Hear Me See Me

The most wonderful time of the year can be the toughest for many of us.

We dive into the emotions of the season on our latest Hear me. See me. podcast. Ariel Ludwig with Valeo Behavioral Health in Topeka says expectations can add to stress and anxiety, and also grief and depression.

Hear his strategies to understand why we’re feeling all the feelings, and how to cope with them.

Our men and women who serve in the military have many experiences that can put a strain on mental health.

In this in-depth conversation, Dr. Christina Menager, who leads the VA Eastern Kansas Health System Suicide Prevention Program, shares how veteran’s experiences - both inside and outside deployment - can impact them throughout their lives and put them at risk for mental health struggles.

Dr. Menager dives into the emotions veterans may experience because of their experience, signs a veteran or loved one may need to seek help, what the VA is doing to reduce stigma, and how they continue working to ensure those who served can get help.

Many people know Dave Lewis from his time on Manhattan radio and as an announcer for Kansas State University.

In this conversation, Dave opens up about the loss of his first wife to breast cancer, and his struggles coping with both the loss and incidents from his youth. He also shares how his profession in the public eye added to the struggles.

Mental illness doesn't only affect the person living with it. It impacts everyone around them.

Susan Reynolds learned that when her daughter suffered a psychotic break and was diagnosed with severe bipolar disorder. 

Susan and her family didn't know what to do, and didn't know where to turn for information. She shares their journey in this emotional conversation, including how she now pays forward to provide other families what she was missing.

Suicide is a unique concern in our rural communities. The National Rural Health Association reported in 2024 that farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population.

Nick Hasenkamp knows that firsthand. He lost his father to suicide in 2010. Nick witnessed the struggles his father experienced as he farmed near Corning, Kan.

Now, Nick talks about his family's experience in hopes of convincing others to speak up, and to present a whole picture of who his father was.

Giving people access close to home can be a key to improving mental health.

An example of that is SENT Topeka, a non-profit based in a southeast Topeka neighborhood once known for crime and poverty. Tricia Sublet, LSCSW, SENT's mental health director, explains the organization realized the need for mental health services and details the difference it's made.

The holistic approach that sees the value of each person is an investment many communities could model.

Kids spend a lot of their waking hours in classrooms, and there's now a greater realization of the role schools can play in their mental health.

In this Hear me. See me. podcast, Trish Backman, school mental health coordinator for the Kansas Dept. of Education, talks about her work to support schools and educators so they know how to reach out to students. She said that includes new suicide prevention trainings, plans and programs that schools have implemented in recent years.

Find out what's making a difference, and why obstacles remain.

Adam Cobuluis grew up in a family that used, made and sold drugs. It led him to addiction and incarceration.

Today, he's a peer mentor for an organization that helps formerly incarcerated people reenter society. His is a story of recovery, resilience - and the power of second chances.

Jim Crosby served active duty and with the Kansas National Guard.

He said the military does a great job training people to deploy, but wasn't so aware when it came to preparing them to transition back to civilian life.

In this conversation, he shares his experiences, and how a personal tragedy led to him leading the group Together for Veterans AND Morris County.

He just needed someone to believe in him.

Gordon Smith said a desire to fit in led to bad choices and, eventually, prison. He said it wasn't until key people looked deeper and discovered he was living with mental illness that he was able to move forward.

Gordon shares his story of fighting back to overcome addiction, reignite his passion for education, and, today, giving back as a counselor and director at Topeka-based Mirror, Inc.

Whit Downing’s first memory of a mental health struggle is from kindergarten.

Since then, she’s been diagnosed with autism, anxiety, depression and PTSD. It’s taken her through cycles of isolation and suicidal ideation.

Here, Whit shares her journey, and how finding professional help and building a support system have her educating and advocating through a job with the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities.

You CAN gain skills to help you better navigate challenges. Brad Chapin, clinical services director with Topeka's Stormont Vail Behavioral Health, shares his lessons for developing resiliency at any age.

He also speaks publicly for the first time about a time in his teens, and how his career marks a full-circle moment. 

Gayla Kelly knew her son Logan struggled, but, as long as he answered her calls and texts, he'd be okay.

A message in Feburary 2024 went unanswered. A week later, Logan, 29, was found and the news confirmed: he had died by suicide.

Gayla now honors Logan by encouraging acts of kindness, in hopes of reaching someone when they might need it most. Help is out there, and with it, she says, comes hope.

The Menninger Clinic broke new ground in psychiatric care when it was founded 100 years ago in Topeka, Kan. Now based in Houston, current CEO Armando Colombo sat down with former CEO Dr. Walt Menninger, whose father, uncle and grandfather founded the clinic.

Hear what they say about the history of mental health care, its present state, and where we go from here.

We often let you know that the 988 Lifeline is there 24/7 if you need help. But what happens when you call the number? And who should call?

Jared Auten, crisis communications manager with HealthSource, takes us through it step by step, and reveals the very personal motivation behind his work.

What law enforcement and first responders see on the job will change how they view the world. That's why Tony Mattivi said he worked to ensure mental wellness programs remained a priority when he stepped in as director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. 

In this conversation, he shares the surprising revelation he experienced in implementing one new measure - and he brings along a special guest who made us all feel better!

You likely spend more waking hours with your co-workers than you do with your family.

In this candid conversation, Cody Foster, co-founder of Topeka-based Advisors Excel, shares what led him to make mental health support a priority in his workplace, the surprising lessons he's learned, and why it makes sense - as a human and as a business person. 

You've heard of CPR and direct pressure for physical first aid response, but what about becoming a first responder for mental health?

Mikki Burcher with Topeka's Valeo Behavioral Health shares the basics of Mental Health First Aid, and why the personal reason she's so passionate about sharing the knowledge.

Do you know "The Sigh?!"

Ariel Ludwig, outpatient services manger for Valeo Behavioral Health in Topeka, Kan., explores why the holiday season brings up so many emotions, how we can cope with them, and why it's normal to get in our feelings once in a while.

Take a deep breath - you'll be glad you took time for this!

His humorous social media posts are sprinkled with serious offers of a listening ear and a fancy sparkling water. They're born from experiences on the job as a law enforcement officer, and on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In this episode, Marine Corps veteran and Wabaunsee Co., Kan. undersheriff Eric Kirsch reveals the personal struggles that shaped his personal mission to help others overcome and know they're not alone.

Melissa Owen's sister loved lighthouses. When she died by suicide, Melissa wanted to offer others a light in the darkness through Beacon for Hope.

In this conversation, Melissa shares her journey to founding the suicide prevention organization and how they work to connect people with resources addressing issues that might lead to mental health struggles.

If parents' love could stop bad things from happening, John 'The Iron Man' Cantrell said he had ten times more than he needed. But it wasn't enough to keep mental illness from leading him down a path of addiction, prison, even attempting to take his own life. 

In this conversation, the boxing champ gets raw about his story, and why he feels obligated to share it - so others know they're not alone.