Tricia Baker - Mental Illness is Like AIR: Dogs, Dialogues & Making A Difference

Here's what to expect on the podcast:What motivated Tricia to establish Attitudes In Reverse (AIR)How AIR is changing conversations around mental health and providing much-needed supportPrograms designed to encourage early awareness and help-seekingShauna and Lucy's moving stories of joining AIR's missionThe surprising comfort and healing that therapy dogs bringAnd so much more!   About Tricia: Tricia Baker, along with her family, established Attitudes In Reverse® (AIR®) in 2010, soon after her son Kenny died by suicide following a long battle against severe depression and anxiety. Mental illness is like AIR. Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. It is all around us®. AIR’s mission is to create a community of understanding, kindness and empathy through mental health and suicide prevention education. After a 20-year corporate career in marketing, Tricia took the tremendous loss of Kenny and recognized the need for educating youth about good mental health. Since January 2011, Tricia has developed programs and educated over 250,000 students, parents, school staff, and business partners in New Jersey and across the US. Dogs are an integral part of Tricia’s work with AIR®, including K-12 mental wellness educational programs. Administrators say that the retention rate of the mental health material is far greater than other programs, as the students associate the materials with visiting the dogs.  As AIR Program Director, Tricia launched a program for K-4th graders, teaching young children to identify their emotions through discussions of dogs. Tricia has very recently published her first book; Miki & Friends Go to School: Exploring Emotions through the Eyes of Dogs based on this program. In addition to being a mental health advocate and educator, Tricia is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA), AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Instructor and a Certified AIR Therapy Dog Evaluator. Through the AIR Dogs: Paws for Minds program, Tricia has partnered with schools to train staff with their personal dogs to be school-based therapy dog teams. The goal - at least one certified therapy dogs on each school campus. To date, there are approximately 75 certified teams across New Jersey and Pennsylvania.   Other Guests Who Are AIR Volunteers: Shauna L. Moses Lucy Halter   Connect with Tricia Baker! Attitudes In Reverse website: https://www.air.ngo/ Taste of Hope Fundraiser: https://www.air.ngo/taste-of-hope/ Instagram: AttitudesInReverse https://www.instagram.com/attitudesinreverse To Support Therapy Dogs in School: https://donate.air.ngo/SupportASchoolDog Check out Tricia’s book, Miki & Friends Go to School: Exploring Emotions through the Eyes of Dogs, on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F8DSHTDM?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_60WPR64WZX6WM56CVKM7&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_60WPR64WZX6WM56CVKM7&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_60WPR64WZX6WM56CVKM7&bestFormat=true&csmig=1. -----   If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor, BetterHelp. Visit https://betterhelp.com/candicesnyder for a 10% discount on your first month of therapy. *This is a paid promotion If you are in the United States and in crisis, or any other person may be in danger - Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Dial 988 -----   Connect with Candice Snyder! Website: https://www.podpage.com/passion-purpose-and-possibilities-1/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candicebsnyder?_rdr Passion, Purpose, and Possibilities Community Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/passionpurposeandpossibilitiescommunity/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passionpurposepossibilities/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicesnyder/ Shop For A Cause With Gifts That Give Back to Nonprofits: https://thekindnesscause.com/ Fall In Love With Artists And Experience Joy And Calm: https://www.youtube.com/@movenartrelaxation