Episode 7

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Published on:

28th Jul 2020

Bonita Gibb on Innovations in Rural Mental Health and Personal Self Care

Bonita Gibb is the Social Marketing Coordinator of the Otsego County System of Care in upstate New York. Aside from her proven track record as a professional and an advocate, she is also a loving wife and a mother of a teen daughter.  

In this episode, Bonita shares her journey with the organization and the rural community that they are serving. Their way of adaptation to the current pandemic to address the needs and deliver services to families, youth, and schools. She imparts useful tips on how to maintain good mental health and practicing self-care.    

What You'll Learn

  • The collaborative effort of mental health advocates and all of the system partners and community partners who are involved in making a difference for Otsego County. 
  • The programs and resources provided to the people of Otsego County to help them overcome the hurdles caused by the current pandemic. 
  • Practical tips on self-care and supporting your mental health. 
  • And much more!

Favorite Quote 

“The biggest thing is to not be afraid of your emotions. Just don't live there. And if you need to take a day to just sit on the couch and stare at all of your Netflix choices, that's fine. Just don't make it more than a day set, a time limit.” - Bonita Gibb

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About the Podcast

The Optimistic Advocate
Making a difference in advocating for better mental health services for children and families
Hello, and welcome to the Optimistic Advocate! The Podcast that brings you just a bit closer to recognizing your full potential as an advocate for change – yours, mine, and everyone's! I’m your host, Scott, Bryant-Comstock, and I’m CEO and founder of the Children’s Mental Health Network. For the past 40 years, my journey as a mental health advocate has traveled from volunteering at a suicide and crisis center, professional roles as a therapist in an outpatient clinic, in-home family therapist, state mental health official, Board Chair for a county mental health program, and national reviewer of children’s mental health systems reform efforts. As the founder of the Children’s Mental Health Network (2009), I lead the Network’s efforts to grow a national online forum for the exchange of ideas on how to continually improve children’s mental health research, policy, and practice.

This podcast features conversations with inspiring advocates who help individuals and families make positive changes in their lives and communities across the globe. The episodes typically run from 45 – 60 minutes in length, so give yourself some room to breathe and get inspired when you listen to these. Who knows this could be the gamechanger that will unleash the advocate in you. You won’t regret it!

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Go to theoptimisticadvocate.com/listen and choose the podcast player of your choice. Remember, as you dive into the episodes, never forget to stay optimistic, listen attentively, have a plan, and follow through.

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About your host

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Scott Bryant-Comstock

For the past 40 years, my journey as a mental health advocate has spanned working at a suicide and crisis center, as a therapist in an outpatient clinic, an in-home family therapist, a state mental health official, Board Chair for a county mental health program, and a national reviewer of children's mental health systems reform efforts. As the founder of the Children's Mental Health Network (2009), I lead the Network's efforts to grow a national online forum for the exchange of ideas on how to continually improve children's mental health research, policy, and practice. Through it all, I remain optimistic that the voice of advocates can, and will, be heard. We need strong advocates now, more than ever!

If you're like most of my listeners, you're committed to making significant contributions to your work and seeing sustainable change. But it's not easy–you know it, and I know it. Let's face it - it's downright hard! My passion is helping to shape policy and practice in children's mental health, and my mission is to introduce you to innovative efforts taking place across the nation that are making a difference in the lives of children and families.