Importance of Social Support in Mental Health & Wellness

Holistic nurse practitioner is a provider who uses a comprehensive approach and address the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

This episode is about a Nurse Practitioner who challenged herself, followed her passion and is a very successful business woman. Mrs Victoria Randle, MSN, FNP-C has a wide experience as a Family Nurse Practitioner, worked in Burns/ICU, Occupational Med and Urgent Care. She is the Founder and Executive Director of CNA Instructor Consultants LLC aka “The Secret Cocktail” where she helps her client, establish, manage, provide strategic planning, curriculum, development, and policy writing for healthcare training, schools. She has a YouTube Channel and constantly has new content. Mrs. Randle opened H.E.R.O. Institute in Marietta, GA and trains students to become a CNA and Phlebotomist. This episode shows that we as Nurse Practitioners can follow our passions and be innovative and become entrepreneurs!

Strength-based therapy is focusing on your patient’s resourcefulness and internal strengths but not focus on their psychiatric diagnosis and situations. As the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, you will focus on your patient's resiliency, positive qualities, strengths and positive mindset to change their perspective and worldview.

Telepsychiatry has been shown to be effective for patients and providers. With the use of telegealth, there is an increase in the access for patients who have mental health issues. Today telehealth is used in a variety of settings such as school children for counseling and therapy, adolescence, teen agers who have busy schedules, college students may see their providers in between their classes. Many working adults have utilized telepsychiatry as well. Studies have shown that nursing home patients have found telepsychiatry beneficial. Prison and Jails where patients are incarcerated have also benefitted to telepsychiatry There is is a high level of satisfaction when using. Telepsychiatry and is comparable to those who go face-to-face.

SSRI’s are you first line antidepressants that are used because of its tolerability, efficacy and safety. SSRI’s are also indicated for anxiety, eating disorders, PTSD, OCD, premature ejaculation, premenstrual dysphoric disorder’s and other somatic disorders.

According to research, social support is critical in the maintenance of mental wellness. Have a good support system helps cope with stress and daily challenges in life. Have a wonderful support system helps one keep motivated with personal goals.

What is military sexual trauma? Military sexual trauma refers to a service members experience with sexual assault or sexual harassment during his or her military service. As a healthcare provider I highly encourage you to ask if your patient has ever served in the military, what their experiences are and if they have suffered military sexual trauma or harassment and continue to assess than psychiatrically. Always refer them to a psych nurse practitioner, a social worker, a psychiatrist, psychologist. Military sexual trauma survivors may self medicate with alcohol and drugs or they may have somatic symptoms that may be very difficult to treat. Have an open mind of this mind-body connection and assess if they have suffered any trauma in the past.

September is suicide prevention and awareness month! In this podcast we will talk about the risk factors of suicide in the individual, relationship, community and societal levels. We will also talk about risk factors for military service members and veterans. We will discuss about protective factors and what you you and your patient can do to prevent suicide!

Yoga is a common practice that integrates the mind, body and movement to promote health. Yoga utilizes the control of breathing, poses and meditation. It has been used for centuries around the world and you may add this to your treatment plan for your patience as part of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Try it yourself!

Ms. Ally and Ms. Angel Castillo are Filipina-American Transgender sisters who have made their mark as immigrants here in the United States. The word “transgender” or “trans” is a term for people whose gender identity is different from the sex assigned at birth. Ally Castillo’s screen name is Ally Cat Castle. She is a TV news make-up artist in Washington DC. She is also a co-founder and co-host on their virtual podcast every Sunday advocating for the Transgender Community. Angel Castillo is a Registered Nurse/Case Manager in Los Angeles, CA. She finds time pursuing her modeling and acting career. Their pronouns are she/her/hers. In this episode, Ally and Angel share their journey and their lived experiences in their transition. Both knew at a very young age that they were special. They both talk about their challenges due to cultural, religious, and familial reasons. Ally and Angel sacrificed their happiness to be obedient in their family. When they migrated to the United States, they slowly found their true authentic self. They both transitioned to becoming a female. Angel is Ally’s “trans mother” who provided guidance to her sister’s transition. For those who are ready to transition, Ally and Angel reinforce the importance of seeking a Transgender Health Care Provider. According to Human Rights Campaign, the transgender community are very diverse but lacks legal protection due to the legislation that prohibits trans people from access to resources, voting rights and basic healthcare coverage. Around 29% of trans adults live in poverty. Trans people face stigma, harassment, violence and discrimination and is thought of as having mental illness or sexuallt deviant. This stigma is perpetuated in our culture, social media and Hollywood. Many trans people have been denied promotion, due to their identity. Often harassment, violence, are not reported. Many trans people lack health care coverage. Many have difficulty with their documentations of who they truly are. We in the healthcare community need to support the trans community. We need to have more compassion, understanding and empathy and be allies to the LGBTQ community. Ms Ally and Ms Angel both find their passions in life as they use their strengths, talents education, and skills to teach us about being transgender here in America. Ms. Ally points out to “never ask permission from anyone to be who you are, just let them know. You have the power to choose you!” “They recently graced the cover of the “On Christopher Street: Transgender Portraits by Mark Seliger.” (link below) https://www.memphisflyer.com/on-christopher-street?fbclid=IwAR0VpeDoOhrI0ThocCOWn7zbYIE1ycl43plFn-pT16lPSYWAgO4QNj3RK8o Disclaimer: “Guys” as a word is used to refer to Ally and Angel as “you all”, their pronouns are “she/her/hers.”