know that we are demonstrating we're
there for them and we appreciate themis a really great thing. And we
know we will be represented by boththe first responders, police and of course
our military this weekend. Chief Zudimawith the Lynchburg Police Department has been at
(05:27):
our walks in the past. We'vehad fire chiefs, a lot of other
folks that are going to be apart of it. The walk this year
is at Peaksview Park. We've alwayshad it at Riverfront, but Riverfront is
under a remodel. It's going tobe fabulous when it's done, but for
right now, it's a mess,so we had to move it to Peaksview
Park. So everybody needs to comeand I know that you want to extend
(05:48):
on behalf of yourself and Anthem healthkeepersfor everybody to come out and support those
affected by suicide. Everyone, dude, please come out. It's going to
be just a wonderful day in Lynchburg. Many of our team members are going
to be there. We're going tohave giveaways. It's supposed to be beautiful
weather, and I just can't waitto be hand in hand with everybody there
(06:10):
this weekend. I can't wait either. I look forward to meeting you,
and I want to let everybody know. You can find more information, register
a team, even become a corporatesponsor. It's not too late. We
need all the support we can getfor the fine work of the American Foundation
for Suicide Prevention. You can findthe information on the Salem roano Qualk which
is at Roanoke College and at thesame time in Lunchburg the Out of the
(06:33):
Darkness Walk at Peaksview Park. Thecommunity walks going on at the same time.
We've got the info at our website, New Country one oh seven nine
dot com and doctor or List Award. We appreciate your time look forward to
seeing you Saturday. Thank you somuch, Scott. I'll see you there.
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