First Responders and Mental Health w/ Dr. Jena Casas
April 25, 2023
Hosted by Chris Meek
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Guest Information
Episode Description
The focus of this week’s installment of Next Steps Forward is first responders and mental health and program host Chris Meek is excited to welcome Dr. Jena Casas, an expert on the subject matter. Dr. Casas is a licensed clinical psychologist who owns and operates a private practice and a consulting firm in northern Nevada. She holds a master’s degree in Criminal Justice and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno. She’s also a certified emergency responder and public safety clinician. Dr. Casas has published 29 peer-reviewed publications and five book chapters on topics related to the intersection of culture, psychology, and law; her most recent publications are related to the mental health of first responders. Dr. Casas specializes in providing mental health services to first responders and their families, organizational consultation with law enforcement agencies to develop wellness programming for their staff, and educational presentations for conferences across the United States. Dr. Casas will take the hour to touch on important topics relevant to her work, including how public opinion affects first responders’ well being and the job they do, what private citizens and organizations can do to minimize stigmas against first responders, the self-imposed barriers to mental health treatment in the forms of stigma and concerns about career advancement that first responders face and the work she carries out with first responders to help them overcome the stigma of seeking mental health treatment.
Next Steps Forward
Tuesday at 10 AM Pacific Time on VoiceAmerica Empowerment Channel
Personal empowerment, commitment to our own well-being and the motivation to achieve more than we ever thought possible are the ingredients of a better life. And, they’re all within our reach. Next Steps Forward with Chris Meek delves into each aspect of the three keys that add energy, excitement, direction and purpose to everything that we do.
Each week, Chris hosts leaders from the worlds of business, sports, entertainment, medicine, politics and public policy as they engage in thought-provoking discussions to help us all take the next step forward on our own journeys to our better selves and greater service to others. Next Steps Forward with Chris Meek is an informative, uplifting hour every Tuesday at 1 PM Eastern Time and 10 AM Pacific Time on the VoiceAmerica Empowerment Channel that’s certain to inspire you to take that important next step forward, too. You can learn more at: https://nextstepsforward.com/
Chris Meek
Chris Meek believes in the American spirit of individual empowerment and service to others, especially those who have sacrificed for our freedoms. As someone who lived through the horrors of Ground Zero on 9/11, Chris had no way home but to join others as they put one foot in front of the other to make their way forward. Since that day, Chris has committed himself to empowering and motivating fellow Americans to keep taking steps forward, no matter what life throws their way.
Chris has spent the last decade serving as the co-founder and chairman of the national nonprofit SoldierStrong, which is dedicated to helping military veterans take their next steps forward. SoldierStrong carries out its mission by providing revolutionary medical technology to VA medical centers, including exoskeleton suits to help paralyzed veterans walk again and virtual reality equipment to help treat post-traumatic stress.
He also serves as an advisor on the President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) task force. In this role, he shares a responsibility to raise awareness about mental health, facilitate research and define a plan to prevent suicide. In 2020, Chris launched ReachStrong, a nonprofit aimed at empowering all Americans to care for their overall well-being. Chris is also a financial services executive at S and P Global, Inc, in New York City. He and his wife, Christine, have three children.
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