>> WELCOME BACK TO "FAMILY HEALTH MATTERS."

I'M SHELLY IRWIN.

WITH ME TODAY THE EXPERTS, PHYSICAL THERAPIST, DPT, MARY REHABILITATION, GOOD THAT YOU ARE HERE.

DR. WILLIAM BEECROFT, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN.

HOW YOU SPEND YOUR DAY, AND CHRISTIE BUCK WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION OF MICHIGAN.

HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR DAY WITH THE FOUNDATION?

>> HOW DO I SPEND MY DAY?

RIGHT NOW THERE'S A LOT OF WEBINARS, ZOOM CALLS, TRYING TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION CONTINUING SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL ILLNESS IN ADDITION SUICIDE.

TO HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL ILLNESS MEANS YOU CAN PREVENT SUICIDE.

>> DR. BEECROFT, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT YOU AND YOUR SERVICES?

>> SURE, A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT I DO.

BUT I THINK THE MAIN CORE IS TRYING TO BE INNOVATIVE AND BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO OUR POPULATION.

NOT ONLY OUR MEMBERS AND BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD BUT ALSO SETTING A STANDARD THAT OTHER PEOPLE IN MICHIGAN ARE ABLE TO GET THE SAME KINDS OF SERVICES.

THINGS LIKE THE RECENT CRISIS STABILIZATION LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED.

BEING ABLE TO HAVE PEOPLE GO TO THOSE KINDS OF PROGRAMS, RATHER THAN GOING TO A REGULAR ER AND SEE A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IMMEDIATELY OR WITHIN AN HOUR, VERSUS GOING TO AN ER AND BEING SEEN SOMETIME THE NEXT 24 HOURS OR SO.

AND NOT BECAUSE ER DOCS CAN'T DO IT, IT'S JUST THE VOLUME IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN A CRISIS STABILIZATION PROGRAM.

MAKING THAT AVAILABLE TO OUR MEMBERS, BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT THE USE OF HOSPITALIZATION, IF NEEDED, BUT ALSO OTHER ALTERNATIVE LEVELS OF CARE, PARTIAL HOSPITAL, INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAMMING, THINGS LIKE THAT AND WORKING WITH PROVIDERS TO MAKE THE SERVICES AVAILABLE AND THE COLLABORATIVE CARE PROCESS THAT WE RECENTLY WORKING ON EXPANDING, GETTING THOSE KINDS OF THINGS DONE.

INTERESTING JOB AND APPLICATION OF MY CAREER AS A PRACTITIONER ARE THE THINGS THAT I FOUND WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE AND I WISH I HAD.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

DAVID DEPRADO, YOU PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING ACTIVE.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PHYSICAL THIS WERE NICHE.

>> I DO, YES, I'M SPECIFICALLY A SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICAL THERAPIST AT A REHABILITATION HOSPITAL, AND SPEND MOST OF MY DAYS AT THE MARY FREEBED YMCA AND SPECIFICALLY A TRIATHLON SPECIALIST, I'VE BEEN RACING FOR JUST ABOUT 21 YEARS, IN ALL OTHER ASPECTS AS WELL.

I'VE HAD SOME EXPERIENCE AND FROM THE MIND-BODY ASPECT OF THINGS, REALLY, I WILL WORK WITH SEVERAL ATHLETES ON REALLY GETTING THEM FROM THE INJURY LEVEL BACK TO THEIR SPORT.

THAT'S BECOME REALLY VALUABLE.

>> YES.

BEGIN WITH YOU, DR. BEECROFT, IF I MAY, WITH OUR CONVERSATION ON THIS INTERACTION OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS RELATIONSHIP?

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.

PEOPLE AREN'T BUILT FROM THE EARS UP AND THE EARS DOWN, THEY'RE ALL ONE PERSON, SO UNLESS WE LOOK AT PEOPLE IN A HOLISTIC WAY, YOU REALLY CAN'T GET PEOPLE WELL.

I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF AN ANALOGY THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THIS, WE HAVE SO MANY COMPUTERS IN OUR CARS THESE DAYS, IT WOULD BE A GOOD ANALOGY, IF THE COMPUTER ON THE CAR ENGINE ISN'T WORKING RIGHT, YOU DON'T GO ANYWHERE, AND IT'S THE SAME SORT OF THING WITH US, IF OUR BRAINS AREN'T WORKING CORRECTLY OR NERVOUS SYSTEM ISN'T WORKING CORRECTLY, THEN WE DON'T DO VERY WELL, WE DON'T EAT, WE DON'T SLEEP WELL, WE'RE NOT PRODUCTIVE AT WORK, ALL OF THOSE THINGS BECOME A PART OF IT.

IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WE LOOK AT AN ENTIRE INDIVIDUAL AND PUT THAT ALTOGETHER IN ONE SPOT.

>> CHRISTIE, WOULD YOU ADD TO THAT, PLEASE?

>> DR. BEECROFT IS RIGHT ON.

WE DO A LOT OF EDUCATION EVEN WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH OUR BE NICE PROGRAM, AND WE TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AT A VERY YOUNG AGE AND TEACH THAT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH ARE THE BASICS, HOW YOU ACT AND HOW YOU FEEL, AND THOSE THINGS THAT CAN HAVE THE BIGGEST EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ARE WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN YOUR BODY, IF YOU'RE EXERCISING, WHO YOU'RE SOCIALIZING WITH.

IT'S SIMILAR FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH, WOW, IS GREAT FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.

IF WE CAN BRING AWARENESS ABOUT THE SIMPLIST OF THAT ITEM AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M NOT DOING THOSE THINGS ANYMORE, MAYBE I'M PHYSICALLY SICK BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING WITH MY MENTAL HEALTH.

I LOVE THE BASIS OF LOOKING AT MENTAL HEALTH AND MAYBE WE CAN PREVENT IT FROM BECOMING AN ACTUAL ILLNESS THAT CONSUMES AND TAKES OVER MY LIFE, AND THEN ULTIMATELY PREVENTING SUICIDE.

>> YES, DAVID, WOULD YOU SHARE YOUR ANGLE ESPECIALLY WITH THE LACK OF RACING THIS PAST YEAR?

>> TOTALLY.

THAT'S BEEN VERY BIG AND CERTAINLY ON A LOT OF ATHLETES' MINDS.

THAT RELATIONSHIP THAT THE OTHER TWO HAVE TALKED ABOUT DEFINITELY IS QUITE STRONG, AND IT'S LIKE SYMBIOTIC, REALLY, THE MENTAL VERSUS PHYSICAL RELATIONSHIP.

IF YOU LOOK AT STUDIES, YOU CAN'T REALLY FIND WHERE PEOPLE CAN PERFORM WELL IF MENTALLY THEY'RE NOT FUNCTIONING WELL.

AND LIKEWISE, YOU'RE PHYSICALLY, IF NOT FUNCTIONING WELL, THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT YOUR MOOD AND YOUR MENTAL STATE AS WELL.

SO THEY WORK SO CLOSELY TOGETHER AND REALLY BACK AND FORTH, THAT THEY HAVE TO BE TREATED AS ONE IN THE SAME AND TOGETHER.

>> FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU, DAVE, ON THAT, THEN, HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF WINTER.

HOW DO YOU GET MOTIVATED THIS 2021 TO PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER?

>> YEAH, I ALWAYS RECOMMEND HAVING SOME SORT OF PLAN IS DEFINITELY A GOOD AND A BROAD PERSPECTIVE TO HAVE.

HAVE SOME SORT OF PLAN OF HEY, I KNOW I NEED TO HAVE SOME PHYSICAL HEALTH, I NEED TO RELIEVE SOME STRESS PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY, AND SO SET A PLAN FOR -- AND MAKE IT SHORT TERM.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR, WHERE YOU DEDICATE ALL YOUR TIME TO TRYING TO GET OUT AND WORK OUT AN HOUR OR TWO HOURS A DAY.

THAT CAN LEAD TO TOO MUCH, OVERWHELMING-TYPE STRESS.

SO I WOULD ACTUALLY SET A PLAN FOR A SHORT-TERM AMOUNT OF TIME, TRY TO GET YOURSELF IN A GROOVE OR A RHYTHM, WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE HEY, YOU'RE GETTING SOME GREAT BENEFIT, YOU'RE SORT OF BALANCING YOUR LIFE WELL, AND BENEFITTING, AND THEN MAKE THE LITTLE TWEEKS HERE AND THERE AS YOU NEED TO AS DIFFERENT SITUATIONS COME UP.

>> DR. BEECROFT, LET'S SPEND SOME TIME AND OBVIOUSLY BRING YOU BACK IN, CHRISTIE, AS WELL, ON MENTAL HEALTH.

WOULD YOU GRADE OUR U.S. OF A.

STATUS OF MENTAL HEALTH, AND I KNOW THIS WEEK HAS BEEN A TOUGH WEEK FOR MANY OF US IF WE WATCH THE NEWS AND CARE ABOUT OUR U.S. OF A. DR. BEECROFT, HOW ARE WE DOING AND DO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH?

>> WE ABSOLUTELY DO NEED TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT.

AS FAR AS WHERE WE'RE AT WITH MENTAL HEALTH, WE'RE NOT AS GOOD AS WE SHOULD BE.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE OVERDOSES NOW, SEEING THIS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND OVERDOSES AND OPIOID OVERDOSES ESPECIALLY.

PEOPLE -- WE'VE SEEN A SPIKE IN OUR UTILIZATION OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY ORDER SERVICES, SO WE'RE SEEING IT FROM AN INSURANCE PLAN THAT PEOPLE ARE USING THESE SERVICES YET NOT INPATIENT SERVICES BECAUSE THE INPATIENT SERVICES NOT ONLY HAD THE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND NOT AS AVAILABLE, BUT PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO GO OUT.

SO THAT'S BEEN A BIG ISSUE, AND IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE, IF THEY'RE FEELING ILL OR NOT FEELING RIGHT TO TALK TO THE PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR, REACH OUT IF THEY HAVE AN INSURANCE AND INSURANCE PLAN, IF THEY NEED SERVICES TO REACH OUT TO THE VARIOUS HOT LINES AND STUFF, TO GET A REFERRAL TO SOMEONE THAT CAN HELP THEM.

BECAUSE IT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM, AND YOU CAN DO IT BY TELEMEDICINE IN MANY RESPECTS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING COVID GOING INTO A BRICKS AND MORTAR FACILITY, YOU CAN DO IT IN THE SAFETY OF YOUR OWN HOME OR IN THE PARKING LOT OF A LIBRARY, GETTING THE WI-FI FROM THE LIBRARY, YOU CAN DO IT IN THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SAFE FOR YOU, BUT TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT AND ACCESS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> AT WHAT POINT MUST ONE REACH OUT TO YOURSELF?

>> WELL, I WOULD KIND OF PUT IT DOWN TO FOUR OF THE NEXT SIX SYMPTOMS.

THAT YOU'VE GOT A CHANGE IN YOUR APPETITE, WEIGHT GAIN OF 10% UP OR DOWN.

CHANGE IN YOUR SLEEP PATTERN, DIFFICULTY FALLING ASLEEP, WAKING UP EARLY, NOT BEING ABLE TO SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT.

FEELING TIRED, RESTLESS.

YOUR MENTAL CAPACITY, YOUR MEMORY IS IMPAIRED.

YOU DO A LOT OF I DON'T KNOW ANSWERS WHEN PEOPLE ASK HOW YOU'RE DOING.

MOOD, DOWN IN THE DUMPS, SAD, DEPRESSED, 90% OF THE TIME FOR MORE THAN TWO WEEKS OF DURATION.

LOSS OF LIFE INTEREST.

INTEREST IN PLEASURABLE ACTIVITIES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WOULD BE REASONS, IF THEY LAST FOR MORE THAN TWO WEEKS IN A ROW, MOST OF THE TIME, YOU NEED TO BE REACHING OUT TO YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR, IF NOT TO A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALIST TO GET HELP AT THIS POINT.

>> THANK YOU, CHRISTIE BUCK, WOULD YOU FOLLOW UP THAT ONESATION.

>> AND I LOVE THIS CONVERSATION, THAT'S WHAT IT IS, I'M LOOKING FOR THE CHANGES.

NOW WE HAVE PROBLEMS IN THAT A LOT OF TIMES FOLKS CAN'T SEE THIS WITHIN THEMSELVES, AND THEY MAY BE IGNORING IT.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WOULD BE NICE IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE ACTION PLAN IS TO NOTICE.

SO I'M LOOKING FOR THESE POSSIBLY IN MYSELF, THAT WOULD BE HUGE, THAT WOULD BE SELF-AWARENESS THAT I CAN IDENTIFY THAT I'M FEELING THESE THINGS, BUT THEN MAYBE AS A SPOUSE, AS A CO-WORKER, AS A NEIGHBOR, AS A PARENT, A GODPARENT, WHATEVER MY ROLE IS, AM I NOTICING THESE CHANGING IN THAT PERSON.

THEY'RE NOT SLEEPING WELL AT NIGHT, I HEAR THE BED CREEK, THEY'RE NOT EATING WELL, THEY'RE DOWN IN THE DUMPS, NOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ISOLATING THEMSELVES FROM EVERYONE ELSE, TAKE THE SYMPTOMS THAT DR. BEECROFT TALKED ABOUT AND I'M GOING DO A STRAIGHTFORWARD CONVERSATION WITH THE PERSON THAT I HAVE A LOVING CARING CONVERSATION THAT'S TELLING THE PERSON THESE ARE THE THINGS I'M NOTICING IN YOU.

I'M CONCERNED.

AND THE FIRST CONVERSATIONS OFTENTIMES DON'T HAPPEN, AND SO THIS IS WHY -- WE CAN TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH UNTIL WE'RE BLUE IN THE FACE, AND THEY ARE.

EVERY INTERVIEW, EVERY TALK SHOW, I SEE THIS.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL WELLNESS, WE'VE GOT TO BE ARMED AS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES TO GET INVOLVED.

WE HAVE TO BE ARMED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS?

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS?

WHAT PUTS ME AT RISK TO POSSIBLY HAVE A CHANGE IN MY BEHAVIOR.

>> YES, BACK TO YOU, DAVE, ON THE PHYSICAL SIDE.

AGAIN, I TRUST YOU WOULD HOPE THAT EXERCISE IS PART OF A PRESCRIPTION OF A TREATMENT PLAN FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING MENTAL CHALLENGES?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY, I VERY, VERY HIGHLY VALUE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND REALLY, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN ITSELF CAN BE A VERY BROAD PERSPECTIVE OR BROAD TOPIC, AND ULTIMATELY, I FIND THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IS GOING TO GRAVITATE TOWARD SOME ACTIVITY OR SOMETHING THAT IS EXCITING OR PLEASURABLE TO THEM.

SO UTILIZE THAT, UTILIZE ANY ACTIVITY THAT YOU COME UP WITH AND MAKE IT WORK, MAKE IT PART OF YOUR OWN PERSONAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BECAUSE IF YOU DO THAT, YOU'RE NOT ONLY MORE LIKELY TO CONTINUE WITH IT ON THE CONSISTENT BASIS, BUT THEN IT'S GOING TO IN TURN, PROVIDE YOU THAT MENTAL STIMULATION, THAT POSITIVE MENTAL STIMULATION THAT'S GOING TO ENHANCE YOUR MOOD AND DECREASE YOUR LIKELIHOOD OF FALLING INTO THAT SORT OF FUNK OR THAT SITUATION WHERE YOU KIND OF GET DOWNHILL AND DOWN ON YOURSELF MORE NEGATIVELY.

>> AND, OF COURSE, DAVE, NOT EVEN RELATED TO OUR PANDEMIC.

YOU TREAT PATIENTS WHO POSSIBLY MUST BE REMOVED FROM THEIR ART OF EXERCISE FOR SOME TIME FOR HEALING.

HOW DO WE WORK THROUGH THAT MENTALLY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS QUITE A CHALLENGE, AND, YOU KNOW, MANY, MANY ATHLETES IT'S QUITE A COMMON FEATURE OF AN ATHLETE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE TAKEN OUT OF THEIR SPORT, THEIR NUMBER ONE GOAL IS TO GET BACK.

THEY WILL DO ANYTHING, EVEN NOT LISTENING TO THE THERAPIST AT SOME TIMES TO GET BACK TO THEIR SPORT.

SO MY ROLE IS REALLY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A PLAN ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE, BUT ALSO THOSE REALISTIC EXPECTATION AND THAT UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO GET THERE AND WHY I'M PRESCRIBING OR DOING WHAT I'M DOING TO GET THEM TO THAT ULTIMATE GOAL.

>> THANK YOU, DR. BEECROFT, AGAIN, LET'S CONTINUE AT THIS POINT BEFORE WE PERHAPS EVEN DISCUSS PREVENTION, TALKING ABOUT YOUR TREATMENT PROTOCOLS FOR YOUR PATIENTS, YOUR MEMBERS.

>> SURE, I WOULD REVERSE THE USUAL THINKING ABOUT PROTOCOLS BUT CAPITALIZE WHAT DAVE HAS BROUGHT OUT.

THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FAMILY PRACTICE RECOMMENDED FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS AT LEAST, A THREE TO FIVE DAYS OF AEROBIC EXERCISE EACH WEEK.

AND AEROBIC EXERCISE OF 30 MINUTES OR LONGER, 30 TO 45 MINUTES IS MINIMUM, BUT AEROBIC EXERCISE WHERE YOUR HEART RATE IS 50% UP ITS RESTING RATE FOR THAT HALF HOUR PERIOD OF TIME.

WE KNOW IT SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVES DEPRESSION, SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVES ANXIETY DISORDERS IN AND OF ITSELF, AND IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER MEDICAL PROBLEMS, PARKINSON'S DISEASE, IF YOU DO A PROTOCOL LIKE THIS, CAN BE DELAYED, THE MOTOR SYMPTOMS CAN BE DELAYED UP TO THREE YEARS BY DOING A ROUTINE AEROBIC EXERCISE PROTOCOL.

SO IT HELPS, IT REALLY HELPS AND IT'S FREE.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PUT BOOTS ON AND GO OR A SWIMSUIT ON AND SWIM.

WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO.

BUT DOING SOMETHING.

AND YOU CAN EVEN ROLL IN CUTTING WOOD OR SPLITTING WOOD, IF YOU'RE A PERSON THAT LIKES THE OUTDOORS.

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING.

ALL KINDS OF WAYS TO DO THAT AEROBIC EXERCISE, BE CREATIVE IN THAT.

THE TRADITIONAL THINGS THAT YOU LOOK AT FOR REALLY ACCESSING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE, THE ONE THAT IS MOST EFFECTIVE IS PSYCHOTHERAPY.

THIS CAN BE DONE BY A THERAPIST.

THERE ARE MANY SPIRITUAL LEADERS THAT HAVE SKILL SETS IN PSYCHOTHERAPY, SO BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THEM, AND IF THAT'S NOT EFFECTIVE OVER A PERIOD OF TWO TO THREE MONTHS, THEN MOVING INTO ASKING ABOUT MEDICATIONS.

MANY TIMES PEOPLE GO TO MEDICATIONS FIRST, NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, BUT PSYCHOTHERAPY HAS MUCH LESS IN THE WAY OF SIDE EFFECTS AND ADVERSE POTENTIAL EFFECTS, DRUG INTERACTIONS, THAN MEDICATIONS DO.

HERE YOU'RE HEARING A PSYCHIATRIST SAY NOT THE MEDS FIRST.

WE HAVE TO GO WITH THE EVIDENCE.

THE EVIDENCE IS PSYCHOTHERAPY IS VERY EFFECTIVE.

70% OR SO OR MORE.

AND YOU LOOK AT THE COMBINATION OF PSYCHOTHERAPY AND MEDICATIONS, YOU GET INTO 90% EFFICACY OF BEING ABLE TO ALLEVIATE MAJOR DEPRESSION AND GENERALIZED OR OTHER ANXIETY DISORDERS, OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER, THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THING ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

THAT'S ONLY A LITTLE BIT OF IT.

EXERCISE, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

NOT USING EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL, NICOTINE, CAFFEINE, CANNABIS, YOU KNOW SOME OTHER SUBSTANCES.

THOSE THINGS ARE HELPFUL TO STAY AWAY FROM BECAUSE YOUR BODY CAN TOLERATE A LITTLE BIT OF MANY OF THOSE BUT NOT A LOT OF THEM.

NOT GET INTO ABUSIVE SITUATION, CREATE ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT CREATES MORE PROBLEMS FOR YOU TO DEAL WITH.

LOOKING AT MINDFULNESS.

THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION.

RELAXATION TECHNIQUES ARE VERY HELPFUL FOR THIS.

MEDITATION AND THINGS SUCH AS PRAYER IS A MEDITATION TECHNIQUE, IF YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT, THAT IS AN ACCESS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT.

IT'S A VERY BIG COMBINATION.

MANY TIMES PEOPLE USE YOGA.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE USE ACUPUNCTURE, ACUPRESSURE TO ACCENTUATE THOSE THINGS.

THERE ARE NATUROCEUTICAL THINGS THAT BE CAN USED, ESPECIALLY FOR ANXIETY THAT HAVE FEW SIDE EFFECTS THAT ARE NATURAL PREPARATIONS.

SO IT'S REALLY A COMBINATION OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE GET WELL AND STAY WELL, AND THE KEY IS, ONCE YOU FIND A PROGRAM THAT WORKS FOR YOU, DON'T STOP IT.

KEEP ON GOING.

STAY WELL BECAUSE ANXIETY, DEPRESSION ARE RECURRENT ILLNESSES, THEY COME BACK, AND IF YOU DON'T KEEP ON TOP OF THEM, THEY'LL COME BACK AND BITE YOU AGAIN.

KEEP THEM UNDER CONTROL AND KEEP YOURSELF WELL.

>> WHAT IS IT ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> CHRISTIE BUCK, OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS BUT BRING IN THE TOPIC OF BULLYING, WHICH I HOPE YOU NEVER TIRE OF DISCUSSING.

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY I DON'T.

THAT'S ONE OF THE RISK FACTORS FOR DEPRESSION AND FOR SUICIDE.

IT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE, AND THAT'S WHY BE NICE IS BIGGER THAN THAT WITH THE ACTION PLAN.

BEYOND JUST BULLYING.

WHAT WE DO KNOW IS HOW PEOPLE TREAT EACH OTHER HAS AN EFFECT ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

THAT'S A REAL SIMPLE WAY TO PUT IT RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON HE'S BULLYING, SHE'S BULLYING, WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IS A BUNCH OF BULLIES.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IS AFFECTING PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH, AFFECTING HOW THEY THINK, ACT, FEEL, AFFECTING HOW THEY WORK, GO TO SCHOOL, CARRYING OUT DAILY ACTIVITIES AND ENGAGING IN SATISFYING RELATIONSHIPS.

THAT'S MY ELEVATOR SPEECH ALL THE TIME.

YEAH, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE, THE TOPIC OF BULLYING, BULLYING EQUALS HARASSMENT.

SO WE HAVE ADULTS THAT ALSO ARE BEING HARASSED.

SO THOSE ARE PARTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.

OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT NOW THERE'S A LOT OF ANGST IN OUR SOCIETY RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S NOT JUST WITH POLITICS, IT'S JUST ABOUT COVID, THE ANXIETY THAT THAT CAN BRING ABOUT, IT'S COVID SHAME, THAT CAN BRING ABOUT THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS, DISTURBANCES.

THERE'S SO MANY COMPLICATIONS RIGHT NOW IN OUR OWN LIVES OF STRESS THAT CAN BRING ABOUT CHANGES IN OUR BEHAVIOR.

SO THE THREE OF US, THREE PANELISTS WERE SPEAKING BEFORE WE CAME ON TODAY, AND WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING ALL OF THE COMPLICATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW THAT CAN HAVE AN EFFECT ON OUR MENTAL HEALTH, AND THAT CAN STOP US FROM CONTINUING OUR EXERCISE PROGRAMS AND CONTINUE ALL THOSE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY GOOD FOR OUR HEALTH.

MAYBE I HAD A GROUP THEY USED TO RUN WITH AND SUDDENLY WE'RE NOT RUNNING TOGETHER ANYMORE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT ONE THAT WANTS TO STAY HOME.

WE'VE GOT ONE THAT IS NOT RESPONDING TO TEXT MESSAGES THAT MAYBE I'M SENDING OUT.

I AGREE WITH BOTH DR. BEECROFT AND DAVE THAT WE HAVE TO PUT SOMETHING ON PAPER THAT PUTS US INTO THIS PLAN TO HAVE GOOD MENTAL HEALTH.

BE AROUND THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE ME FEEL GOOD INSTEAD OF THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T BRING OUT THE GOOD IN ME.

SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW I'M TREATED, HOW PEOPLE ARE TREATING ME.

YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE ME FEEL GREAT, AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO KEEP MYSELF DISTANCED FROM THE PEOPLE THAT BRING ME DOWN, AND, YOU KNOW, IF I AM FEELING LIKE I'M BEING HARASSED, LIKE I'M BEING PICKED ON, LIKE I'M BEING BULLIED, YOU KNOW I NEED TO LET SOMEONE KNOW.

OFTENTIMES WE'RE GOING TO SCHOOLS WHERE WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE TREATING EACH OTHER, MAKE SURE YOU'RE LETTING A COUNSELOR KNOW, SOMEONE IN ADMINISTRATION POSITION KNOW.

IF I FEEL LIKE I'M BEING HARASSED, PICKED ON BY A SUPERVISOR, BY A CO-WORKER, I'M GOING TO GO TO MY HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR.

I MIGHT FIND THINGS THAT HELP ME GET THROUGH THE DIFFICULT TIMES.

THAT MEANS ACCESSING HELP AND TREATMENT.

HOW CAN I -- WHAT TYPE OF TREATMENT CAN I GO INTO TO HELP ME BUILD THE BETTER COPING SKILLS ALSO?

I ALSO NEED TO BE HAVING SOMETHING INSIDE OF ME THAT CAN HANDLE HOW PEOPLE ARE TREATING ME.

IT GOES BOTH WAYS WHEN IT COMES TO BULLYING AND HARASSMENT.

>> ALL RIGHT, DAVE, HERE WE ARE IN THE THROES OF WINTER.

I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO OFF THE SUBJECT, BUT PERHAPS MY FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER MEANS I'M GOING TO TAKE A WALK OUTSIDE WHERE THERE MIGHT BE ICE AND SNOW.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU FOR A SPRAINED ANKLE.

HOW DO WE PREVENT ISSUES IF WE ARE READY TO GO OUT THERE AND GET EXERCISED?

>> RIGHT, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, I DEFINITELY PREACH AND PRACTICE STAYING ON THE GOOD SECTIONS OF THE SIDEWALK.

I INTERMIX MY WORKOUTS MYSELF AND I RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE DON'T DO TOO MUCH ACTIVITY OUTSIDE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE FEELING A LITTLE UNSAFE OR NOT REAL SURE ABOUT HOW THE ROADS OR THE SIDEWALKS MAY BE, SO WHEN IN DOUBT, IF YOU CAN UTILIZE LIKE AN INDOOR OPTION, THAT CAN BE GREAT.

FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND FROM TALKING WITH OTHERS AND SEEING ONLINE, EXERCISE EQUIPMENT FOR HOME WENT OFF THE SHELVES AND GOT VERY POPULAR DURING THIS PANDEMIC, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ACCOMMODATING BY BRINGING THE GYM TO THEIR HOMES INTO THAT SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

SO EVEN THOUGH I MAY BE ON THE MORE BORING SIDE TO WORK OUT AT HOME, YOU'RE STILL ALLOWING YOURSELF THAT EFFECT OF GOOD BLOOD FLOW AND ENERGY AND RELEASE OF STRESS THAT'S GOING TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD WHILE STAYING SAFE AND AVOIDING SOME OF THOSE RISKS OUTSIDE.

IF YOU DO CHOOSE TO GET OUTSIDE, I HIGHLY VALUE THE TRAILS.

GOING FOR WALKS ON TRAIL SYSTEMS OR AREAS WHERE ICE DOESN'T TYPICALLY BUILD UP, AND IT'S NOT ONLY NICE AND SOLEMN AND QUIET AND CAN KIND OF HELP YOU THINK A BIT AND REFLECT, BUT ALSO YOU'RE GETTING THE EXERCISE OF JUST THE VARYING TERRAIN AND A LITTLE LESS CHANCE OF THE ICY SITUATION.

>> GREAT.

DAVE, ON THAT, MARY FREEBED, WHAT DO YOU LEAVE US WITH AND HOW CAN WE CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION WITH YOU?

>> YEAH, YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH ME HERE, AT THE MARY FREEBED YMCA AND NASH YMCA AS WELL, WHICH IS THE HUB OF THE SPORTS pMEDICINE PROGRAM, SO ESSENTIALLY, 616-840-PLAY IS OUR NUMBER, THAT'S HOW YOU CAN GET AHOLD OF US HERE AND AS FAR AS SOME FINAL THOUGHTS, WHILE EXERCISE AND EVEN GETTING INTO AN EXERCISE ROUTINE CAN SEEM SOMEWHAT DAUNTING AND ALMOST STRESSFUL ITSELF, I WOULD ASSURE YOU THAT IF YOU SET YOUR GOALS SMALL AND HAVE A STARTING POINT AND SET YOURSELF UP FOR SOME CONSISTENT EXERCISE, I REALLY THINK YOU'LL FIND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BENEFIT IN THE LONG RUN AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY ELEVATE YOUR OWN PERSPECTIVE BOTH FROM A MOOD AND PHYSICAL STANDPOINT.

>> THANK YOU, CHRISTIE BUCK, ON BEHALF OF THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION, WHAT DO YOU LEAVE US WITH?

>> I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU ALL WITH -- I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE EXERCISE, IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE REALIZE SOMETIMES YOU'RE NOT MOTIVATED TO DO SOMETHING ON YOUR OWN.

FIND SOMEONE TO DO IT WITH, CALL A FRIEND, ASK THEM TO GO FOR A WALK.

I KNOW FOR MYSELF PERSONALLY DURING COVID, MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE ON A WALK ROUTINE, AND SHE MOVED OUT, AND I DIDN'T REPLACE THAT, AND I GET MY MOTIVATION, MYSELF PERSONALLY, FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

SO I NEED TO CHALLENGE MYSELF RIGHT NOW TO GO FIND ANOTHER PERSON TO WALK WITH.

THAT'S MY ROUTINE, AND AN INJURY GETS IN THE WAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS HAPPENED TO ME, AND I FEEL LIKE I DON'T HAVE -- I DON'T WANT TO EXERCISE, BUT I'M GOING TO GO BACK, SO WITH OUR MENTAL HEALTH, A LOT OF TIMES PROTECTIVE FACTOR, OUR GOOD FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS, SO I'M GOING TO DO THAT FOR MY MENTAL HEALTH AND GO OUT.

RIGHT NOW I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE NICE.ORG AND STREAM THEIR WAY THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AND GO TO THE GET TRAINING TAB, AND SIGN UP FOR ONE OF OUR TRAININGS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ACTION PLAN IS, NOTICE, WRITE, CHALLENGE AND EMPOWER.

WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH?

BASICS, AND WHEN DOES IT BECOME AN ILLNESS?

>> YES.

>> IN ADDITION, HOW CAN I PREVENT SUICIDE?

THAT IS STEP TWO.

HELP SOMEBODY TO FIND RESOURCES, FIND SOMEBODY TO GET HELP.

>> LEAVE YOU A MINUTE OF CLOSURE, DR. BEECROFT.

>> OKAY, GO TO BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD.COM, WE HAVE A WEB PAGE THAT HAS A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SECTION WITH A VARIETY OF RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, SELF-HELP RESOURCES AND FOR OUR MEMBERSHIP, GIVES YOU PHONE NUMBERS TO GET REFERRALS AND AUTHORIZATIONS IF YOU NEED SERVICES.

>> WHAT IS THE TAKE HOME MESSAGE TO US, WHAT'S THE MESSAGE US TO?

>> ME?

>> YEAH.

>> TAKE HOME MESSAGE IS LISTEN TO YOUR BODY, LISTEN TO WHAT IT'S TELLING YOU, THE SYMPTOMS GIVE YOU A HARD CHECKPOINT TO HAVE A FLAG TO SAY THIS IS BAD, AND YOU NEED TO GO TO THE DOCTOR, BUT REALLY ALSO LOVE YOURSELF, LEARN TO REALLY LOVE YOURSELF, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, AND IN THAT, THAT COULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR YOU TO RECOGNIZE THESE EARLIER ALSO.

>> START TODAY.

THANK YOU ALL, GUESTS, FOR THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.

TAKE CARE.

>> THANKS.

>> THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.