My name is Sara Torelli and I am the Swedish School-Based Mental Health Counselor at IHS. I meet with students at Issaquah High School who are interested in receiving support surrounding stress, home life difficulties, anxiety, depression, relationship problems and grief. I specialized in School Social Work when I was in graduate school because I knew I wanted to work with young people. I love working with teens because they are receptive to receiving support and making healthy changes in their lives. Young people are our future and they represent HOPE and I love learning about their lives and assisting where I can. There is so much change taking place during adolescence and I feel very fortunate to help support students with the many transitions and stressors they experience during their high-school years.

Founded by clinical psychologist Joy Harden Bradford, “Therapy for Black Girls” offers mental health resources and advice for both personal and professional development for African American women and beyond.

Mental Illness Happy Hour

So many of us have dealt with mental and emotional trauma in our lives. Yet so few of us feel comfortable or even safe talking about it out loud. Host Paul Gilmartin hopes to change this with his lauded podcast, “Mental Illness Happy Hour.” Gilmartin interviews a variety of noted figures and celebrities about their experiences with mental illness or trauma.

Unlocking Us

Host Brene Brown brings conversations that unlock the deeply human part of who we are, so that we can live, love, parent, and lead with more courage and heart.

We Can Do Hard Things

On We Can Do Hard Things, Glennon Doyle and her sister, Amanda states "we will do the only thing I’ve found that has ever made life easier: We will drop the fake and talk honestly about the hard. Each week we will bring our hard to you and we will ask you to bring your hard to us and we will do what we were all meant to do down here: Help each other carry the hard so we can all live a little bit lighter and braver, more free and less alone."

Project Lotus destigmatizes mental health in Asian-American communities by tackling the model minority stereotype through culturally-relevant education for the community and the empowerment of voices.

Project Lotus advances the movement for Asian Americans to be able to discuss, care for, and advocate mental health freely, without shame or stigma. Learn more here!

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call the Crisis Clinic at 866-427-4747 OR 206-461-3222

• Crisis Text Line: crisistextline.org - text 741741 (mobile fees waived)
• NAMI SEATTLE SUPPORT LINK: 206-783-9264
• Washington Recovery Help Line: 1-866-789-1511
• Teen Link (24 hours): 1-866-TEEN-LINK
• Suicide Lifeline (24 hours-National): 1-800-273-TALK
• Children's Crisis Outreach Response System (24 hour): 206-461-3222

Safe Place 24 Hour Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-422-8336

Website: www.nationalsafeplace.org/safe-place-teens

Description: "Offers access to immediate help and safety for youth ages 12-17 in crisis. A youth may call the hotline or walk into a facility displaying the Safe Place sign to request help, such as reconnecting with a parent/guardian or finding shelter. Safe Place is a national youth outreach and prevention program for young people in need of immediate help and safety. As a community-based program, Safe Place designates businesses and organizations as Safe Place locations, making help readily available to youth in communities across the country. Locations include: libraries, YMCA’s fire stations, public buses, various businesses, and social service facilities." (Source: Safe Place website)

True. GLSEN reports that 70.1% of LGBTQ students are verbally harassed (e.g., called names or

threatened) because of their sexual orientation and 59.1% because of their gender expression (2017 National School Climate Survey, GLSEN, 2018).

2. Statement on Employment: In 29 states, it is currently legal to fire or refuse to hire someone based on his or her sexual orientation.

True. Only 21 states and D.C. have laws prohibiting workplace discrimination based on sexual

orientation. Federal legislation that would cover all 50 states has been introduced in Congress but it has yet to pass (Employment Non-Discrimination Act, American Civil Liberties Union).

3. Statement on Hate Crimes: In 2017, about 10% of all hate crimes reported were motivated by sexual orientation bias.

False. 15.9% of all hate crimes were motivated by sexual orientation bias (Hate Crime Statistics, 2017, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2018).

4. Statement on Other Countries: Being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender is illegal in 73 countries.

True. This means that more than 2.7 billion people live in countries where being gay is a crime (“This is the state of LGBTI rights around the world in 2018,” World Economic Forum, June 24, 2018).

REFLECTION:

• What is your reaction to the information you read?
• What was surprising?
• What wasn't surprising?
• Do you think progress has been made around LGBTQ+ people's rights?
• What do you think still needs improvement?

Hosted by hilarious pop culture experts Kid Fury and Crissle, this podcast is a window into their world of hip-hop, celebrity gossip, life in New York City, and Black queer kinship. After almost 4 years of working together, Kid Fury and Crissle have built a strong following and have maintained their spot in iTunes' Top 40 Comedy Podcasts. On their SoundCloud, Crissle and Fury describe "The Read" as an "on-air therapy session for two friends trying to adjust to life (and rats) in the big city."

Nancy

This short but thoughtful podcast wastes no time letting you know what they're all about--- their tagline is "Because everyone's a little bit gay." Hosted by two best friends, Kathy Tu and Tobin Low, this show focuses on issues affecting the LGBTQ community and specifically addresses the struggles of being queer and Asian. In the very first episode, Tu and Low share their coming out stories and interview their parents on what the experience was like from their point of view. They are unapologetic in the way they share their personal experiences and, in turn, encourage their guests and listeners to share in a similar way.

The BiCast

The aptly named "BiCast" podcast fills an important gap in LGBTQ programming and is brought ot us by BiNet USA, a national organization advocating for bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer-identified and unlabeled people. Geared towards providing a platform for and amplifying bi voices, "The BiCast" offers news, information, and most importantly, community for bi+ people. The show is hosted by Lynnette McFadzen (President of BiNet USA), Becca Tsarna, and Mick Collins-- self-described "regular people" who make up a fun and dedicated cast of characters. In each episode, one of the hosts meets with notable authors, artists, and activists to discuss issues of inclusion, health, representation, and creativity.

LGBTQ&A

This podcast, hosted by HuffPo writer Jeffrey Masters, focuses on the importance of recording oral histories and appreciating the singularity of every individual's story. The show highlights that "some of the most important people in LGBTQ history are alive today," and through this understanding, the goal of "LGBTQ&A" is "[to document] their lives, while also highlighting the diversity in our community."

The Trevor Project:

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now/

Call 24/7 Hotline 1-866-488-7386

Text START to 678-678

Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.

Counselor Alpha Assignments:

Alan Waite: A-Ci

Emily Combellick: Cj-Ham

Christian McKone: Han-La

Jen Martinson: Lb-Ol

Amber Claussen: Om-Sta

Jen Schwarz: Ste-Z

Email: marbutj@issaquah.wednet.edu
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/ishscounseling/home?authuser=0
Location: 700 2nd Ave SE, Issaquah, WA, USA
Phone: 425-837-6140