HOPEfull Conversations with Kari Eckert

After Dr. Becky Bailey, a clinical psychologist and teacher, spent years working within an early childhood education system of hurting children and frustrated adults—educators and families—she created a new approach to education and development. Through a combination of neuroscience, child development research, and psychology, she developed Conscious Discipline®, a social-emotional learning and cl...

In 2003, a movement for men's health started in Australia. A movement that has since funded over 1,320 men's health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research and transforming the way health services reach and support men.  Known for their impact on prostate and testicular cancer, Movember expanded its reach to address mental health in men.  Across the...

Breathing practices have many benefits when incorporating mindfulness techniques and can help pull the mind away from distractions to increase focus and attention. By oxygenating the body, breathing helps to redirect the mind during stressful or anxious situations. Following the activities listed below, you should be able to balance the mind and body connection.  My guest today is Mary Rondenet. M...

Stress is a normal, functional part of life; it serves many purposes. The proverbial “tiger in the room” sort of stress tells us when things need to change. It may also inform us when we need to take a break. But if stress is not managed properly over time, it can cause lasting damage to our bodies and minds. When most of us consider stress, we think of it as a negative force in our lives—one to b...

While many people joke about being addicted to smartphones, this addiction is an actual affliction. In the past decade or so, phones have evolved from being tools for communication to an all-in-one digital device, and our entire worlds can now be accessed with just a few taps on the screen. This makes them incredibly useful but also creates a powerful draw that many people find hard to resist. It...

As seniors around the country find out if they’ve been accepted into their dream colleges, stress builds as decisions loom. The first of May is the deadline for seniors to pick their college and is considered National College Decision Day in the United States. As competition continues to grow tougher year after year, many families are finding themselves navigating conversations about future plans,...

Everyone’s journey through grief after the loss of a family member to suicide is unique and complex.  Until recently, the experiences of sibling suicide loss survivors have been poorly understood. Research shows that individuals who have lost a brother or sister to suicide are at increased risk for complicated grief, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal thoughts. However, many...

The ups and downs in working with people can have a huge impact on you. Practicing self-care can better equip you to deal with a crisis and the difficulty of aiding someone with a mental health or substance use challenge. Engaging in a self-care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, increase happiness, and more. It can help you adapt to ch...

According to Defense Department data, suicides among active-duty service members increased by more than 40% between 2015 and 2020. The numbers jumped by 15% in 2020 alone are nearly double the rate of the general population in the United States. A report in 2021 from the Costs of War Project found that an estimated 30,177 active duty military personnel and veterans who have served since the Sept....

Injury is one of the highest risk factors for depression among youth athletes. An athlete whose identity is strongly tied to their sport is also at higher risk for developing mental health concerns, especially when experiencing injury. They can lose their primary sense of self and the dreams, expectations and benefits that go along with their athletic identity. Joining me today is Camden Blum, a f...

Our 6th Annual HOPEfull Drive is in its second week.  Teens from across the country have been advocating in their communities and schools to raise awareness about teen mental health.  One of the most powerful messages that teens, and adults, can hear is validation that they are not alone in their mental health struggles.  We ALL have mental health.  And like our physical health, we all struggle at...

Six years ago, our original Robbie’s Hope teen founders forged a path to make disruptive change in their community and force the adults and teens in their lives to have meaningful conversations about mental health.  They had an idea to create a two-week advocacy campaign, starting on Robbie’s birthday, and ending the first weekend of February.  Over the past six years our teens have reached over 3...

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among teens in the U.S. and the number one cause in Colorado, where Robbie’s Hope began. But what’s more staggering than the statistics is that there isn’t more being done to help the individuals affected most—teens. It is our goal to empower the next generation to cope with the stress and pressure of modern society. To redefine what “good” actually loo...

It is unrealistic to think that young people will completely refrain from trying alcohol, and/or other drugs during the life stage with the highest likelihood of experience-seeking and experimentation, their youth.  Psychedelics present a paradox because of their potential therapeutic benefits for people with PTSD, depression and other mental health issues. A harm reduction approach discourages yo...

The emotional benefits of animal companionship are well-documented. Beyond the popularity of having specified and prescribed emotional support animals, even having animals as pets can foster positive emotional relationships, compassion, empathy, and responsibility in teens. For teens with mental health disorders, particularly in this time of grief and isolation during a global pandemic, the benefi...

Transitioning from high school to college can be both intimidating and thrilling. The prospect of newfound freedom and new friends is exciting, but the uncertainty of taking college-level classes, navigating an unfamiliar campus, and not having any family members to help you with all the aspects of life outside of the classroom can be overwhelming at times. My guest today is Maci Jones, a freshman...

“An “anxious achiever” is an ambitious, career-focused individual who succeeds in life and professionally while also struggling with mental illness on a day-to-day basis. Anxious achievers are all around us, and they rarely take the time to rest their bodies or their minds. You, yourself, might be an anxious achiever if you find that you are goal-oriented, future-oriented, and take your work extre...

During the most formative years of their lives, Gen Z has been front and center to some of the most unprecedented events in U.S. and global history. One of the biggest being the pandemic, which will have a lasting impact on the future of technology, healthcare, and even mental health.  Almost 3 in 4 Gen Zers say the pandemic has  negatively  impacted their mental health. On top of day-to-day menta...

We all have days when even just getting out of bed seems like it’s too much to handle, much less tackling all the tasks you have to do that day. Microgoals break these overwhelming tasks down into smaller, bite-sized ones. Over time, working with microgoals can rewire your brain and help to give you the energy to keep working on what you want to achieve. You also can’t help but be in the moment, b...

Microjoys are a practice of uncovering joy and finding hope at any moment accessible to everyone, despite all else . When we hone the ability to look for them, they are always available.  Microjoys are the hidden wisdom, long-ago memories, subtle treasures, and ordinary delights that surround us: A polka-dot glass on a thrift store shelf. A dear friend’s kindness at just the right time. The neighb...

In 2020–2021, >60% of students met criteria for one or more mental health problems, a nearly 50% increase from 2013. Mental health worsened among all groups over the study period. American Indian/Alaskan Native students experienced the largest increases in depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and meeting criteria for one or more mental health problem. Students of color had the lowest rates of m...

dear generation, in honor of mental health may i feel i should share parts of my story and why advocating is so important. i struggle with anxiety, and depression along with other things. fighting these has been the hardest battle i have ever faced and as i continue this battle i have found my passion and my life calling helping others with their mental health. no one should EVER struggle alone an...

Joy. Sorrow. Anxiety. Elation. Depression.  Robbie’s Hope gives teens both venue and voice for their artistic self-expression around the many emotions our youth face today. Music and film, poetry and dance, painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media and more.  Our online gallery and traveling exhibits impact people in surprising and powerful ways, bringing an evocative voice to the emotional we...

Sadire's mission is to make the world a better place.... to be sad in. Sadness is an integral part of being human. We want to remove the stigma that sadness is an emotion that should be looked down upon, and we hope to give it a sense of normality ironically hoping that it may lead people to being happier. Each piece of clothing has its own story. Sadire products are all born from a feeling, a tho...

Facing the uncertainty of college decisions can feel agonizing, and students should not do it alone. Getting together with friends, mentors, and close family members can help keep students’ spirits up and also provide a safe space to share their feelings and discuss things that may be triggering their anxiety. In particular, an older sibling, friend, or someone who is a near-peer source of support...