>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.

LIKE THE SWALLOWS TO CAPISTRANO, WE ARE BACK.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME BACK TO THE FIRST DONNYBROOK IN THE NINE NOS.

STUDIOS ABOUT 18 MONTHS.

IT FEELS SO GOOD TO BE BACK AND GATHER AROUND THE BIG GREEN -- ACTUALLY, THERE'S FOR BIG GREEN TABLE FOR THIS EDITION, BUT OUR NEW SET IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, SO WE'RE IN OUR TEMPORARY FACILITIES RIGHT NOW.

WE THANK EVERYBODY FOR JOINING US AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO RETURNING TOWER HOME IMPROVEMENT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LENS MEET THE PANELISTS WHO MAKE UP TONIGHT'S SOMEWHAT ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION.

STARTING WITH THE NEWS DIRECTOR FOR THE BIG 550, WENDY WIESE.

BILL McCLELLAN, ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.

ANOTHER FOUNDER, MR. RAY HARTMANN FROM RAWSTORY.COM AND THE BIG 550 KTRS AND THE RIVERFRONT TIMES WHICH HE FOUNDED.

AND THE NEWS EDITOR FOR THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN, SPORTS COLUMNIST THERE AS WELL, ALL AROUND GOOD GUY, MR. KIRKWOOD, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ALVIN REID.

>> HI, MOM, I'M BACK.

>> ON THE SECOND HALF OF THE PROGRAM, WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ON CAMPUS WHICH BRINGS US TO A TRAGIC TOPIC.

BILL, MAYBE I'LL THROW THIS FIRST QUESTION YOUR WAY.

ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION RULING THE LAND UNFORTUNATELY.

WE KNOW AT ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITIES, WE'VE HAD TWO RECENT SUICIDES AND THE STUDENTS THERE ARE PETITIONS FOR MORE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS.

THEY'RE ENTITLED TO TEN FER SEMESTER, THEY WANT 14.

STUDENTS AT WASH-U HAD A SIMILAR CONCERN LAST SPRING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SUICIDE.

THE WAY IT WAS REPORTED, THE CLASSES TOMORROW ARE CANCELLED.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS?

>> OH, I DON'T KNOW.

I'M CONFLICTED.

I'M ALWAYS ARGUING FOR THE PUBLIC'S RIGHTS TO KNOW AND FULL DISCLOSURE.

ON NEWSPAPERS, YOU KNOW, WE GENERALLY DON'T REPORT ON SUICIDES UNLESS THEY'RE EITHER A PROMINENT PUBLIC PERSON OR IF THE SUICIDE IS IN A PUBLIC FASHI FASHION, BUT YOUNG PEOPLE COMMITTING SUICIDE, THE PAPERS GENERALLY STEER AWAY FROM IT BECAUSE WE'RE AFRAID OF COPYCATS AND KIDS THING MAYBE I COULD GET SOME ATTENTION TO DO THIS.

I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED WHEN ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY WAS SO UP FRONT BIT AND I THOUGHT THAT JEFF FOWLER'S STATEMENT WAS PERFECTLY DONE AND HAD JUST THE RIGHT TONE, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO PUBLICIZE YOUNG PEOPLE SUICIDES.

>> I THINK YOU DO.

I WAS EDUCATED ON THIS BY THE WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION CALLED WAKE-UP, PROJECT WAKE-UP, FILM WAKE-UP IS ONE -- IT'S A GREAT FILM.

MY FRIENDS ALEX AND DANNY WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS AND PARTICULARLY IN CONTEXT OF A COUPLE OF DEATHS AT MIZZOU, NATE TOWNSEND DID THIS INCREDIBLE FILM ON IT AND THEIR THEME IS YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

I ACCIDENT HAPPEN WHAT YOU'RE SIGNIFICANT.

>> OH SURE.

>> CERTAINLY IN THE CASE OF ANY INDIVIDUAL PERSON, YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THEIR PRIVACY, BUT THIS IS A TOPIC THAT IS VERY REAL IN A MUCH BIGGER WAY THAN IT USED TO BE AND THEY'RE EMPHATIC THAT PEOPLE NEED TO DISCUSS THIS, TO TALK ABOUT IT.

I FEEL DIFFERENTLY, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

>> YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT.

>> I THINK SO MUCH OF IT HAS TO DO, AND YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT JEFF FOWLER.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERY INSTITUTION, I THINK, TO GET IN FRONT -- YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY, WHAT THEY CALL GETTING IN FRONT OF THE STORY NOW, AND IT'S -- IT WAS HEARTBREAKING TO READ ABOUT THE CONCERN FOR THE FRESHMEN WHO ARE THERE TRYING TO ADJUST TO CAMPUS LIFE AND, YOU KNOW, STILL IN A PANDEMIC.

WE REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE COLLEGE FRESHMEN.

I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW CRUSHING THAT PRESSURE HAS TO BE, BUT IF I'M ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY, I'M GOING TO DO ANYTHING I CAN TO ACCOMMODATE THESE STUDENTS SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO CANCEL CLASSES.

I REALIZE THAT THAT'S PROBABLY A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT BUDGET HIT, BUT THIS IS -- THIS IS A CRISIS IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

>> WENDY, YOU TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH.

I WOULDN'T SAY WE WERE HAPPY-GO-LUCKY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, STARTING SCHOOL, LIKE IN THE LATE '70s AND GOING TO THE '80s, THERE WAS PRESSURE, THERE WAS ANGST, BUT ONE THING AS I'VE, YOU KNOW, MATURED AND ESPECIALLY HAVING DAUGHTERS LATER, YOU KNOW, AT 38 AND 40, THAT IT'S DIFFERENT.

AND I THINK THAT SOCIETY HAS TO REALIZE THAT IT'S DIFFERENT NOW.

I THINK THERE'S PART OF THE ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY THAT WOULD SAY, LIKE, WHY WOULD YOU CANCEL CLASSES OR WHY WOULD YOU TAKE THESE STEPS LIKE THIS WHEN IT DOESN'T IMPACT EVERYBODY.

BUT I THINK -- I HAVE COME TO REALIZE AND I HOPE OTHERS HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT, NO, MAYBE YOU DO STOP FOR A DAY OR TWO SO EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT IT.

LIKE RAY SAYS, JUST UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON, BECAUSE IT DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE BEEN IGNORED WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE.

>> OH, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

AND RAY, YOU MAKE A GREAT POINT ABOUT EVERYTHING BEING UP FRONT, BUT IF YOU WERE THE EDITOR OF A PAPER AND A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT COMMITTED SUICIDE, WHICH HAPPENS, WOULD YOU THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE COVERED IN THE PAPER?

>> YUP.

AGAIN, NOT -- THE IDENTITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL, THAT'S A DIFFERENT QUESTION.

PARTICULARLY SOMEBODY THAT'S A MINOR.

>> BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO COVER A SUICIDE, DON'T YOU -- >> BUT WHAT THEY'RE REALLY COVERING IS THE -- IT IS THE EPIDEMIC, THE PROBLEM.

IT'S SO INTERESTING TO HEAR THIS.

WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, WE WEREN'T DEnd MAKING MORE COUNSELORS, WE'RE DEMANDING ALL KINDS OF -- >> THE END OF THE WAR.

>> WHATEVER, BUT THAT'S AN INTERESTING DEMAND.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO -- AGAIN, YOU ALWAYS -- YEAH, YOU HAVE TO COVER -- YOU CAN'T STIGMATIZE IT ANY LONGER.

>> WITH REGARD TO THE STUDENTS, THOUGH, THEY'RE ASKING FOR MORE MENTAL HEALTH SESSIONS BECAUSE MEDICAL PROTOCOL SAYS YOU GET ABOUT, FOR ONE MENTAL HEALTH, YOU GET ONE SESSION A WEEK AND THERE'S 14 WEEKS IN A SEMESTER AND THEY'RE ONLY GIVEN TEN, SO THEY WANT 14.

THE PROBLEM IS, THERE ARE NO MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS OUT THERE.

THERE'S A SHORTAGE ALL THROUGHOUT ST. LOUIS, THERE'S A SHORTAGE THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT SLU CAN DO ABOUT THIS.

IT'S THE EXACT SAME THING THE STUDENTS AT WASH-U WERE PROTESTING LAST SPRING.

WENDY, SPEAKING OF KIDS, THEY'RE NOT ENTIRELY WELCOME IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS ANYMORE.

MAYOR TISHAURA JONES HAS JUST INSTITUTED A NEW CURFEW.

THE CURFEW STARTS AT 11:00 ON WEEK NIDES, MIDNIGHT ON WEEKENDS, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY -- OR ACTUALLY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, AND PARENTS ARE THEN OBLIGATED TO PICK UP THE KIDS WITHIN 45 MINUTES AFTER THAT CURFEW.

SO A WEEK NIGHT, IT WOULD BE 11:40 AND IF THE PARENTS SHOW UP LATE, THEY'LL TB CITED BY POLICE.

IF I HAD MY WAY, THE CURFEW WOULD BE EARLIER, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?

>> I AGREE WITH YOU, AND I DO THINK IT'S FUNNY JUST BECAUSE OF THE IMAGE WE GET WHEN WE THINK OF PARENTS PICKING UP AFTER A SCHOOL MIXER, PULLING UP IN THE CARPOOL IN A MINIVAN AND THE FACES FACING CURFEW JUMPING IN THE MINIVAN AND SPEEDING OFF WITH MOM AND DAD.

I THINK UNTIL PARENTS -- THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE VERY POPULAR, BUT I THINK UNTIL PARENTS GET OUT IN FRONT OF THIS, YES, THEY SHOULD BE FINED.

THEY SHOULD BE ISSUED CITATIONS.

I AGREE WITH YOU, CHARLIE, AND I THINK TISHAURA JONES, MAYOR JONES, SHE'S TAKING SUBSTANTIVE STEPS.

SHE'S GOT TO DO SOMETHING.

I THINK BY THE TIME THE LITTLE DARLTION, IF THEY'RE ALREADY OUT -- DARLINGS, IF THEY'RE ALREADY OUT AT 11:00 AND 12:00, THEY'VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO GET IN TROUBLE ALREADY, SO I WOULD BACK THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> DO YOU RECALL REMEMBER THERE?

IT'S 11:00.

DOWN WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE?

I'M THINKING AT 15 YEARS OLD, WHAT KID IS RUNNING AROUND PAST 11:00, 12:00 -- >> NEVER HAPPENED.

>> I SUPPORT, DO WHAT YOU CAN, TAKE THOSE STEPS.

THEY'RE LIKE, A LOT OF PARENTS WILL JUST DISREGARD IT.

WELL, SOME WILL REGARD IT.

IT'S A STEP.

IT'S SOMETHING, AND WE GOT TO START DOING SOMETHING.

>> AMEN TO THAT.

IS IT PRACTICAL, THOUGH?

I MEAN, WE'RE ALREADY -- THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF POLICE.

THERE'S A QUESTION, YOU KNOW, TISHAURA JONES IS GETTING CRITICIZED FOR SAYING SHE'S GOING TO TAKE POLICE OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND PUT THEM DOWNTOWN ON THE WEEKENDS.

AND WITH THE SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICER, ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE ARE GOING TO BE TRUANT OFFICERS CHECKING KIDS' IDs AND HAULING 16-YEAR-OLDS INTO THE STATION?

I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ENOUGH POLICE TO DO THIS.

>> BUT PEOPLE SAY THE LAW IS NO DETER RENT TO CRIME.

YOU TAKE AWAY THE LAW AND THEN THE PERVES ARE OUT THERE.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT.

>> MAYBE IF YOU PUT OUT THERE, YOU MIGHT GET IN TROUBLE, IF YOU'RE THIS AGE AND YOU'RE OUT FAST 11:00.

>> YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING IMPORTANT.

CAN WE TALK ABOUT OUR CITY DEFENDERS FOR A MOMENT AND THEIR CRITICISM OF MAYOR JONES?

I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE EVER HEARD ANYTHING MORE POLITICALLY NAIVE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

SHE IS -- SHE HAS ALREADY TAKEN SO MUCH HEAT FOR KEEPING THAT IMPORTANT PROMISE THAT SHE KEPT TO HER BASE ABOUT CLOSING THE CITY WORKHOUSE WITH THE JUSTICE CENTER AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON.

I JUST -- I CANNOT -- DON'T LET THE PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD, IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT -- >> WELL, JUST SO JUMP IN TO EXPLAIN.

OUR CITY DEFENDERS, WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTED THE MAYOR WHEN SHE RAN FOR OFFICE AND REALLY BECAME VERY PROMINENT AFTER THE SHOOTING OF MICHAEL BROWN IN 2000 -- '15, WAS IT?

WELL, THIS WEEK, IT AN I LONG WITH OTHER REFORMIST ORGANIZATIONS CRITICIZED THE MAYOR BECAUSE SHE'S ADDING POLICE OFFICERS TO DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS AND THEY ALSO SAID THAT BY ENFORCING SOME OF THE LOW-LEVEL INFRACTIONS LIKE EXPIRED LICENSE PLATES, THAT POOR PEOPLE WILL END UP IN JAIL, BUT NOT CORPORATE TYPES.

>> WELL, LET ME -- CAN I DISAGREE WITH MY FELLOW FOUNDER HERE?

BROKEN RECORD.

FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK CURFEWS WORK.

I DON'T.

>> HOWEVER, HOWEVER -- >> YOU DON'T AGREE WITH ME.

>> HOWEVER, BIG HOWEVER, I THINK IF YOU'RE IN THE UNIQUE SITUATION THAT THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS WITH IT'S VERY UNIQUE LEVEL OF PROBLEMS, DIFFICULTY WITH CRIME, I THINK YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS THAT MIGHT NOT WORK BUT THAT ARE BETTER THAN NOTHING.

NOW, IT'S AN ILLUSTRATION TO ME OF HOW DIFFICULT A JOB THE MAYOR OF ST. LOUIS HAS NO MATTER WHO HAS IT, THAT SOMETHING AS BASIC AS STAFFING UP -- SOMETHING WE'VE ALL THOUGHT SHOULD BE DONE ANYWAY, THAT YOU -- AND I AM ALL FOR GETTING AT THE CAUSE OF CRIME RATHER THAN SYMPTOMS.

>> SURE.

>> I'M NOT CHANGING ON THAT, BUT THE IDEA THAT YOU DON'T STAFF UP THE POLICE TO PROTECT -- MAKE DOWNTOWN SAFE, THE IDEA THAT THAT'S CONTROVERSIAL -- >> I'M NOT ARGUING THAT.

>> NO, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT.

>> I'M JUST SAYING WITH THE SHORTAGE OF POLICE -- >> I GET IT.

>> -- BE TRUANT OFFICERS -- >> MAYBE PUT IN HOLOGRAMS OR SOMETHING STWLITE JUST PUTS THE LAW ON THE BOOKS.

>> EAST ST. LOUIS STARTED A CURFEW SO SHE HAD TO DO THIS BECAUSE EVERYONE IN EAST ST. LOUIS WOULD MOVE INTO DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS, SO SHE HAD TO MAKE THE CURFEW.

>> I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT.

I DON'T THINK THE CURFEW -- SHE HAS TO TRY.

>> ANYTIME YOU HAVE A CURFEW, YOU JUST MOVE THE KIDS TO ANOTHER CITY.

AND -- >> SO CREVE COEUR AND CHESTER ARE GOING TO BE OVERRUN.

[ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] >> NO, NO, CHARLIE -- >> THAT'S A BALANCE.

>> THE KIDS ARE GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE.

>> THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE CURFEW.

>> REMEMBER WHEN RON HENDERSON DID THAT QUEM MOVED ALL THE KIDS OUT OF DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS, JUST SO SHOW YOU HOW HOLD THIS ISSUE IS, HE BLOCKED 40 AND PUT THEM ALL IN RICHMOND HEIGHTS.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I'M NOT BLAMING ANYBODY.

NOW, THERE'S A GUY BY THE NAME OF HOFFMAN AND APPARENTLY HE'S ORIGINALLY FROM AUGUSTA T MISSOURI, AND HE HAS A BOATLOAD OF COUNTRY.

HE'S REMAKING WINE COUNTRY OUT THERE.

HE'S GOT ALL THE WINERIES.

HE'S GOT BOATS, BUSES, HE BOUGHT HOTELS, HOUSING FOR EMPLOYEES.

HE'S REALLY MAKING THE REGION.

HE WANTS IT TO BE THE NAPA VALLEY, A TOURIST ATTRACTION FOR THE NORTHWEST, BUT NOW IN TODAY -- FOR THE MIDWEST, BUT NOW IN TODAY'S PAPER, HE'S GETTING SOME BRUSHBACK BECAUSE HE'S TEARING DOWN SOME 100-YEAR-OLD TREES, AND HE'S NOT COMMUNICATING TOO WELL, SOME PEOPLE SAY, WITH ST. CHARLES COUNTY OFFICIALS?

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS?

ARE YOU FOR TREES OR FOR PROGRESS?

>> I'M FOR THE TREES.

>> I THOUGHT YOU WERE FOR WINE.

>> WE JUST CELEBRATED THE 60th GREENTREE FESTIVAL IN KIRKWOOD.

THERE'S A MINDSET NOW THAT PROGRESS MEANS TREES GO, BUT IN THE NAME OF PROGRESS, WHO CARES ABOUT THOSE TREES, ALL RIGHT?

WE GOT TO STOP THIS.

AND WE LIVE IN WHAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE A METROPOLITAN AREA AND WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN THROUGHOUT THE AREA TO PROTECT THE TREES.

I WOULD TELL THE PEOPLE OF AUGUSTA, HEY, YOU ONLY GOT SO MANY TREES AND THE SECOND YOU WANT TO BE NAPA VALLEY OR NEW YORK CITY, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK BACK AND SAY, MAN, I WISH WE HADN'T DONE THIS GOLF COURSE, PARTY TIME.

LEAVE THEM TREES ALONE.

THAT'S WHY PEOPLE WANT TO GO THERE, BECAUSE IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> ALVIN, I LOVE TREES, BUT I LIKE THE IDEA OF VINEYARDS AND GRAPES AND I GIVE THIS MR. HOFFMAN A LOT OF CREDIT.

I MEAN, HE SPENT $100 MILLION AND HE'S -- LIKE YOU SAID, HE'S FROM THERE.

FROM WASHINGTON, MISSOURI, AND I LOOK AT SOME OF HIS IDEAS AND I GO, WHAT?

LIKE A 12-HOLE GOLF COURSE.

I THINK THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO WORK.

PEOPLE ARE USED TO 18.

>> OR NINE, OR NINE.

>> BUT IF HE WANTS MORE VINEYARDS, MORE GRAPES, ALVIN, COME ON.

>> BILL AND I CAN GET BEHIND THAT.

>> WAIT, HE WANTS MORE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESSES.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT'S FANTASTIC?

WE WOULD BE SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER IF THIS WASHINGTON, MISSOURI, NATIVE WERE TAKING THIS DEVELOPMENT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> I MEAN, TRULY, THIS IS GOING -- >> I WOULDN'T.

>> IT'S GOING TO REVOLUTIONIZE THE AREA.

>> WELL YEAH.

>> RAY, ANYTIME THERE'S PROGRESS, THEY HAD TO -- DID PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED THIS IDEA AT FIRST, DID THEY ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT ALL THE TREES WERE GOING TO SOMEHOW MIRACULOUSLY BE SAVED?

HAVE YOU BEEN ON THOSE -- NOT THAT I SPEND A LOT OF TIME AT THE WINERIES, BUT THE LITTLE HAIRPIN.

>> YEAH, 94.

>> ON 94.

THINGS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE, ROADS WILL HAVE TO BE WIDENED AND IT MIGHT BE WONDERFUL, AND HE'S SPENDING HIS MONEY HERE.

>> WELL, RECOGNIZING THAT HE CAN SPEND HIT MONEY, GREAT, AND I HATE TO CONTINUE THE CLASH OF THE FOUNDERS, BUT LET ME -- YOU TALK ABOUT NAPA VALLEY.

HE'S TRYING TO MAKE THIS THE SILVER DOLLAR CITY OF VINEYARDS.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW THAT, RAY.

>> NO, IT IS.

IT'S ALL KITSCHY AND STUFF AND IN ADDITION TO THE LEGITIMATE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, AGAIN, HE CAN DO WHAT HE WANTS, BUT PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT IT AND THERE'S ALL KINDS OF OUT-OF-CONTEXT STATUES AND IF YOU LIKE SILVER DOLLAR CITY, WHICH IS A NICE PLACE, GO THERE, AND I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO GET YOUR LIFETIME PASSES TO THE VINEYARDS, BUT -- I .

>> I RESEMBLE THAT MARK.

>> RAY IS LIKE A -- >> I THINK THE THING ABOUT WINE COUNTRY THAT'S SO NICE IS HOW UNSPOILED IT IS.

OTHERS HAVE THE RIGHT, BUT THIS IS TACKY.

>> WELL, RAY, SILVER DOLLARSTER PRETTY POPULAR.

>> YEAH, BUT THEY'RE NOT WINE GARDENS.

>> OZARKS IS NOT A KITSCHY PLACE.

>> BUT I PREFER THE WINERIES, NOT THE KITSCH.

>> I DIDN'T REALIZE RAY WAS SO HIGH BROW.

>> HE DOESN'T EVEN DRINK WINE.

>> BAMBI GOT TO GET HOTEL POINTS NO U TO HANG AROUND?

IT'S JUST TOO MUCH.

>> OH, YOU GUYS.

>> MY FIRST WINE WAS TRYING TO DRINK OUT OF A SCREW TOP, SO -- >> AND HER NAME WAS ANNIE.

>> RIPPLE.

>> I GOT TO GIVE CORI BUSH, THE NEWLY ELECTED CONGRESSMAN FROM ST. LOUIS, A LOT OF CREDIT.

SHE'S WORKING HER TAIL OFF, SHE'S ON ONE ISSUE AFTER ANOTHER, BUT ONE THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO HER HEART BECAUSE SHE ONCE WAS HOMELESS IS EVICTIONS.

AGAIN, SHE'S SAYING THERE SHOULD NOT BE AN END TO THE EVICTION MORATORIUM AS THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES RULED AND THERE'S ALSO LOOMING DEADLINE BECAUSE THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT, WHICH RUNS ERA, THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE, HAS A SEPTEMBER 30th DEADLINE.

AND CITIES, TOWNS, COUNTIES, STATES THAT HAVEN'T SPENT 65% OF THEIR EMERGENCY RENTAL MONEY HAVE TO GIVE THE UNUSED PORTION BACK.

SO SHE'S SAYING, HEY, WE HAVE TO STOP -- WE HAVE TO INSTITUTE THE MORATORIUM ONCE AGAIN.

I'M THINKING OKAY, SHE'S GOT A LOT OF GOOD DEGREES CONFERENCES, BUT YOU REALLY HAVE -- GOOD PRESS CONFERENCES, BUT YOU REALLY HAVE TO GET INTO PUBLIC POLICY AND FIGURE OUT HOW THAT MONEY GETS TO PEOPLE.

YOU CAN'T GOVERN BY PRESS CONFERENCE.

YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH A SUGGESTION TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM HAPPEN.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK SHE'S DONE JUST GREAT ON HER END.

MEANING, THERE IS NOBODY TO SPEAK FOR THESE PEOPLE.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS PEOPLE THAT SPEAK FOR IT, YADA, YADA, YADA, BUT THERE IS NO VOICE FOR THESE FOLKS.

THE VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS, SO GOOD FOR HER.

SHE MADE THAT AMAZING -- SHE ACTUALLY SLOWED THE PROCESS DOWN WITH HER DEMONSTRATION FOUR OR FIVE NIGHTS OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL STEPS.

SHE'S JUST DOING FINE.

THE PROBLEMS, AND I CAN'T FIGURE OUT FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE CITIES, THE COUNTIES, WHAT IT IS, HOW CAN THIS MONEY NOT BE GOING TO THE LANDLORDS?

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T REALLY BLAME THE LANDLORDS.

THE IDEA OF THE MORATORIUM WAS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS GOING TO MAKE THESE LANDLORDS WHOLE.

THESE LANDLORDS ARE ALL -- NOT ALL A BUNCH OF GIANT COMPANIES.

A LOT OF MOM AND POP PEOPLE.

IT'S OUTRAGEOUS, FLAT-OUT OUTRAGEOUS THAT 100% ISN'T GOING TO THESE LANDLORDS.

>> HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS.

YOU HAVE SOME STATES LIKE MISSOURI THAT DON'T PUT RESOURCES INTO IT.

MEANWHILE, MASSACHUSETTS HAS.

THEY'VE GIVEN OUT ALMOST TWO OUT OF THREE DOLLARS.

THAT WAS LAST WEEK, THEY'RE PROBABLY BETTER NOW.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED THE PLAN IN MARCH, THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT TOOK TWO MONTHS TO INSTITUTE IT AND THEN THEY DECENTRALIZE.

EVERY COUNTY IS ON YOUR OWN, THERE'S FOR FORMAT, BUT WE CAN GET ON A FLANE ON SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, GO TO BOSTON AND FIND OUT, FIRST OF ALL, THEY ALLOWED THE LANDLORDS IN NAH TO FILL OUT THE FORM.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

THEY ALSO REDUCED THE QUESTIONS ON THE MASSACHUSETTS FORM TO JUST FOUR QUESTIONS, NOT 50 OR W456 WHATEVER AND THEY HAD OTHER PRACTICES IN THERE TO MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN.

THEY FOLLOW UP WITH TEXTS AND EMAILS TO ALL THE RESIDENTS AND WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.

THIS STATE HAS ONLY GIVEN OUT 15% OF ITS EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

>> THAT'S WHERE THE SCANDAL IS PB MAYBE THEY COULD TAKE 15 MINUTE OF FIGHTING THE FREEDOM TO SPREAD DISEASE -- >> SHE'S GOT TO LOOK AT POLICIES -- >> YOU CAN'T -- >> I'M DID GO TO AGREE WITH RAY.

HE'S DISAGREE WITH ME, BUT -- >> THIS IS IN THE CORI BUSH'S PROBLEM IF THE STATE OF MISSOURI DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO ADMINISTER A PROGRAM.

>> IT'S A FEDERAL PROGRAM.

>> AND THE STATES HAVE TO ADMINISTER IT AND WE'RE NOT DOING IT.

IT'S NOT CORI BUSH'S FAULT.

>> AND ALL OF THIS REQUIRES A LOT OF PROCESSING, AND IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THINGS CORRECTLY, THERE'S NOBODY TO PROCESS A LOT OF THESE THINGS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

ONE, I WOULD GOVERN BY PRESS CONFERENCE BECAUSE I COULDN'T BE BOTHERED WITH MY COLLEAGUES OR THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT.

AND THEN TWO, SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, WE MYSTERIOUSLY GOT THOSE, YOU KNOW, EMERGENCY HELP AMERICA CHECKS WITHOUT ANY MUSS OR FUSS.

I DON'T THINK NECESSARILY THAT CORI BUSH COULD MAKE IT HAPPEN LIKE THAT, BUT I WOULD SAY, LIKE SKIP THE MIDDLE MAN, LET'S JUST SEND THESE CHECKS OUT.

>> EXACTLY, EXACTLY.

>> SOMEHOW MYSTERIOUSLY, PEOPLE GOT THEM AT THEIR U WE CAN'T GET THEM TO LANDLORDS?

I WOULD FIGHT THAT.

>> BILL McCLELLAN, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT POLICY IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

KCUR, PUBLIC RADIO STATION IN KANSAS CITY, HAS A REPORT THAT WE AS A STATE LOST ABOUT $370 MILLION IN FEDERAL HIGHWAY MOUNTAIN BECAUSE WE HAVE A LAW, PROBABLY NUT INTO LAW BY THE LATE GREAT LOBBYIST JOHN BRITAIN, WHICH ALLOWS PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI TO DRINK ALCOHOL IN A CAR AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT DRIVING IT.

SO THE PASSENGERS IN A CAR CAN HAVE OPEN CONTAINERS AND IMBIBE, BUT THAT'S AGAINST THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS IF YOU DO HAVE THAT RULE, SOME STATES HAVE IT, WE TAKE THOSE FEDERAL HIGHWAY DOLLARS AND WE DON'T ALLOW YOU TO USE THEM TO BUILD ROADS AND BRIDGES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

SHOULD MISSOURI NOW CHANGE IT'S LAW SO WE HAVE THE FUNDS?

>> I JUST HAVE NO FAITH IN MISSOURI DOING ANYTHING RIGHT.

I THINK WE'LL BE COMING BACK FROM THE VINEYARDS ON HI 94 WITH EVERYBODY DRINKING WINE.

>> THERE'S A VISUAL.

>> I THINK THE STATE SEES THIS AS A FREEDOM ISSUE.

JUST LIKE YOU HAVE THE FREEDOM NOT TO GET VACCINATED, THE FREEDOM NOT TO WEAR MASKS, WHY NOT HAVE THE FREEDOM TO DRINK AND DRIVE.

THAT'S THE WAY WE ARE APPROXIMATELY.

>> IT WILL BE SOMEBODY'S PLATFORM.

>> UNTIL WE GET A COMPLETELY NEW LEADERSHIP IN MISSOURI, THAT IS WHETHER WE HAVE.

>> OKAY, BILL DRIVES -- I'M DRIVING.

THE POLICE ARE BY ME.

HERE, HOLD THIS.

AND THE PASSENGER TAKES IT FROM ME.

NOW I'M NOT IN TROUBLE, OKAY?

IF THAT COSTS US $371 MILLION, THEN WE NEED TO FORFEIT THAT $371 MILLION.

I SAID THAT WAS A BAD IDEA, THE WHOLE PICKING UP A MARGARITA AND DRIVING AWAY.

>> YOU LIKE THAT, RIGHT?

>> NO, COME ON.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, YOU WERE AGAINST THAT.

>> WE SHOULD WILLINGLY GIVE UP THE $371 MILLION AND THE REASON THAT THE STATE BASICALLY GOT BEHIND THE SEAT BELT WAS BOUGHT FEDERAL TRAFFIC ASSOCIATION -- I FORGOT WHO IT DOES, BUT THEY SAID DON'T PASS THE SEAT BELT LAW -- >> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FREEDOM HERE, ALVIN.

>> THIS WAS WELL STATED BY THE FOUNDER.

HOWEVER, I GOT TO SAY, AS FAR AS PEOPLE COMING HOME -- THE WAY THE WINERIES ARE GOING SOME ARE GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH TCHOTCHKE THEY GOT AT THE GIFT SHOP AND -- I THINK FOR REAL, THIS IS A -- THIS HAS TO BE REPEALED YESTERDAY IN MISSOURI.

>> IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

>> IT IS AN OUTRAGEOUSLY STUPID THING.

THE STATISTICS SHOW THAT WHEN YOU GET RID OF THIS PRACTICE OF DRINKING IN A CAR, YOU CUT DWIs BY 17%.

AT LEAST THAT WAS IN ONE OF THE STORIES I WAS READING, AND IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT MISSOURI -- MISSOURI DESERVES TO LOSE THE $371 MILLION, BUT THERE'S NO REASON IDENTIFY.

I MEAN, WHAT -- -- NO REASON FOR IT.

AGAIN, THIS IS A FREEDOM ISSUE?

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

>> BUT WE HAVE GUARDRAILS AND -- >> WE DON'T GET THAT MONEY.

THE FEDS SHOULD NOT -- >> I AGREE.

>> THE FEDS SHOULD PULL THE MONEY.

HOW HARD IS IT TO BAN THIS?

WHAT'S THE ARGUMENT FOR DRINKING IN CARS?

HELP ME OUT.

>> BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING FROM POINT A TO B AND YOU'RE DRINKING AND NOT DRIVING.

>> NO, NO.

>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

YOU CAN SEND YOUR COMMENTS AND COMPLIMENTS ABOUT THE PROGRAM, MAYBE YOUR COMPLAINTS OR QUESTIONS TO DONNYBROOK IN CARE OF NINE PBS.

YOU CAN EMAIL US AT DONNYBROOK@NINEPBS.ORG.

REMEMBER TO TWEET USING #DONNYBROOKSTL.

STAY WITH US FOR DONNYBROOK NEXT UP.

BART ANDREWS JOINING US, THE CHIEF POLITICAL OFFICERS AT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESPONSE.

IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT SUICIDES AT ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY AND ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION ON LOCAL CAMPUSES, WE THOUGHT WE'D TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

THAT'S ON NEXT UP JUST AROUND THE CORNER ON NINE PBS.

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THE SECOND HALF.

WE CALL THIS NEXT UP, RAY, AND THE TWO OF US ARE NEXT UP IN THE -- IT'S NOT OUR NEW STUDIO.

LIKES A NEW STUDIO.

WE'RE NOT IN THAT RATHSKELLER ANYMORE -- >> BUT AS ALWAYS, ANNE MARIE AND EVERYONE HERE AT NINE PBS HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB TO GET US BACK.

>> SO AMAZING, THE LIGHTING MAKES ME LOOK 25% G WHICH IS THE FIRST TIME IN 33 YEARS.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I WAS THINKING 15, BUT YEAH -- I KNOW IT'S ZERO FOR ME, SO -- BUT ANYWAY, IT IS GREAT TO BE BACK AND IT IS -- YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN NICE TO HAVE AN OPTION SUCH AS ZOOM, BUT REALLY, IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> HONESTLY, IF I DON'T DO ANOTHER ZOOM CONFERENCE THE REST OF MY LIFE, I'LL BE FINE.

>> I THINK YOU SPEAK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THAT.

>> RAY, WE TALKED ABOUT A VERY SERIOUS TOPIC ON THE FIRST HALF OF THE PROGRAM AND THAT, OF COURSE, WAS THE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE THAT ARE EXPERIENCED ON AMERICAN CAMPUSES WAY TOO OFTEN AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, CLASSES AT ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY ARE CANCELLED TOLE.

SCHOOL OFFICIALS WANT THE STUDENTS TO FOCUS ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

WE THOUGHT THIS HOUR, WE WOULD ALSO FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH WITH BART ANDREWS.

DR. ANDREWS IS THE CHIEF CLINICAL OFFICER AT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESPONSE AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US ON NEXT UP, TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR SCHEDULE.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> DOING WELL.

THANK BOTH FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> AMEN.

WHAT ARE YOUR OVERALL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AND I'M SORRY TO SAY SUICIDES ON AMERICAN CAMPUSES?

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT IT.

THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO FIND SURPRISING, I THINK.

THE SUICIDE RATE IS DOWN.

DOWN TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

IT DROPPED DURING COVID, 5.6%, DROPPED IN MOST COUNTRIES.

TAPET, DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY ARE UP.

WE USED TO SAY DEPRESSION AND XANTION KITE CAUSE SI I SIDE, THIS IS THE MAIN DRIVER OF SUICIDE, BUT IT'S NOT.

MUCH MORE COMPLICATED.

WE'RE SIEG HIGHER LEVELS OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, BUT LOWER LEVELS OF SUICIDE.

>> WHAT ARE THE DRIVERS OF SUICIDE?

>> THAT'S A WONDERFUL QUESTION.

THE MOST POPULAR THEORY IS THE INTERPERSONAL DRIVER OF SUICIDE.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE THOUGHTS AND THOSE WHO ACT ON THOUGHTS.

ONE IS A SENSE OF BELONGINGNESS.

WHEN PEOPLE HAVE A THWARTED SENSE OF BELONGINGNESS, THEY DON'T FEEL CONNECTED, BELONGING TO A GROUP, THAT INCREASES RISK.

A SENSE OF BURDENNESS, PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY'RE A BURDEN, OR THEY'RE A FAILURE, THEIR LIFE DOESN'T MATTER.

IN IT SENSE, THEIR DEATH IS MORE VALUABLE THAN THEIR LIFE.

WE SEE THAT WITH INSURANCE POLICIES.

AND THE THIRD FACTOR IS CAPABILITY FOR HARM.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO KILL YOURSELF.

PEOPLE THINK THAT -- PEOPLE THINK IT'S THE EASY WAY, THE COWARD'S WAY OUT.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE DIFFICULT.

AS A SUICIDE ATTEMPT SURVIVOR, I CAN TELL YOU IT'S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO KILL YOURSELF.

IT TAKES EFFORT, PRACTICE SOMETIMES, OR LETHAL MEANS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS YOU SEE SUICIDE RATE AMONG PHYSICIANS IS THREE TIMES THE RATE OF THE GENERAL POPULATION, THEY'VE LEARN HOW TO OVERCOME THE DIFFICULTY.

I'M NOT CONNECTED, I'M A BURDEN OR FAILURE, I'VE LEARNED HOW TO OVERCOME THAT ACCESS THING, THINGS CAN SPIKE REALLY QUICK GOO .

>> DOES YOU SI YOU'RE A SUICIDE ATTEMPT SURVIVOR?

>> YES, I ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN 1988.

AS A PSYCHOLOGIST AND TRAIN YES, I KEPT IT A SECRET FOR 16 YEARS.

SLFS SO MUCH SHAME AND DISCRIMINATION BEING A SURVIVOR, SO IT WASN'T UNTIL FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO, I STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT OPENLY.

>> WHAT WAS YOUR SITUATION?

>> I WAS ON MY DOCTORAL WORK, I HAD ONGOING ISSUES IN MY LIFE WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ALCOHOL BUB.

I WAS WORKING TOO MUCH AND MY ALCOHOLISM SPIKED AND I ENDED UP GOING TO DETOX.

I WAS IN DETOX, EGG GOT BACK TO NORMAL AND MY CURRENT EMPLOYER SAID I WAS UNEMPLOYABLE BECAUSE I WAS AN ALCOHOLIC.

THEY WERE GOING TO LET ME FINISH THE INTERNSHIP, BUT THEY SAID I WAS NOT HIRABLE.

I RELAX ADD FEW TIES, ENDED UP IN POLICE CUSTODY, TRIED TO KILL MYSELF.

VERY FORTUNATE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT SAVED MY LIFE AND THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I DRANK.

THAT WAS OVER 23 YEARS AGO.

>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR CURRENT POSITION?

>> 23 YEARS.

>> SO YOU WENT RIGHT FROM THERE -- >> I WENT LITERALLY -- THIS HAPPENED ON MY DOCTORAL INTERNSHIP AND WITHIN THREE OR FOUR WEEKS, I WAS WORKING ON A CRISIS LINE TALKING TO PEOPLE WITH THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE ALL DAY EVERY DAY.

>> HOW DOES THAT INFORM -- OBVIOUSLY, IT MUST HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOU CHOOSING THIS LIFE'S WORK.

HOW DOES YOUR EXPERIENCE AFFECT -- DO YOU TALK AT ALL TO PEOPLE WHEN YOU'RE -- I WOULD THINK YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT YOURSELF WHEN THEY'RE CALLING IN.

>> NO, NEVER DO.

>> SO THAT DOESN'T REALLY COME UP THEN.

>> BUT THE EXPERIENCE IS INFORMATIVE AND HELPFUL, PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE OPEN AND COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME, AND IT'S A POINT WE MISS IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE IN GENERAL, PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL LIKE THEY'VE GOT PURPOSE AND MEANING.

FOR ME, BEING ABLE TO TAKE CRISIS LINE CALLS, BEING ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE FOLLOWING THAT CRISIS, IT MADE MY LIFE MEANINGFUL.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANXIETY, WE TALK ABOUT DEPRESSION, WE TALK ABOUT SUICIDE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN 2021, WE DON'T HAVE A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS.

WE HAVE AN IDENTITY CRISIS.

WE HAVE A MEANING CRISIS.

PEOPLE ARE LOST IN THEIR LIVES.

SO ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, WE GET SO FOCUSED ON DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, WE FORGET THE EXISTENTIAL THINGS THAT REALLY DRIVE SUICIDE CRISIS.

NOT THE MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS.

THAT'S A FEELING OF NOT BEING CONNECT OR DON'T BELONG.

>> DO YOU EVER READ VICTOR FRANKEL?

>> HE'S A HERO OF MINE.

>> HE SAID MEANING WAS THE KEY FOR PEOPLE WHO SURVIVED IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> VITAL AND HE CREATED A THERAPY CALLED LOGOS THERAPY.

FOR A WHILE, THAT WAS A BIG DEAL.

WE DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

YOU'D BE HARD-PRESSED TO FIND A LOGOS THERAPY PROVIDER ANYWHERE.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE MEDICALIZED THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

WE'VE TRIED TO REDUCE IT DOWN TO YOUR NEUROTRANSMITTERS, GIVE YOU A MEDICATION TO MAKE YOU LESS ANXIOUS OR LESS DEPRESSED.

WE'RE NOT FOCUSING ON THE CHALLENGES IN LIVING MODERN DAY LIFE AND PEOPLE FINDING MEANING AND CONNECTION.

LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON POLITICALLY?

WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE SO ENTRENCHED?

WE USED TO BE FOCUSED ON RELIGION, FAMILIES, LOCAL EVENTS.

WE USED TO JOIN ROTARY CLUBS, BOWLING, INSTEAD WE'RE FILLING OUR LIVES WITH SOME THINGS -- SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO FILL THEIR LIVES AND COVID REALLY INTENSIFIED THAT.

THEY FEEL LOST, ADRIFT.

>> WE TALKED TONIGHT ABOUT THE TRAGEDIES AT ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY AND IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE COLLEGES TODAY, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TODAY ARE POPULATED BY STUDENTS WHO ARE PART OF GENERATION-Z.

GEN-Z, ZOOMERS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM.

AND TALK ABOUT HOW THEY ARE PARTICULARLY IMPACTED BY THE CONCERNS OF BELONGING AND OF -- I'M SORRY, HOW YOU DESCRIBED IT -- >> BURDENNESS.

>> BURDENNESS.

THIS IS A GENERATION THAT GREW, IT WAS ALWAYS ON WITH REGARDS TO ONLINE AND COMPLETELY IMMERSED IN THAT.

HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THIS DISCUSSION?

>> SO I MEAN, LET'S TALK ABOUT iGEN OR GENZ.

THERE'S A GREAT BOOK BY A PSYCHOLOGIST CALLED iGEN.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THIS GENERATION, WONDERFUL DATA.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE GENERATION AND WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THEM.

THEY'RE MORE OPEN MINDED THAN ANY GENERATION BEFORE.

THEY'RE MORE RESPONSIBLE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS.

DRUG USE, ALCOHOL USE, TEEN SEX, TEEN PREGNANCY ARE AT RECORD LOWS IN THIS COUNTRY.

THESE ARE RESPONSIBLE, CAUTIOUS, INFORMED YOUNG FOLKS, RIGHT?

SO THEY'RE OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD.

AT THE SAME TIME, THEY ARE MORE CONNECTED, THEY'RE MORE AWARE OF THE WORD AROUND THEM, AND IN FACT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE SEEING AS A GEN-X, WE STARTED THIS PROCESS, BUT CHILDREN ARE MORE AWARE OF THE REAL WORLD THAN THEY'VE EVER BEEN BEFORE AT YOUNGER AND YOUNGER AGES, RIGHT?

WE USED TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM LOTS OF THE INFORMATION OF ADULT LIFE.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP KIDS AWAY FROM THE FACTS OF LIFE AND SOME OF THE REALLY UNPLEASANT FACTS OF LIFE.

SO THEY'RE FACING THE BURDEN OF AN EXISTENCE THAT HAS A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN IT AT YOUNGER AND YOUNGER AGES.

M THEY'RE MORE AWARE.

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN TELLING THESE KIDS.

BE AFRAID OF STRANGERS, DON'T GET ABDUCTED.

WE'VE CREATED A GENERATION THAT'S MORE FEARFUL OF OTHER PEOPLE.

THEY TAKE LESS RISKS AND THEY'RE A LITTLE MORE ANXIOUS AND DEPRESSED THAN THE GROUPS BEFORE U BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY'RE MORE WILLING TO REACH OUT AND GET HELP.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SLU, THEY'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB, BUT RIGHT NOW EVERY YOUNG PERSON THAT'S REALLY STRUGGLING AND REACH OUT TO GET A THERAPIST, EVERY CLINIC AND AGENCY ACROSS THE COUNTRY WOULD BE IN THE EXACT SAME BOAT.

NOBODY IS PREPARED.

WE'VE BEEN TELLING KIDS, RESEARCH OUT AND GET HELP, BUT WE HAVEN'T MADE SURE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE SYSTEM IS PREPARED FOR THESE FOLKS THAT ARE MUCH MORE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT IT AND GET HELP.

>> IT'S FUNNY YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE LAST SPRING, WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY HAD A BUNCH OF STUDENTS PROTESTING AND WRITING COLUMNS IN THE STUDENT NEWSPAPERS DEMANDING MORE COUNSELING SESSIONS AND COMPLAINING THAT THEY HAD TO WAIT WEEKS FOR A COUNSELING APPOINTMENT.

AND NOW AT ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY, THEY JUST STARTED A CHANGE.ORG PETITION WHERE THEY HAVE ABOUT 8,000 SIGNATURES, WHERE THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS ARE DEMANDING AT LEAST 14 VISITS A SEMESTER BECAUSE THERE'S 14 WEEKS, THEY WANT ONE A WEEK, AND THAT'S WITH A MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR.

CURRENTLY, THEY'RE GIVEN TEN.

AND IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THIS?

IS IT THE UNIVERSITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SESSIONS FOR THE STUDENT BODY?

>> IT'S A WONDERFUL QUESTION.

THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO THE ANSWER.

FIRST OF ALL, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AT THE SURFACE LEVEL THAT'S FASCINATING IS THAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE HAS INCREASINGLY BEEN OUTSOURCED OUT OF THE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT, RIGHT?

LOOK AT SCHOOLS, HIGH SCHOOLS, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND NEW COLLEGES, PARENTS DEMAND MORE AND MORE OF THESE INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE ROLES THAT THE FAMILY USED TO PROVIDE.

THIS HAPPENS AT EVERY LEVEL OF OUR ECONOMY.

WE'RE PROFESSIONALIZING THINGS THAT USED TO BE HANDLED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

TWO, IS IT A LEGITIMATE REQUEST?

ABSOLUTELY, PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE SERVICES.

IS IT THE UNIVERSITY THAT HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY?

THE UNIVERSITY PROBABLY HAS TO DO IT.

HEELS IS GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WOULD PROVIDE ACCESS THROUGH THEIR INSURANCE.

IN AN IDEAL WORLD, WE'D HAVE A NATIONALIZED HEALTHCARE POLICY WHERE YOU HAD UNLIMITED ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL BENEFITS.

THOSE WERE REIMBURSED AT A GOOD RATE SO WE HAD TONS OF PROVIDERS.

YOU HAD 24/7 ACCESS TO CARE JUST LIKE YOU SHOULD AND YOU WOULD COORDINATE WITH THE UNIVERSITY.

SO SURE, THERE WOULD BE CLINICS AT THE UNIVERSITY THAT WOULD BE SUPPORTED AND COORDINATED, BUT WE'RE LITERALLY TRYING TO PUT THE ENTIRE HEALTHCARE BURDEN OF THESE STUDENTS ON A UNIVERSITY, AND THE UNIVERSITY HAS SOME RESPONSIBILITY AS THEY SHOULD, BUT NOT ALL OF IT.

RIGHT?

AND, TWO, THE LEVEL OF DEMAND THAT'S BEING -- THAT YOU'RE SEEING, NOBODY CAN MEET THAT.

WHO CAN MEET THAT?

>> DOCTOR, UNLIKE YOURSELF, I ANSWER TO OKAY BOOMER, BUT I'M FASCINATED BY GEN-Z BECAUSE -- AND I WANT TO GET YOUR VIEW ON THIS.

IT FEELS LIKE, JUST THE FACT THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR COUNSELORS, IS GEN-Z MORE SELF-AWARE AND MORE OPEN TO COUNSELING AND TO SEEKING HELP THAN OTHER GENERATIONS?

BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE MAYBE THEY ARE, BUT I DON'T KNOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY'RE MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS.

LIKE WITH ANY GENERATIONAL CHANGE, THERE'S REALLY GOOD THINGS AND SOMETIMES THERE'S UNFORTUNATE THINGS ABOUT EACH GENERATION, RIGHT?

THEY ARE -- SO ONE OF MY HOBBIES IS MEMES.

I LOVE MEMES, THE BEST ONES ARE DONE BY YOUNG FOLKS.

IF YOU GET ON REDDIT, DEPRESSION MEMES, ANXIETY MEMES, THE LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION AND DISCLOSURE THEY HAVE AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, THEY MAKE IT SOMETIMES DEEPLY PAINFUL, BUT ALWAYS CREATIVE AND GENUINE.

SO WE HAVE RAISED THESE KIDS, WE'VE TOLD THEM, TALK ABOUT IT.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IT.

THE PROBLEM IS WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO MEET THAT NEED.

SO I THINK THAT THE GOOD NEWS IS THEY'RE MUCH MORE WILLING TO TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT IT, THEY'RE MUCH MORE WILLING TO SEEK PROFESSIONALS.

THERE'S A COMMON MEME ON -- IF YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW, THERE'S A THERAPIST MEME, SO THERE'S A WHOLE AGAIN RAFR MEME ABOUT WHAT -- GENRE OF MEME ABOUT WHAT MY THERAPIST SAYS.

THESE ARE THINGS I NEVER WOULD HAVE DREAMED OF TALKING ABOUT WHEN I WAS A KID.

THEY ARE MUCH MORE PREPARED TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF THERAPY AND ENGAGE IN IT.

>> RETURNING FOR A MOMENT TO SUICIDE, ARE THERE ANY TRAITS OR WARNING SIGNS THAT CAN BE PICKED UP BY SOMEBODY'S FRIENDS, PARENTS, TEACHERS?

>> YEAH, LET'S TALK ABOUT WARNING SIGNS BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE OUR ABILITY TO PREDICT OR IDENTIFY SUICIDE IS REALLY BAD BECAUSE THERE ARE -- WHAT THE RESEARCH TELLS US IS THERE'S INFINITE PATHS TO SUICIDE, RIGHT?

SO THERE'S NO REAL GO WAY TO KNOW.

SOME PEOPLE SAY DEPRESSION IS A WARNING SIGN.

ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DEPRESSED WILL ATTEMPT SUICIDE OR DIE BY SUICIDE.

HERE ARE SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN GENERAL.

OBVIOUS IF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE, I WANT OUT, I WANT THIS ALL OVER, I WANT THIS TO END.

THINGS WHERE THEY'RE CLEAR IN THEIR TONE AND IN THEIR SPEECH, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ESCAPE AND FINALITY.

IF THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SUICIDE F YOU'VE SEEN MAJOR CHANGES IN THEM, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOMETIMES THOSE CHANGES MAY BE BAD, BUT IF YOU SEE A CHANGE IN A KID THAT'S BEEN REALLY DEPRESSED, REALLY SAD, REALLY ANXIOUS FOR A WHILE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY HAVE THIS UPBEAT CHANGE, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO CHECK INTO.

WE WANT TO BE LOOKING FOR THINGS THAT SUGGEST A PERSON IS FEELING DISCONNECTED, TALKING ABOUT FEELING LIKE A FAILURE.

THIS IS WHY PARENTS, IF YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION, IF YOUR KIDS ARE TALKING ABOUT I'M A BURDEN TO YOU, I DON'T -- I'M JUST NOT ANY GOOD ANYMORE, I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH, THESE ARE THINGS THAT COULD BE INDICATIONS OF SUICIDE.

THEY MIGHT NOT BE, BUT WE SHOULD BE TALKING TO OUR KIDS ABOUT THIS.

TOO, EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD BE COMFORTABLE SAYING THINGS LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WANTING THIS TO END AND NOT FEELING LIKE YOURSELF ANYMORE, IT'S IMPORTANT WE TALK ABOUT THIS, ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE.

EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD BE ABLE TO ASK THAT QUIESTION, RIGHT?

THERE'S A GREAT STUDY WHERE WE LOOKED AT THE DUTCH.

THERE ARE FRENCH-SPEAKING DUMP AND THERE ARE GERMAN SPEAK DUTCH AND THERE'S AN AREA THAT'S SIMILAR IN ALMOST EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC EXCEPT THEIR LANGUAGE AND THE SUICIDE RATE IN THE TWO POPULATIONS IS VERY DIFFERENT.

THEY GREW UP BY EACH OTHER, ALMOST THE SAME ENVIRONMENT, BUT LANGUAGE IS DIFFERENT.

THE ONE BIG DIFFERENCE THAT EXPLAIN THE HIGH SUICIDE RATE FROM THE LOWER, IN THE LOWER GROUP, THEY REPORTED THEY WERE MORE WILLING TO TALK TO THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS ABOUT THEIR EMOTION DISTRESS, FEELING BAD, OPENING UP AND GETTING HELP.

COMMUNICATE LIKE THIS SAVES LIVES.

>> RETURNING TO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS CURRENTLY BEING DISCUSSED IN WASHINGTON WHILE THEY BATTLE ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILLS.

BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK WE NEED TO DO AS A CULTURE TO FIX THIS, TO INVEST MORE IN -- SO THAT WE HAVE MORE COUNSELORS AND THERAPISTS AND SO FORTH?

BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IN A COMMUNITY LIKE ST. LOUIS, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT SHORTAGE OF -- I THINK WHAT IS YOU'RE SAYING -- OF PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP AND WHAT -- WHERE DO YOU SEE PROFESSIONALLY THE SOLUTION LIES TO THAT?

>> WONDERFUL QUESTION.

I THINK THAT IN MISSOURI, WE'RE PROBABLY AVERAGE IN THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF ACCESSIBILITY, MAYBE A LITTLE BELOW AVERAGE IN SOME AREAS, PARTICULARLY IN YOU'RE UNINSURED, WE'RE DEFINITELY, RIGHT?

BUT THERE ARE SHORTAGES EVERYWHERE.

WE ALREADY HAVE RATIONED CARE IN THIS COUNTRY.

RIGHT NOW IF YOU WANTED TO CALL AND GET A PSYCHIATRIC APPOINTMENT WITH A PSYCHOLOGIST, EVEN WITH GOOD INSURANCE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A THREE- TO SIX-MONTH WAIT.

KIDS ARE DISCHARGED WITH GOOD INSURANCE FROM HOSPITALS AFTER A SUICIDE ATTEMPT AND THEY WON'T SEE A DOCTOR FOR TWO TO THREE MONTHS.

WHAT DO WE DO?

WE GOT TO SPEND MONEY, RIGHT?

THERE'S A GREAT BOOK CALLED THE EMPEROR OF ALL MALADIES ABOUT CANCER.

IT'S ABOUT HOW WE GOT ON TOP OF CANCER.

YOU KNOW HOW WE GOT ON TOP OF CANCER?

WE SPENT BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON RESEARCH AND TREATMENT, RIGHT?

NICXO NIXON, IN FACT -- WE GIVE HIM A HARD TIME FOR A LOT OF THINGS FOR GOOD REASON, BUT HE DID A LOT OF GOOD THINGS IN HIS PRESIDENCY.

HE RAMPED UP THE CANCER DOLLARS TREMENDOUSLY.

WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE WERE EFFECTIVE IN THE WAR AGAINST CANCER UNTIL THE LATE '90s.

IT TOOK 30, 40 YEARS OF BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE, PAYING FOR PROIRS, PAYING FOR RESEARCH, MAKING SURE -- LOOK AROUND THIS REGION AT ALL THE CANCER CENTERS GOING UP.

WE'RE BUILDING AND GROWING BECAUSE THERE'S MONEY THERE.

THERE'S RESOURCES FLOWING THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

YOU DON'T SEE THEM BUILDING BIG BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE CENTERS.

IN FACT, A LOCAL NEW HOSPITAL, WE'LL NOT NAME IT, DIDN'T ADD A PSYCHIATRIC UNIT ON TO THEIR HOSPITAL.

WHY DID THEY NOT ADD A PSYCHIATRIC UNIT ON THE HOSPITAL?

YOU CAN'T MAKE MONEY AT IT.

PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL BEDS ARE MONEY LOSERS, THE REIMBURSEMENT RATE IS SO LOW.

WHERE DO PEOPLE MAKE MONEY?

WHERE DOES REVENUE GO?

CANCER TREATMENT, RIGHT?

ONE OF THE WAYS YOU CAN TELL WHAT A CULTURE VALUES IS WHERE WE STEN OUR DLRS.

WE SPEND OUR DOLLARS ON CANCER PREVENTION, NOT ON SUICIDE PREVENTION.

KIDNEY DISEASE KILLS LESS PEOPLE THAN SUICIDE, BUT WE SPEND ABOUT 100 TIMES MORE ON KIDNEY DISEASE PREVENTION THAN WE DO ON SUICIDE PREVENTION.

OUR VALUES ARE OUT OF WHACK.

>> WHAT IF MEDICAID WERE EXPANDED IN MISSOURI?

WHAT'S THE LATEST?

IS IT BEING EXPANDED RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, YES AND NO.

IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

IN A NORMAL WORLD IT WOULD BE.

>> IT'S A VERY MODEST EXPANSION.

IT WILL HELP, RIGHT?

IT WILL HELP, BUT IT'S NOT A FULL EXPANSION.

OUR LEVEL OF EXPANSION, IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING.

I'LL TAKE IT, RIGHT?

AND MEDICAID, THE WAY MEDICAID RRM WORKS, IT HELPS -- REIMBURSEMENT WORKS, IT HELPS A LITTLE BIT, BUT WHAT YOU NEED IS A MEDICARE TYPE REIMBURSEMENT.

WE HAVE LAYERS OF SOCIAL SAFETY NETS.

THERE'S MEDICARE AND MEDICAID, RIGHT?

WE DON'T SPEND MONEY ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE AND WE HAVE AN ANTIQUATED, INSUFFICIENT HEALTHCARE INSURANCE SYSTEM THAT DRIVES THESE PROBLEMS, RIGHT?

WE'VE GOT TO FIX THAT.

>> I DIDN'T HAVE NIXON DOES A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ON MY GREEN CARD TODAY, SO I'M TRYING TO PROCESS THAT ONE.

BUT IT'S INTERESTING, YOU SAID -- I NOTICE YOU LOOKED AT ME WHEN HE SAID MEDICARE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU DID THAT.

IS THIS GOING TO HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED FEDERALLY, DO YOU THINK?

I MEAN, MISSOURI, LIKE I SAY, THE PARTY OF POWER THE IS FIGHTING AT LEAST TO PUT SOME RESISTANCE, EVEN AFTER THE VOTERS PASSED IT AND THE SUPREME COURT IN THE STATE WAS UNANIMOUS THEY HAVE TO DO IT, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO RESIST, DON'T YOU THINK?

>> OUR REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS HAVE DECIDED THEY WANT MY AND YOUR AND YOUR FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS TO GO TO OTHER STATES TO HELP THEIR CITIZENS.

IT'S AMAZING.

SO ONE, THE FEDS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THIS BECAUSE, ONE, THERE ARE STATES THAT ARE DOING A BETTER JOB.

OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THE BLUE STATES.

RIGHT NOW, SOME STATES SPEND A LOT OF MONEY AND DON'T GET REALLY GOOD RESULTS.

THERE ARE BLUE STATES THAT DO THAT.

MAYBE OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR MIGHT BE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

SPENDING MONEY DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

YOU HAVE TO SPEND IT EFFICIENTLY AND GET OUTCOMES, BUT AT A FEDERAL LEVEL, WE HAVE TO RESTRUCTURE HOW WE TAKE CARE OF FOLKS AND WE NEED TO MAKE -- JUST LIKE TWO THINGS.

DENTAL.

WHY IS DENTAL NOT COVERED BY YOUR MEDICAL INSURANCE?

WE'VE MADE THESE REALLY WEIRD CAPRICIOUS RULES THAT HARM PEOPLE, RIGHT?

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OFTEN IS COVERED SEPARATELY.

THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE PARITY, BUT PLEASE, THERE'S NO -- THE LAW SAYS PARITY, BUT THERE'S NO PARITY IN TERMS OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO CARE AND ANOTHER THING THAT WOULD HELP IS YOU BUILD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE INTO THE FAMILY PRACTICES, SO WHEN YOU GO AND GET A FAMILY CHECKUP, YOU SEE YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR, PART OF THAT INCLUDES BEHAVIORAL EVALUATION.

HOW YOU DOING, YOU GET THE CARE RIGHT THERE.

YOU WANT TO REVOLUTIONIZE HEALTHCARE, THAT'S THE TICKET RIGHT THERE.

WE NEED TO BEEF UP PRIMARY CARE, GIVE THEM MORE RESOURCES, PUT YOUR CARE THRIN STEAD OF ALL THESE SPECIALISTS.

>> YOU KNOW, DOCTOR, RAY HAS KIDS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I HAVE KIDS IN COLLEGE.

WHAT CAN PEOPLE LIKE US DO TO KIND OF MITIGATE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN OUR KIDS, THE KIDS WE'RE IF CONTACT WITH?

>> WONDERFUL QUESTION.

I THINK KIDS STRUGGLING WITH ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION SHOULD BE EVALUATED.

WE HAVE TO CHECK AND SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING MEDICAL GOING ON WITH KIDS, WITH ANYBODY, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS MEDICALLY THAT CAN CAUSE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.

IF MEDICALLY THEY'RE CLEAR AND THE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY ARE AT A LEVEL THAT MEDICATION IS REQUIRED, GET THEM INTO THERAPY.

COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IS INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE AT TREATING DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.

IF YOU HAD COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, YOU GET ABOUT AN 85, 90% RECOVERY RATE.

IF THE FIRST ANTIDEPRESSANT DOESN'T WORK, USUALLY THE SECOND OR THIRD WILL WORK.

>> CAN YOU FINE A COUNSELOR IN THERE ENVIRONMENT?

IMPOO YOU CAN FIND COUNSELORS.

IF YOU'RE UNINSURED, THERE ARE COUNSELORS OUT THERE.

st INCREASED CAPACITY WITH TELEHEALTH.

THEY SAY THE STUDENTS ARE WAITING WEEKS TO GET TO SEE A THERAPIST.

I HATE TO SAY THIS, THAT'S NOT A BAD WAIT TIME.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT MONTHS TO GET INTO A THERAPIST.

WE SHOULD HAVE -- AND SSN, WE'LL GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO THEM, THEY CREATED A MENTAL HEALTH URGENT CARE AT THE DePAUL CAMPUS.

SO THERE'S A MENTAL HEALTH URGENT CARE.

WE SHOULD HAVE THOSE EVERYWHERE.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALK INTO AN URGENT CARE AND GET BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE JUST LIKE YOU GET MEDICAL CARE.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET SERVICES 24/7.

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT, BUT WE'RE NOT STRUCTURED THAT WAY.

WE'RE JUST NOT.

BUT A WEEK TO TWO-WEEK WAIT, THAT'S NOT TOO BAD.

I'D TAKE IT.

>> IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU ASSUME THAT OUR NINE PBS AUDIENCE OUT THERE TONIGHT DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS SUBJECT, SUICIDE, THAT YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO KNOW, THAT YOU'D LIKE TO LEAVE THEM W WHAT WOULD IT BE?

>> FIREARMS IN YOUR HOME ARE INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS IF YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE THAT IS STRUGGLING WITH AN EMOTION CRISIS.

IN MISSOURI, WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF FIREARM FATALITIES IN THE NATION.

53% OF OUR SUICIDE DEATHS ARE FROM FIREARMS.

NATIONALLY, IT'S ABOUT 49, 50%, RIGHT AROUND THERE, RIGHT?

WE'RE WAY OVER.

THE PROBLEM, FIREARMS DON'T MAKE PEOPLE SUICIDAL, BUT THEY'RE THE MOST LETHAL METHOD AND THE SURVIVAL RATE OF ATTEMPTING WITH A PHI ARM IS ABOUT 8% -- WITH A FIREARM IS ABOUT 8%, MAYBE 9%.

PEOPLE THINK OUR GUNS ARE LOCKED UP.

LOOK, I WAS A TEENAGER, I WAS A YOUNG ADULT, YOU KNOW HOW TO GET INTO YOUR PARENTS' STUFF.

WE ALL KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

IF YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE THAT'S STRUGGLING, GET THE GUNS OUT OF THE HOME UNTIL THE SITUATION IS STABILIZED.

THIS IS NOT ANTIGUN, ANTISECOND AMENDMENT, THIS IS ABOUT SAFETY.

GUNS ARE ONE OF THE QUICKEST WAYS TO LOSE A LOVED ONE.

TWO, REAL IMPORTANT.

SUICIDE CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE.

YOU BOTH JUST MET ME TONIGHT.

YOU WOULD HAVE NEVER GUESSED BY LOOKING AT ME THAT I WAS A SURVIVOR.

WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY CAN GET CANCER OR HEART DISEASE.

THE TRUE PREJUDICE AND BLINDERS ON SUICIDE IS PEOPLE THINK IT ONLY HAPPENS TO OTHER PEOPLE, NOT TO THEM PERSONALLY OR THEIR FAMILY UNTIL IT HAPPENS, RIGHT?

SO PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR YOUR LOVED ONES.

IF YOU SEE SOMEONE STRUGGLING MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE CRISIS LINE NUMBER.

I'M SURE WE'LL GET THAT OUT, AND MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT SOMEONE, ASK THEM: ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE?

IT SAVES LIVES.

>> WHAT IS CRISIS LINE NUMBER.

>> YOU CAN CALL BHR AND THERE'S ALSO THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFE LINE THAT WORKS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

1-800-273-28 55.

I'LL ADD ONE MORE.

THERE'S A CRISIS TEXT LINE, 741741.

ALL GOOD 24-HOUR IF PEOPLE NEED HELP.

>> AND BHR IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESPONSE.

I'VE BEEN CHIEF CLINICAL OFFICE THERE FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS?

>> WELL, MY TITLE CHANGED LAST YEAR, BUT IF YOU CALL OUR NUMBER, WE CAN SEND A MOBILE OUTREACH A TEAM OF COUNSELORS OUT TO MEET WITH YOU.

THIS IS ALL COVERED BY THE STATE.

NO CHARGE TO YOU, WE'RE GLAD TO DO IT.

>> THANK YOU.

THAT WAS FASCINATING.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BART ANDREWS JOINING US TODAY FROM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESPONSE.

WHAT A GREAT DISCUSSION.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN SHARE YOUR RESPONSE VIA TWITTER AND FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AT THIS TIME.

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.