Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
So if you were with us at the top of
the show in our four o'clock hour, we were talking
about adversity and things that just drive you crazy and
how you handle it. Listen, in everybody's life, rain will fall.
It just in some people's life it pours. It's like
a monsoon.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
And sometimes when it pours, individuals don't have the ability
to get themselves out from drowning.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
You know why, I Mikayla.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
A lot of times people don't know where to go,
who to turn to, and what it help out there.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Yes, it is Mental Health Awareness Month. May is and
we're glad to welcome Saint Vincent Family Services in to
talk a little bit about what they're doing with kids
in particular, because I think that's where the seed is
planted in terms of good mindset, healthy mindset and carries
throughout the rest of your life. So we have Sarah
Russell and Ayana Hall in with us. Ladies, thank you for.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Being here, Thanks for having us. Yeah, now are you
moms not yet? I know I was hoping you were
going to say that because I'm looking at you. You're
like twelve years old. Did you look at girl? Yeah? Sarah,
how about you I'm a bonus mom. Oh I love that.
I also love that. How many bonus kids do you have?
(01:09):
I have a one bonus kiddo? Okay, age she's seventeen.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Wow, yeah, kind of you know, that's hard.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
That's a hard age. It can be, it can be.
She's a great kid, though, how do you make it work? Oh? Well,
she has a.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Great foundation already, and I had a great mentor as
a mother. She's still such a positive presence in my life.
So she taught me a lot about mothering and parenting
and I just carry that on.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
With me with her.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
It sounds like she's awesome to have you, Like, it's
an awesome thing to have you. I will say that
even sometimes when you're mothering, well, it could be really
hard to break through when your kid is going through something.
And we're going to talk a little bit about that today.
But so Sarah, first of all, though, tell the audience
what Saint Vincent Family Services is. What are you located
and what kind of services do you provide?
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Sure Saint Vincent Family Services specializes in pediatric families centered
behavioral health care. Our location is on the near east
side of Columbus, so we're right off of East Main
Street close to downtown, but a lot of our work
does happen across the community. On site at East Main
Street we do we offer day treatment, which is a
preschool in elementary school for kiddos who really struggle at
(02:17):
that young age. We do a lot of on site
counseling with families, but a lot of the work that
we do with kids and families happens in schools, in
day care centers, in family homes, and community centers just
around Central Ohio and Franklin County. So we really have
a wide variety of programs focused on children's mental health
that really includes the whole family in the process, because,
(02:39):
as you said, it is kind of starting early and
planting those seeds early and then working with the whole
family so that they can help their children grow after
they no longer receive services from us.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
I'm going to go out on a little limb here
and say that you guys are probably busier now than
you've ever been before, because listen, kids go through a
lot of and we're hearing more and more about mental
health and mental wellness these days than I know I
ever heard of when I was growing up, and that
was you know years ago. Why is that so prevalent
(03:11):
right now? Why is mental health on the forefront of
every issue? Which seems like.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
I think Iona can maybe speak a little to that,
But I just think our community has become more aware.
I think it's probably always been present, and just as
our society has changed and culture has changed, we've just
become a little more graceful and aware of maybe what's
impacting all of our lives in different ways. And we are,
(03:37):
I would say, on the early childhood side, which is
Iona's specialty, we have seen an increase in a need
which is great for kiddos who are starting very young.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
So I'll let her speak a little to that. I
was gonna say.
Speaker 5 (03:48):
Also, we'll piggyback and off of the societal culture piece,
just to shift in social media, so there's a lot
more conversations around mental health. Generations as they get older,
they're starting to talk a lot more about their mental health,
and that wasn't a thing generationally years ago, so now
that's kind of drawing more attention to mental health awareness.
I think the pandemic really highlighted a lot of struggles
(04:12):
that people were facing, especially within the isolation. But then
transitioning back into schools, into work, into communities, and that
socialization piece. We really started to see a shift, especially
within early childhood, just the challenges little kids were facing,
which then, of course you would imagine exasperates as you
get older.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Right, I mean, I think the first times I noticed
Logan really struggling with some of the struggles that he's had,
my fifteen year old was in fifth grade when we
were in the middle of COVID. I think some of
that started that when there was a lot of work
to be done from home, but the kids had to
also do school from home. Given that, you know, I know,
there were signs and things that I saw with Logan
(04:49):
that I really needed to pick up on to get
him the right help that he needed. What are some
of the signs parents and caregivers should watch for that
might indicate that a child's having some you know, emotions
and maybe is struggling with their mental health.
Speaker 5 (05:03):
Honestly, anything that you would consider abnormal for your kid,
like when you notice that they might be a little
more emotional than usual, if they're starting to isolate more
than usual, if you know, usually your kid really likes
playing their video games, or there's a certain hobby or
activity they typically want to do, and they're starting to
shy away from it a little more. Paying attention to
(05:23):
the little comments they make or those things I think
are signs that can get brushed under the rug, especially
when they get into teenager years with hormones. There's just
different changes and experiences at school with friends. I think,
different influences. You just don't want to ignore it. So,
like anything, I think it's important to even without signs,
(05:44):
just always kind of keeping that door open and reassuring
your kids to talk to you, and just being in
their business a little bit. I know that kids don't.
I'm sure kids are not going to be happy that
I said too.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Bad, Yes, but when they're when many is in her kids,
which you're good at being in your kids.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
My kids are twenty three and twenty two now, I
will forever be in their business.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
She will, like my husband is, in.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
The belief of you know what, they're eighteen. When they
reached eighteen, our job's done, I'm like, no. My mom
mothered me to her dying day. It either given me
advice whether I wanted to hear it or not. Tell
me what I'm doing right, what I'm telling you what
I'm doing wrong. That's our job as parents, because if
we're watching them make mistakes, how terrible of us as
moms and dads not to step in and not to say, buddy,
(06:30):
you got to change this. You have to be cognizant
of what your kids are doing. A lot of Iyana.
What you were describing, though, I think is so normal
for so many kids. How do you know when it's
reached the point where I think they need help? Because
think of teenagers. It's normal to go through some difficulties.
It's normal to shut the parents out, to go to
(06:51):
their room and shut the door. You know, how do
you know when that they've reached that point where you know,
I gotta get it.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
It's more than just that, It's more than being a teenager.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Yeah, every kid is different. So if like that kind
of makes it hard to sometimes just pinpoint what is
it exactly, But a lot of times it is the
heightened emotions, like your kid's reaction to something. Yes, teenagers
can be a little feisty and sassy and all that
sometimes right, but when it's just taking up a notch,
(07:19):
there's a there's a difference when they respond back to
you and they're upset with something you said, and it's
a bit more exasperated than it can be, like disproportioned
to what's actually happening. A lot of times as a therapist,
that's what I pay attention to.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Tantrum, Like, is that what you're talking about? For a
teenager where you wouldn't think they'd throw a tantrum.
Speaker 5 (07:39):
Their tangents look different because I think they do throw.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
How do they look different?
Speaker 5 (07:44):
When I think about the teenagers that I had, it
was what they wrote on social media a lot of
times was tantrums. A lot of times how they communicated
through text messages.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
See I look at a tantrum like banging your hands
on the wall and doing this no, no, no, Make
me with our.
Speaker 5 (07:59):
Little ones, yeah, absolutely, And then when they get older,
it's a little less behaviorally, you know, outward sometimes it's inward.
So just paying attention to those little things. What are
they saying? Hmm when they're having these tantrums. Honestly, sometimes
you got to kind of listen to the conversations behind
closed doors or just keep it getting their phone, yes,
(08:19):
because that's where a lot of it is.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
She's right at this age and stage her boys are
in those stages where parenting is tough.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Yes, it's tough.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
It's changed as the world has evolved so quickly, parenting
continues to involve so quickly. So you have the knowledge
at Saint Vincent Family Services, how can people what do
you do for parents and families specifically, So you're in
the community, you're in homes, you're in schools, but like,
how do we engage and what does that engagement look like?
And Sarah, I'll ask you that question.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
Sure, we offer all kinds of family engagement through our services,
so that could look like family counseling sessions on site
at our center. Are there meet with kiddos and maybe
conduct play therapy sessions and invite their parents into that
so they are part of that, a part of that
session and that learning experience. We partner with families when
we visit their homes. We have a community based team
(09:13):
who provides intervention services right in your home environment.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
If a family is.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Struggling at home with obedience, defiance, just getting along as
a family and with their kiddos and just seeing some
of those things in that environment will come in. We'll
play a board game, We'll set a schedule. We'll talk
about things together as a family and include you as
a family in that process, so that we're giving you
the tools to help your kiddo when we aren't there. Yeah,
(09:42):
anywhere a family or a child is, that is where
we'll show up. And our counselors are providers. We are
a family centered, trauma informed organization, so we specialize in
helping families as a whole unit, not just the single
person who's experiencing a challenge, be that the child, but
we're really working with a whole family as a unit
(10:02):
to help them overcome that together.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Has your organization also changed as far as your outreach
getting out there letting people know that you're here, Because
it's one thing to be there and it's one thing
for the need to grow, but you guys have to
let other people know, Hey, we're here, we're here to help.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
How do you do that?
Speaker 1 (10:22):
How do you spread the word other than being on
the what matters show?
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Sure, Yeah, this is a great opportunity, but you know,
we partner with so many schools and daycare centers and
community centers across Franklin County and Central Ohio. So anytime
a daycare center might have a resource event for families.
A school is having a back to school bash and
inviting resources out to share with families. If there's summertime
(10:49):
is big for fun events for families to go to.
We set up a table and share our resources and
spread our word with the community. Obviously, Ayanna mentioned social media.
Kids and families alike are all over social media, so
we have a pretty big digital presence through our website
and our social platforms, trying to spread education and knowledge.
And then also how we can support as a provider,
so anyway we can get the word out. We definitely
(11:12):
want to connect families with our service.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Our time together went really quickly. You all were up
against a break, So how do families get in touch
with you to see if you're in their area or
if there is a way to plug in?
Speaker 4 (11:23):
Absolutely, our website is the best way. It's svfsohio dot org.
Any family can also call in any time six one
four eight two four kids, We're here all the time.
We'll answer the phone. You can walk in for an
assessment same day, and also we have a free event
coming up. I know we're against a break, but Ayana,
you want to speak real quick to that.
Speaker 5 (11:43):
Yes, we have an event ready set Grow It Love
the Envent May twenty first, four to seven. At Saint Vincent.
We're doing a lot of free activity stations where we're
giving families tangible resource stake home for some routines, parenting support,
free books, meal cooking plants, just a lot of different
(12:03):
things that parents can take with them just to remember
these things and use it for like the summer when
school is out, for additional support.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
We are up against the break just in ten seconds.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I want to say the difference you.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Guys make when you see these kids change because they
come to you, The difference in how rewarding it can
be ten seconds.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Or fifteen It's hard.
Speaker 5 (12:26):
I thought it is because I would say that it's
one of the most rewarding things. And sometimes we don't
always see it in our work. It happens maybe after
they're done with us, but just when you've noticed it,
just a little bit, a kid take a deep breath,
or you notice that they kind of stalled in their response,
and the skills are building.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Sarah Ayana, thank you so much for being with us today.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Thank you for having us absolutely great conversations.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Great conversation.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
May is mental health Awareness months, or take note, this
is what matters on six ten WTVN