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Podcast: YourMomCares about how you feel
The latest episode of 20-Minute Health Talk takes a look at a group of concerned mothers on a mission to create and fund innovative programs and solutions that improve mental health and wellness in children
“We need to change the conversation from mental illness to mental wellness,” says Sharon Feldstein, who helped launch a nonprofit called YourMomCares with the goal of creating and supporting programs that better behavioral health in our kids. This group of concerned mothers, whose children are prominent athletes, musicians and actors, is bringing much-needed attention to the crisis in children's behavioral health. Demand for services is far outpacing the resources to support it, and the situation is worsening now that new CDC data reveals there has been a 50% spike in the suicide rate for school-age kids since the year 2000.
On this episode of 20-Minute Health Talk, host Sandra Lindsay, DHSc, MBA, MSN, RN, speaks with Sharon, co-founder and CEO of YourMomCares, along with one of the group’s "power moms," Robin Paul, about their mission, the organizations and programs they support and their newest endeavor with Northwell, who has partnered with area schools to expand resources for students in need of behavioral health support. A primary effort — school-based Behavioral Health Centers — is keeping kids out of the emergency room and connecting them with clinicians closer to home.
This is Part 2 of a series addressing the rising rate of child suicide in the U.S. Throughout the month of September, which is National Suicide Prevention Month. In Part 1, Dr. Lindsay spoke with child behavioral health specialist Vera Feuer, MD, about methods parents can use to discuss mental issues with their children.
Podcast transcript
Sharon Feldstein: 0:04
If you have a diagnosis of cancer and you wait to stage 4, well it’s much more serious than if you got it at stage 1. And what you guys are doing in the schools is the same thing. It’s the stage 1 of mental health. If you can stop anxiety from becoming depression, then depression from becoming suicidal ideation that may stop the progression of it becoming deadly.
Sandra Lindsay, RN: 0:31
That was Sharon Feldstein, co-founder and CEO of YourMomCares, a nonprofit on a mission to create and fund innovative programs and solutions that improve mental health and wellness in children. Like Sharon, its large network of founders are the moms of actors, athletes and musicians.
And Sharon says it all started with a simple tagline that every mom can relate to.
Sharon: 1:05
We nag you because we love you. Your mom cares.
Sandra: 1:09
In 2014 she was invited by the White House to participate in a public service announcement for the Affordable Care Act. Not only happy to take part, she offered to bring her long-time friend, Patsy Noah. Terria Joseph was also interviewed and the three would go on to co-found YourMomCares, a name inspired by that same PSA.
Sharon: 1:39
And we were lucky enough to have Michelle Obama end our PSA with: “We nag you because we love you. YourMomCares.”
And I’m a branding person. That’s a great brand, that's like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, it’s very self-explanatory. And I asked the White House if we could trademark the brand and I promised them we would do something for children. And in 2018 we decided to focus on kids' mental health.
Sandra: 2:10
You've been able to rally a long list of Power Moms to support your initiatives and mission. How were you able to get their support?
Sharon: 2:22
Nobody says no to Robin.
[Laughter]
Sandra: 2:26
Sharon is referring to Robin Paul. She is one of the non-profit’s “Power Moms.”
Robin Paul: 2:34
When they asked me to come and join, first of all, I told her I'd think about it, but I didn't have to think long… It was really a shoo-in for me when they said that we were going to be focusing on mental health because I see it in everyday life.
Sandra: 2:46
They also have “Expert Moms,” who are clinicians, funders, policy makers and academics in the field of children’s mental health or related fields like nutrition. But Power Moms use their “power and influence” to advocate for the YourMomCares mission to help save kids' lives. They also include Joan Kimmel, Donna Jordan and a long list of others.
Robin: 3:20
Our goal is to have like-minded moms. That's important to us. So, you know, you start talking about some of our initiatives, some of the things we've done in the past, some of the things we're looking forward to doing... who can say no? Seriously, but not only to me, but it's serious because it's important to rally yourself around like-minded moms. That's very important for us.
I do a lot of things in the community. All of them have something to do with children. I'm all about the kids. And mental health to me is so real. We are seeing it even more today.
Without significant adjustments in how we raise the next generation, Vera Feuer, MD, says the mental health crisis among children will get worse.
Read more
The scope of the pediatric mental health crisis
Sandra: 4:16
Today, one in five Americans are seeking mental health services. Even more alarming is the rising suicide rate for school-age kids, which the CDC reported has surged by more than 50% since the year 2000. The sad reality is that there are not enough therapists or mental health providers of any kind to meet the need, a problem that organizations like YourMomCares and Northwell Health are working hard to address. And now, they’re working together.
Hello and welcome to 20-Minute Health Talk. I’m Sandra Lindsay. This is Part 2 of our series on Child Suicide Prevention. In our last episode, we spoke with child psychiatrist Dr. Vera Feuer, who is leading Northwell’s push to ramp up mental health care services for kids in crisis. Our guests today, Sharon and Robin, are using their resources through YourMomCares to try to propel those efforts.
Since 2018, YourMomCares has worked with organizations like the Children’s Health Fund, which offers many standout mental wellness and social service support programs. A particular point of pride for Sharon and Robin is their work with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Children’s Hospital (UPMC). They helped them launch an interactive mobile tool that motivates youth to learn and practice new coping skills.
Sharon: 6:16
We always say a very wealthy person of high means can give a huge sum of money to something and make a difference in the way that they make the difference. We take smaller amounts and try to take a little bit of a risk. With UPMC as the third best children’s hospital in the country, it is not big a risk. We give it to something that no one else wants to fund. Then we try to give it our voice.
Sandra: 6:44
And the power of their collective voice, Sharon likes to say, turns their support into a megaphone.
Sharon: 6:52
It is kind of a double dose of hopefully success. Because we give a little bit of money, and we give a lot of attention. We are doing it because we want to help kids. Every mom in our group loves kids. We love our kids. We love our grandchildren. And we love your kids.
I would be like the little old lady who lived in the shoe. I would have so many kids I wouldn't know what to do. But my husband was not like that.
The Behavioral Health Centers are like child life for kids’ mental health. It was a welcoming room that was pretty and calming, and that was not like an emergency room. You take an already anxious or depressed child, and you put them in a kinder, more gentle environment. That is what impressed me the most.
A love for children
Sandra: 7:21
And that passion is deeply rooted for Sharon and Robin.
Robin: 7:25
I think it started with my parents. My parents were always givers. I mean, the church that we attended, we gave. We just continued to give. Our family believes to whom much is given, much is required. We cannot be blessed if we walk around with tight fists. We are always trying to give.
Sandra: 7:47
For Sharon, it was her experience sitting on the Board of a charity that works with pediatric cancer and AIDS patients.
Now her work with YourMomCares allows Sharon and all the moms to give back in a big way.
Sharon: 8:05
How we work is people present us with ideas. Word of mouth is usually how we meet people, or they find us on Instagram. Then they will say, can we? We would love to do this. We would love to do this. I have to say 99% of the time we say, no thank you. It's that rare gem, like you guys, that really check every box for us.
When we give our money to someone, it has to be something that we know is gonna move the needle, make a difference, and respect our mission.
Sandra: 8:38
After being connected with Northwell Health, YourMomCares learned about their school partnership programs, which give kids in crisis an alternative to going to the emergency department.
Sharon: 8:52
I just can't bear the thought of a child who is suffering so much having to sit in those adult emergency rooms where you don't get seen for hours. One family told us they were there for 12 or 15 hours and then sent home. That breaks my heart.
Sandra: 9:28
The situation Sharon just talked about is one that, tragically, many families can relate to. With an average wait of 6 to 8 hours, these extended stays in an emergency department for kids experiencing a behavioral health crisis can be harmful… and costly.
And the alternative? An eight week wait, on average, for an appointment with a mental health provider.
This is why Dr. Feuer – again, that’s the psychiatrist we spoke with in Part 1 of this series – has partnered with NY school districts to create Northwell’s Behavioral Health Centers. Staffed by child psychiatrists and licensed mental health counselors, they offer a game-changing option for kids, who are seen within 48 hours and importantly, can avoid the emergency room.
Sharon: 10:32
The Behavioral Health Centers are like child life for kids’ mental health. It was a welcoming room that was pretty and calming, and that was not like an emergency room. You take an already anxious or depressed child, and you put them in a kinder, more gentle environment. That is what impressed me the most.
Sandra: 10:53
Since 2020, Northwell has launched three of these Behavioral Health Centers, which serve 32 school districts throughout Long Island. That translates to 334 schools and more than 200,000 students. And thousands have already taken advantage of this innovative service, which offers psychiatric assessments, short-term crisis treatment and help connecting students to mental health providers closer to home. Most importantly, it’s keeping kids’ behavioral health care out of the emergency room.
Just one year after opening its first center, school clinicians reported 60% of students referred to these centers would have previously been sent to the ER.
And the benefits also extend to the families and community.
Sharon: 11:56
You are building the centers, which is a big step. Robin, I, and all the moms have applauded you because yay, it is a wonderful thing you are doing. Together, I think we can create some awareness and maybe help some adults understand the warning signs, what they can do if they see them.
Sandra: 12:15
That point is key. And these Behavioral Health Centers also include help for parents to navigate health insurance coverage, and provide professional development for school staff and community education for parents.
The three existing centers are all located on Long Island. The first opened in 2020 in Rockville Centre, the second in 2021 in Mineola, and the third in 2022 in Commack. Now, Northwell hopes to expand even further – and that’s where YourMomCares comes in.
To help address the ongoing maternal and child mental health crisis in the U.S., a NYS program is expanding the pool of doctors who can treat behavioral health issues. Hear from the experts leading this effort on this 20-Minute Health Talk.
Read more
Sharon: 12:59
When we first met with Northwell Health, It was as if we dreamed up a partner for brick-and-mortar places to take children – when we told Robin about it, do you remember Robin what you said?
Robin: 13:11
I remember.
Sharon: 13:14
We were almost crying. We were almost crying we were so happy.
Robin: 13:14
Yes. When they explained it to me and they said, you have the facility, you have all the activities, and the infrastructure, I was like this is amazing. This needs to be worldwide.
Sharon: 13:28
Because you’re doing. You have the finances. You have the infrastructure to do what we dream.
Sandra: 13:37
And we have the people and the culture. This is what we do.
Sharon: 13:42
And hopefully, what we were told was it is a model that could maybe be replicated in all parts of the country. Robin lives in North Carolina. It would be wonderful to kind of have this become contagious and spread it all over.
Sandra: 13:47
And it’s programs like these that the teams at both Northwell Health and YourMomCares believe can prevent suffering and loss of life.
Sharon: 14:08
If you have a diagnosis of cancer and you wait to stage 4, well it’s much more serious than if you got it at stage 1. And what you guys are doing in the schools is the same thing. It’s the stage 1 for mental health. Because if you can stop anxiety from becoming depression, depression from suicidal ideation that stops the progression of maybe it becoming deadly. It is the easiest way for people to understand because they don't look at mental health like that. They don't look at mental health like health. There is still a stigma.
The benefits of mental health apps
Dr. Manish Sapra, Northwell's system director of behavioral health, discusses the process of figuring out which mental health apps can address your specific needs.
Sandra: 14:42
One of the core philosophies guiding YourMomCares is “Changing the dialogue from mental illness to mental wellness.” And through its many efforts, they are helping organizations like Northwell, UPMC and the Children’s Health Fund drive innovative solutions that are making a real difference.
Sharon: 15:08
I am proud of what we have done, and I am proud to have done it with the moms – these particular moms like Robin who has become one of my closest friends. I am proud. I am proud of all of us.
Robin: 15:18
I am just so excited about the work we are doing. We just gotta keep going and keep going strong.
Sandra: 15:23
And that also includes working with brands, individuals and even kids who reach out to them wanting to help.
Sharon: 15:33
We have KidsWhoCare. Kids throughout the country start little groups. They found us on their own. Their moms call us and we work with the moms and the kids. They give a little percentage to YourMomCares, and they do little gatherings.
We have BrandsWhoCare that we really depend on, especially during the pandemic. BrandsWhoCare are brands that we like, that we respect, that like us.
Sandra: 16:16
And Sharon points out, like the KidsWhoCare, anyone can pitch in for this extremely important cause.
Sharon: 16:25
They can donate money to YourMomCares. They could donate money to Northwell. Honestly, for us in particular, if they have an expertise that they would like to share with us that could help us in any way, we would love it. This is an inclusive organization and anybody that wants to help us in any way that they can, we gladly accept.
Robin: 16:51
Also, we are not specialists in this field as well. Their ideas. They can DM us. They can email us. Can I set up a meeting with you all to talk? I have an idea that might help. It is not only monetary gifts, but ideas would be greatly appreciated as well.
Sandra: 17:17
I want to thank Sharon Feldstein and Robin Paul for joining me to share their stories and for their work to create and support innovative programs and the people behind them as we work to improve the care we deliver to those living with mental health conditions, as well as improve access.
This has been Part 2 of our series on Child Suicide Prevention. Next week, we’ll discuss mental health among LGBTQ+ children. To help us break it all down, we’ll be speaking with Dr. David Rosenthal, the founding medical director for Northwell Health’s Center for Transgender Care.
Until then, I’m Sandra Lindsay, and this has been another edition of 20-Minute Health Talk.
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