Coping 101

How do you identify? Identity can be informed by many factors, including cultural background, abilities, religion, gender, geography and more. Growing up with deafness in a strict religious family on the island of Samoa, Loki Tiatia experienced many layered challenges that have informed his identity and influence his work today as an ASL instructor and Deaf Advocate. As a husband to a deaf spouse and father to a deaf child, and as Highline School District's only ASL instructor, Loki shares some of the unique struggles facing the DHH community and practical ways those who are hearing can be more tolerant and inclusive to this often marginalized group. Loki also discusses his lifelong practice of traditional Samoan dance to communicate and connect with the world around him - including audiences Deaf and hearing alike. 

Presented by C89.5 in partnership with Seattle Children's, Coping 101 is an ongoing series led by students in Nathan Hale High School's Podcast Club that destigmatizes mental health from a teen's perspective, made possible with local support from Hansmire Builders and Compass Health - NW Washington's Behavioral Healthcare leader. No matter our age or background we all face challenges, and there are healthy ways to cope. Get started with more episodes, and find community-centric resources online at c895.org/coping101

• brief bio: Loki has been dancing since he was a boy in a small village of Afega, Samoa-Pacific Island. He has taught movements for kids at Kendall Elementary, DC. He choreographed dance for Gallaudet Dance Company at Gallaudet University. His teaching features a mixture of island styles, signing songs of many genre, beginning/intermediate hip hop, jazz, and lyrical incorporating movements and sign language.
• Deaf Spotlight: https://www.deafspotlight.org/
• WA School for the Deaf: https://www.wsd.wa.gov/
• ASL Cart: https://www.aslcart.com/

Taking cues from innovative approaches from around the world, Katie works with Compass Health leadership to expand treatment programs that serve more economic backgrounds, actively recruit more providers and practitioners, and ultimately increase quick and easy access to in-person or virtual care. 

The first artist to emerge from her family, Esmeralda Vasquez discovered the power of art to dive deeper into her culture, and highlight the colors and the beauty that come from it. Esmeralda is a Latina from the Yakima Valley, currently working in Seattle as a multi-disciplinary artist, muralist, painter, and teacher. She recently sat down with high school senior Luz to share the inspiring story of finding her voice and empowered identity through activism, public art, and teaching in the community.

Co-presented by 4Culture, Coping 101's Artist Mental Health Stories amplify voices from King County's cultural sector to empower individual artists, uplift the creative community and destigmatize mental health from a teen's perspective. No matter our age or background we all face challenges, and there are many healthy ways to find balance. Get started with more episodes and resources hosted at c895.org/coping101

• Follow Esmeralda: instagram.com/esoveresmeralda/
• More about The Feels Foundation: thefeelsfoundation.org/
• More about Urban Artworks: urbanartworks.org/

One of the primary factors contributing to today's mental health crisis - especially impacting traditionally marginalized communities - is limited access to care. People of all ages, communities and backgrounds need behavioral healthcare resources, and simply knowing where to find them is more than half the battle. On a mission to bring much needed counseling services to the people, Ryan O’Donnell is the Director of Skagit, Island, & San Juan County Outpatient Services for Compass Health. In this episode, Ryan shares what led her to working in the field, today's array of career options - some requiring no more than a high school diploma - and how to get started. For anyone who's ever wondered what it would be like to work in mental health, listen and learn how YOU can be a part of solving the crisis while helping yourself and others along the way. 

Presented by C89.5 in partnership with Seattle Children's, Coping 101 is an ongoing series led by students in Nathan Hale High School's Podcast Club that destigmatizes mental health from a teen's perspective, made possible with local support from Valley Cities, Hansmire Builders and Audian and Compass Health - NW Washington's Behavioral Healthcare leader. No matter our age or background we all face challenges, and there are healthy ways to cope. Get started with more episodes, and find community-centric resources online at c895.org/coping101

• Jobs in Behavioral Healthcare with Compass Health: compasshealth.org/careers

"Affordable housing is just not there any more, which creates a crisis situation in our community." The trauma of homelessness affects children, adults and families in ways that seriously impact our communities and society at large, and solving this growing crisis boils down to stability. 

Much like a firefighter who charges toward danger instead of away from it, Ryan Disch-Guzman regularly runs into fires of trauma for a living. His years in social work led him to Mary's Place where today he helps find families permanent housing. In this episode Ryan shares insights about breaking intergenerational trauma, the healing power of housing stability, and stories of the work being done on the front-lines to end homelessness. 

Presented by C89.5 in partnership with Seattle Children's, Coping 101 is an ongoing series led by students in Nathan Hale High School's Podcast Club that destigmatizes mental health from a teen's perspective, made possible with local support from Hansmire Builders and Audian.