Kim Hartrum from the National Alliance on Mental Illness South Carolina shares her personal journey with mental health challenges and how she now helps students recognize warning signs of mental illness and suicide. Through her lived experience with anxiety since childhood and a suicidal episode as an adult, Kim offers invaluable insights for parents on maintaining open communication with children about mental health.

• Anxiety in children often manifests as physical symptoms like stomachaches or resistance to attending school
• Young children can experience suicidal ideation - Kim's daughter asked "why she wanted to die" at just eight years old
• Mental health should be treated with the same urgency and normalization as physical health conditions
• Warning signs to watch for include withdrawal from activities, changes in sleep patterns, and extreme mood changes
• Resources available include NAMI support groups, school counselors, private therapists, and crisis lines
• Creating an environment where children feel comfortable sharing their feelings is crucial to early intervention
• Parents should learn their child's "red flags" and be prepared to act when multiple warning signs appear
• Isolation can be the most damaging aspect of mental health struggles
• Therapy can benefit children even before crisis points are reached to build coping skills

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, help is available 24/7 through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

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Richard Reed, behavioral psychologist and organizational consultant, shares strategies for developing charisma in children through emotional intelligence, mindfulness practices, and creating psychological safety.

• Charisma is fundamentally about connecting with others and generating appropriate emotions within them
• Both extroverts and introverts can be charismatic in different ways
• Emotional intelligence forms the foundation of charisma—recognizing our emotions creates capacity to consider others
• Children need opportunities to experience and tolerate boredom to develop emotional regulation
• Simple mindfulness practices like eating in silence for one minute help build emotional vocabulary
• Becoming comfortable with conversational silence creates space for deeper connections
• Small shifts in conversation style (asking "what was that like?" instead of yes/no questions) elicit more meaningful responses
• Creating psychological safety allows children to express themselves fully and develop their authentic presence
• Modeling humility and discussing our own mistakes helps children develop a growth mindset

Check out Richard's new book "Charisma Unlocked" on Amazon for more practical insights on developing these connection skills.

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out

Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families.

Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+.

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Carrie Conrad, expert in prevention, protection, and defense for women and children, shares her "secret sauce" for raising safe kids in today's challenging world.

• Communication is key, but listening matters more than talking when keeping kids safe
• When children share concerning information, our reaction determines whether they'll continue to be open with us
• Meeting children's need for attention is crucial—if parents aren't listening, someone else will be
• The traditional "stranger danger" approach is misleading and potentially harmful
• Children need to trust their instincts, and parents need to model this behavior
• For reluctant communicators, try stating incorrect information—kids can't resist correcting adults
• Small conversations about seemingly trivial topics build the foundation for discussing serious matters

For free resources including "Mistakes Well-Meaning Moms Make That Put Kids at Risk," visit Carrie's website.

Get a free mini lesson plus 52 prompts so your kids can practice every week here!

Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out

Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families.

Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+.

Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!