Alyssa Guzman talks about witnessing the death of her father. This episode is Part II of the story describing devastating and tragic loss Alyssa, her Mother, and two brothers faced when Sam Guzman was senselessly hit by a drunk driver while tending to his truck on the side of the road. Alyssa's journey of recovery details the impact and shock she felt seeing her father struck and laying lifeless on the ground. As an 18 year old, the trauma she experienced continues to burden her as she and her family work through the process of healing and grief.  In her story, Alyssa describes the love of her father, the strength of her family and the importance of leaning on one another.Support the showIf you or anyone you know are struggling with a mental health issue, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm behaviors, please reach out for help, talk to someone you trust and connect with a mental health professional. If you are in immediate danger of hurting yourself or hurting someone else, please call 911, go to your local ER or contact the national suicide hotline at 988. Mental Perk wants you to know "You're Worthy...We're in this together"

Michelle Guzman tells her heart wrenching story about losing the love of her life to a drunk driver which was also witnessed by her teenage daughter. Michelle shares who her husband, Sam Guzman, was as a person and father, their young love story, and describes the night she received the call from her daughter. She shares the shock, grief, recovery process and the strength she found to carry on for her children. This story is truly impactful and reminds us all the importance of making good decisions before getting behind the wheel.Support the showIf you or anyone you know are struggling with a mental health issue, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm behaviors, please reach out for help, talk to someone you trust and connect with a mental health professional. If you are in immediate danger of hurting yourself or hurting someone else, please call 911, go to your local ER or contact the national suicide hotline at 988. Mental Perk wants you to know "You're Worthy...We're in this together"

McKinley Shultz holds a full-time job, while completing her degree and working in the evenings as a bartender. She describes the valuable aspects of her job and the interaction she has with patrons who come in search of connection and a good drink. McKinley, offers humor, empathy and emotional perspective as she describes the importance of supporting others and the difference a friendly face and voice can make in other's lives.  Her story is a great example of the importance of community and building connection with others promotes positive mental health and healing!Support the showIf you or anyone you know are struggling with a mental health issue, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm behaviors, please reach out for help, talk to someone you trust and connect with a mental health professional. If you are in immediate danger of hurting yourself or hurting someone else, please call 911, go to your local ER or contact the national suicide hotline at 988. Mental Perk wants you to know "You're Worthy...We're in this together"

Mental Perk welcomes Dr. Kelly Robinson, DDS to talk about then impact of mental health in her practice. In this podcast, Dr. Robinson talks about the levels of anxiety her patients experience due to their perceptions of dental care,  the levels of stress and anxiety associated with providing competent dental care, as well as the physical tolls most dentists experience doing the daily tasks of their job, Dr. Robinson also details the devastating effects of Covid on dental practices and the steps dentists took to keep their patients safe and secure during a very difficult time. Dr. Robinson attests to the importance of patient relationships and keeping a sense of humor to power through the daily responsibilities dentists face every day.Support the showIf you or anyone you know are struggling with a mental health issue, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm behaviors, please reach out for help, talk to someone you trust and connect with a mental health professional. If you are in immediate danger of hurting yourself or hurting someone else, please call 911, go to your local ER or contact the national suicide hotline at 988. Mental Perk wants you to know "You're Worthy...We're in this together"

It’s finally here! Part 2 of getting to know your Mental Perk hosts. Karla and Brandi ask each other thought provoking questions with a little sense of humor. Our goal is to get real with our audience and make sure each of you know “You’re  Worthy … We are in this Together!”Support the showIf you or anyone you know are struggling with a mental health issue, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm behaviors, please reach out for help, talk to someone you trust and connect with a mental health professional. If you are in immediate danger of hurting yourself or hurting someone else, please call 911, go to your local ER or contact the national suicide hotline at 988. Mental Perk wants you to know "You're Worthy...We're in this together"

Mental Perk interviews Michael Habib and Michelle Tes from  Southern Methodist University Campus (SMU). Michael and Michelle discuss their roles as members of the Well-Being Education Student Team (WEST) and the impact their organization is having in bridging positive care and communication to students on campus. The SMU WESTies provide critical support, guidance, and mentorship to help students adjust to campus life, transition to independent living as well as mange their mental health and stress. SMU prioritizes student health and well-being and created the WEST team to help reach students who many times fall under the radar. Michael and Michelle provide insight into student struggles and techniques they use to connect with peers and provide valuable support. Support the showIf you or anyone you know are struggling with a mental health issue, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm behaviors, please reach out for help, talk to someone you trust and connect with a mental health professional. If you are in immediate danger of hurting yourself or hurting someone else, please call 911, go to your local ER or contact the national suicide hotline at 988. Mental Perk wants you to know "You're Worthy...We're in this together"

Nicole Plotner, an SMU student, shares her inspirational story of grief, PTSD and recovery following the tragic loss of her father. Nicole describes how she navigated the shock of her father's sudden decline at an early age, how she had to grow up quickly to help support her family, and the mental impact she suffered over time. She shares the dark details of her journey but also her courage and fight that helped her find her way back to achieve her success and dreams. Nicole will touch your heart with her genuineness, passion, and love of life.Support the showIf you or anyone you know are struggling with a mental health issue, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm behaviors, please reach out for help, talk to someone you trust and connect with a mental health professional. If you are in immediate danger of hurting yourself or hurting someone else, please call 911, go to your local ER or contact the national suicide hotline at 988. Mental Perk wants you to know "You're Worthy...We're in this together"

Professor Bram Duffee, PhD and Paramedic, discusses his research and life work focusing on using hypnosis to reduce patient pain, promote healing, and unify the mind and body to improve patient outcomes. Bram is co-author of a new book and hopes to transform patient care in emergency and trauma settings through implementing changes for first responders and emergency personnel. Bram discusses his own background as a paramedic and what drove him to seek additional education and training in the emergency response field. Through his research, Bram hopes to improve the effects of trauma on patients and help them to heal both physically and mentally.Support the showIf you or anyone you know are struggling with a mental health issue, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm behaviors, please reach out for help, talk to someone you trust and connect with a mental health professional. If you are in immediate danger of hurting yourself or hurting someone else, please call 911, go to your local ER or contact the national suicide hotline at 988. Mental Perk wants you to know "You're Worthy...We're in this together"

In this episode, Kim Pittman describes the terror of receiving the dreaded call and finding out she has stage 3B gastric cancer. She talks about the terrifying fear she faced head- on with her diagnosis and the uncertainty of treatment but leans on faith, family and friends. Through her journey, Kim embraces calmness in her faith and an unexpected miracle on the other side.Support the showIf you or anyone you know are struggling with a mental health issue, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm behaviors, please reach out for help, talk to someone you trust and connect with a mental health professional. If you are in immediate danger of hurting yourself or hurting someone else, please call 911, go to your local ER or contact the national suicide hotline at 988. Mental Perk wants you to know "You're Worthy...We're in this together"

In this episode Brandi and Karla ask random questions to each other to help our listeners get to know more about us. We are so passionate about what we do and love getting real with our audience. Stay tuned....there will be more fun  and games coming your way!Support the showIf you or anyone you know are struggling with a mental health issue, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm behaviors, please reach out for help, talk to someone you trust and connect with a mental health professional. If you are in immediate danger of hurting yourself or hurting someone else, please call 911, go to your local ER or contact the national suicide hotline at 988. Mental Perk wants you to know "You're Worthy...We're in this together"