Dr. Oginni, a pediatrician and mental health coach for teenagers and parents, challenges the belief that mental health struggles come from not praying enough or lacking faith, comparing it to how Christians treat physical conditions like asthma or diabetes. She explains that stigma in church spaces can prevent people—especially teenagers—from seeking help, and emphasizes that supportive conversations do not require professional training. She shares a formative experience with a teenager who had self-harmed and was hesitant to seek support from church leaders, which helped inspire the Harmony and Healing Project, including a podcast and music to support mental health. Using biblical examples—Elijah’s despair after a major victory, Job’s depression after losing everything and being blamed by friends, and David’s emotional processing through the Psalms—she highlights practical and spiritual approaches such as rest, food, honest prayer, journaling, supportive community, listening without judgment, and connecting people to professional help when needed. She references Brandon Lake’s experience with depression after touring and a scene from the film The Forge to normalize expressing anger and grief to God as part of healing. The episode also invites listeners to join her free community, the Emotionally Wealthy Family, mentions a forthcoming episode on mental health skills, promotes her upcoming course “Bridging the Gap” for youth leaders and educators, and offers coaching calls for parents and teenagers.00:00 Faith vs Mental Health Stigma00:49 Why Church Should Be Safe01:52 Mission and Host Intro03:07 Teen Choir Wake Up Call05:37 Mental Health Is Health07:06 Elijah After the Victory09:46 Stress and Self Care Skills12:19 Join the Family Community13:27 Bible Examples for Mental Health15:06 Elijah, going back to the basics and Support17:08 Job and Blame Free Listening20:36 David Psalms and Journaling22:06 Processing Anger in Prayer24:34 Wrap Up and Next Steps

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In this episode, I speak to Jessen James about how shifting our focus is an important step in achieving resilience.

Jessen James is an Ex-Psychiatric Nurse Turned Entrepreneur specialising in Public Speaking, Communication Skills, Influence, Psychology, Sales and Marketing.

Having spoken all across the world, sharing the stage with giants such as Gary Vaynerchuk, Les Brown, Deepak Chopra, Eric Thomas & Dr John Demartini to name a few, Jessen founded The Professional Speaker School and has trained thousands of students globally to become world class communicators!

His deep understanding of human behavior and psychology, coupled with his 'no nonsense' approach, makes Jessen one of the most sought after speakers globally!

Summary

In this conversation, we explore the intersection of mental health and education, focusing on how to empower teenagers to overcome challenges and create safe spaces for communication. The discussion emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility in achieving happiness and the need for supportive environments for young people.

Takeaways

Mental health is crucial for achieving goals.

Empowerment comes from allowing teenagers to make choices.

Creating safe spaces encourages open communication.

Teenagers need to feel valued and responsible.

Focus on interests to engage students effectively.

Parents should foster an environment of trust.

It's important to celebrate small victories in mental health.

Teenagers can turn challenges into life lessons.

Support from adults can change a teenager's perspective.

Happiness is a personal responsibility, not dependent on others.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Harmony and Healing

04:54 The Importance of Mental Health in Education

11:58 Empowering Teenagers to Overcome Challenges

21:10 Creating Safe Spaces for Communication

41:03 Final Thoughts on Personal Responsibility and Happiness

Keywords

mental health, teenagers, education, empowerment, safe spaces, communication, personal responsibility, happiness, support, healing

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Intentional Parenting: How to Support Your Teen's Mental HealthIn this episode of the Harmony and Healing Project, Dr Ebi Oginni discusses how parents can influence their child's mental health positively through intentional parenting. The episode highlights various strategies and routines that parents can incorporate into their daily lives, including morning and bedtime routines, mealtime conversations, and emotional awareness activities. The host also addresses challenges parents might face, such as feeling inadequate due to their own upbringing, and offers resources like a supportive online community, a guide with family activities for mental health, and an assessment tool to help parents evaluate and improve their parenting skills. Listeners are encouraged to be proactive and intentional in their parenting to nurture their children's mental health and build resilience.00:00 Introduction: The Influence of Parenting00:57 The Importance of Intentional Parenting04:20 Addressing Parental Inadequacy06:50 Breaking Negative Cycles09:25 Community Support for Parents10:51 Intentional Parenting Strategies13:43 Daily Rhythms and Routines18:15 Handling Big Emotions22:54 Resources and Tools for Parents27:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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• Download your free guide- harmony at home, 25 family activities to improve mental health

• DIscover your teen connection style by taking the quiz here