March 2021

Helping you pivot towards normalizing mental health during these most challenging of times. Topics discussed include depression, anxiety, stress from COVID, suicide, domestic and sexual violence, self-care, and much more, for those who may be struggling or have loved ones who are struggling. Hosts Julie Saxton and Carrie Lair have expertise in the field of mental health and are committed to overcoming the stigma of mental illness.

• Interviews with therapists, psychologists, law enforcement, social works, survivors of abuse.
• Personal stories of recovery from mental illness and drug addiction.
• Education, hope, and resources to deal with many aspects of mental/substance abuse. 

HOSTS:

Julie Saxton has been in the social services industry for over 11 years. She was an in-home mental health counselor and supervisor for Lifeline Resources and for the last 6 years, has been serving as the mental health advocate for the Ames Police Department. 

At Lifeline Resources, Julie worked with children ages 3-17 to help them understand their diagnosis and work on coping, communication, and attentiveness skills as well as support and educate parents to be an advocate for their child. Julie’s role with the Ames Police Department is to connect suffering from mental health or substance abuse issues with resources to help them recover. She also provides support for their families and loved ones and assists them in navigating the system for resources. Julie works with over 80 providers in Ames and Story County and collaborates with the Ames Community School District, faith-based organizations, Story County Attorney’s office as well as many private clinicians to make sure our community is supported, and given hope.  Julie is a board member for Good Neighbor and works in various ways to break the stigma around mental health and bring awareness to this topic.  Julie also teaches mental health first aid with Kinsey Phillips, the mental health advocate with Iowa State University.   

Carrie Lair has worked in the mental health field for the last twenty-one years.  Her focus has primarily been on child and adolescent crisis services and intervention.  Carrie has worked in child welfare, juvenile court, school systems, mobile crisis, community-based programs, hospitals and residential institutions.  Carrie is an advocate for those who struggle with mental health and her passion and dedication have not gone unnoticed.  Carrie has been nominated several times for providing outstanding service to children and their families and was awarded Pathways to Success Leadership award as an undergraduate student.  After completing a workshop training with Dr. Bruce Perry with the Child Trauma Academy, Carrie applied to further her education and will earn her Master of Psychology degree (2021) with an emphasis in child and adolescence developmental psychology and was recently honored to be inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success. Carrie is co-chair of the Story County Mental Health Task Force, and a member of the Hardin County Mental Health Coalition, Boone County Community Coalition, Iowa State University Mental Health Task Force, State of Iowa Dental Practitioner Review Committee, and is a certified instructor in Youth Mental Health First Aid, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and QPR-Question: Persuade, Refer Suicide Intervention Training.  Carrie is employed by Eyerly Ball Unity Point Health as a Behavioral Health Urgent Care and Navigator supervisor