The ninth season of the Emmy® nominated public television series
Healthy Minds with Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein premieres nationally on
PBS.org beginning on May 1 for Mental Health Awareness Month, and
features top experts sharing the latest information about new
approaches in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental
illness and inspiring personal stories from families.
“Millions of individuals and families across the United States
are facing mental health challenges, however stigma and
misunderstanding still often keep people from seeking help,” says
Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D., President and CEO of the Brain &
Behavior Research Foundation. Dr. Borenstein, who developed the
series and serves as its host and executive producer, adds,
“Healthy Minds” provides understandable information and resources
for viewers, inspires open discussions about mental illness and
demonstrates that with help, there is hope.”
In the latest season, which includes, 12 new half-hour episodes,
Dr. Borenstein has conversations with leading experts about some of
the most pressing mental health issues in the United States,
including the nexus between mental health, obesity, and diabetes;
COVID and mental health; post-traumatic stress in children and
adolescents; how to recognize the differences between normal worry
and anxiety in young people, and how to best bring mental health
resources to people who are homeless.
Among guests who speak from personal experience are the mother
of a patient with bipolar disorder who, along with a scientist from
University of California, San Francisco, discusses how a ketogenic
diet, focused on increased protein and decreased carbohydrates, has
shown positive results for patients with bipolar disorder,
epilepsy, and schizophrenia. A psychiatrist, herself the sibling of
a patient with early onset psychosis, explores advances in treating
young people who experience symptoms of psychosis. And the chairman
of the board of an academic program founded by parents of
neurodiverse students, discusses education and opportunities for
people with neurodiversity.
Season 9 is available nationally on PBS.org starting May 1.
Viewers can also see if it is airing in their area by looking up
Healthy Minds with Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein on their local PBS
station or visiting:
https://www.bbrfoundation.org/healthy-minds-tv
Healthy Minds is produced by the Brain & Behavior Research
Foundation, the nation’s largest private funder of mental health
research grants. The show is presented by Connecticut Public
Television (CPTV) and distributed by the National Education
Telecommunications Association (NETA). Funding is provided by the
American Psychiatric Association Foundation and the John &
Polly Sparks Foundation. Foundation.
Episode Details
Metabolic PsychiatryA ketogenic diet focused on increased
protein and decreased carbohydrates has shown positive results for
patients with bipolar disorder, epilepsy, and schizophrenia.
Guests: Jan Ellison Baszucki, mother of bipolar patient, now
funding research as President, Baszucki Group; Judith M. Ford,
Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry, University of California, San
Franciso.
Update on COVID and Mental HealthA follow up to the 2022
season of “Healthy Minds” explores some potential long-term effects
of COVID including depression, anxiety, psychosis, and brain fog,
as well as treatments for these conditions. Guest: Maura Boldrini,
M.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University
Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Director,
Quantitative Brain Biology Institute (Brain QUANT).
Helping People Who Are Homeless, Part 1A model program in
Boston offers a holistic approach to clinical care for the homeless
built around a street team bringing mental health resources
directly to those most in need, including case workers,
psychiatrists, and a recovery coach who has experienced being
homeless. Guest: Katherine Koh, M.D., Assistant Professor of
Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Street Psychiatrist, Boston
Health Care for the Homeless Program.
Helping People Who Are Homeless, Part 2Research to
improve clinical care and positive outcomes for the homeless
population includes understanding risk factors for homelessness,
including the need for mental health support during transitions out
of the military, jail, and foster care. Guest: Katherine Koh, M.D.,
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and
Street Psychiatrist, Boston Health Care for the Homeless
Program.
Post-Traumatic Stress in Children and AdolescentsPTSD
looks different in children and adolescents than in adults, what
factors contribute to trauma’s long-term effects, unique treatments
for youth including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
(EMDR), and the need for suicide prevention awareness after trauma
in young people’s lives. Guest: Ryan Herringa, M.D., Ph.D.,
University of Wisconsin Health Professor in Children and Adolescent
Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public
Health.
Prenatal Choline and Brain HealthThe nutrient choline has
been shown to support fetal brain development, and supplements
taken during pregnancy may lead to improved concentration and
attention spans in childhood as well as a decreased risk of
schizophrenia for these children later in life. Guest: Robert
Freedman, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado
School of Medicine.
Diagnosis and Treatment for Subtypes of DepressionNew
research using brain scans and biological markers has revealed
areas of connectivity in the brain that can make diagnosis and
treatment of the various types of depression more efficient and
effective and identify the fundamental mechanisms that make moods
change. Guest: Conor Liston, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Neuroscience
and Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine.
Treatment of Early PsychosisCoordinated care including
early intervention, education, a team of medical experts, and a
strong support system of family as well as peers with shared
experience can increase positive outcomes for young people after a
first psychotic episode. The leader of the “On Track New York”
program, a doctor and sibling of an early onset patient herself,
explores the advances in understanding and treating adolescents and
young adults experiencing hallucinations and other symptoms. Guest:
Lisa Dixon, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University
Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Mental Health, Obesity and DiabetesResearch that looks at
mental health holistically has revealed that half of all patients
with depression or bipolar disorder patients are diabetic or
pre-diabetic, leading to a new perspective on symptoms and
treatment regarding insulin and brain function. Guest: Roger
McIntyre, M.D., FRCPC, Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology,
University of Toronto, Canada
ADHD: What You Need to KnowDemystifying the symptoms of
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and understanding the
variety of ways ADHD presents in young people including differences
in which aspect of the disorder is manifested, and best advice for
caregivers to help young people lead successful lives after
diagnosis. Guest: Stephen P. Hinshaw, Ph.D., Distinguished
Professor of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, and
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of
California, San Francisco.
Education and Opportunities for People with
NeurodiversityA model academic program in Florida addresses the
needs of neurodiverse students, founded by parents looking for
resources. LiFT (Learning Independence for Tomorrow) Academy serves
kindergarten through 12th grade, and LiFT University Transition
Program is a four-year post-secondary transition program for
students who have completed high school for continued academics,
career readiness, and life skill training. Guest: Keli Mondello,
co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Learning Institute for
Tomorrow (LiFT).
Anxiety in YouthDiagnosing and treating anxiety in
childhood and adolescence can decrease the risk of developing
depression and other mental disorders later in life. Advice for
parents to recognize the differences between normal worries and
anxiety, and the impact of outside factors including bullying and
social media. Guest: Daniel Pine, M.D., National Institutes of
Health Distinguished Investigator.
About Brain & Behavior Research Foundation The
Brain & Behavior Research Foundation awards research grants to
develop improved treatments, cures, and methods of prevention for
mental illness. These illnesses include addiction, ADHD, anxiety,
autism, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder,
depression, eating disorders, OCD, PTSD, and schizophrenia, as well
as research on suicide prevention. Since 1987, the Foundation has
awarded more than $450 million to fund more than 5,400 leading
scientists around the world. 100% of every dollar donated for
research is invested in research. BBRF operating expenses are
covered by separate foundation grants. BBRF is the producer of the
Emmy® nominated public television series Healthy Minds with Dr.
Jeffrey Borenstein, which aims to remove the stigma of mental
illness and demonstrate that with help, there is hope.
About Connecticut Public Broadcasting NetworkThe
Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network (CPBN) is home to CPTV,
WNPR, and the Learning Lab. CPTV is a locally and nationally
recognized producer and presenter of quality public television
programming, including original documentaries, public affairs, and
educational programming. WNPR is an affiliate of National Public
Radio, Public Radio International, and American Public Media. The
Learning Lab serves high school seniors through a partnership with
Hartford Public Schools and the Journalism and Media Academy Magnet
School. It is also home to the Institute for Advanced Media, a
program that provides the men and women of our armed forces and
adult learners an opportunity to learn skills necessary for the
21st century digital media workplace. About the National
Educational Telecommunications AssociationThe National
Educational Telecommunications Association is a professional
association that serves public television licensees and educational
entities in all 50 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto
Rico. Since 1967, the Association’s reason for existing has been to
connect public television people and ideas, by providing quality
programming, educational resources, professional development,
management support, and national representation.
- Healthy Minds Host
- Healthy Minds 9th Season Guests
Myrna Manners
Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
(718) 986-7255
mmanners@mannersdotson.com