Interviews
Mopco Improv Theatre Celebrates 30 Years of Laughter with Local Roots
Schenectady’s popular improv theater marks its 30th anniversary with more community-building comedy. In the early ’80s, Michael Burns was “doing the whole young New York actor thing.” The comedy scene there was cutthroat and crowded by aspiring “Saturday Night Live” players, he said, and he had grown weary of the constant competition. Then came a…
Read MoreClinicians Lobby for a New Way to Assess Suicide Risk
Clinicians often rely on patients to disclose thoughts of self-harm, but some are lobbying for a new diagnosis to better assess the risk. In his nearly 40-year career as a psychiatrist, Dr. Igor Galynker has lost three patients to suicide while they were under his care. None of them had told him that they intended…
Read MoreWhat Is Possible When You Get to the Root? The Peer-Run Wildflower Alliance Redefines Mental Health Care
Her phone pinged and a grey bubble rose to the surface: “Are you ready to come back?” The answer was supposed to be yes. She should return and recover. All she had to do was find the right cocktail, her doctor had said, the right mix of medications to manage the voices and the visions…
Read MoreKetamine Can Be Transformative for People with Suicidal Thoughts—If They Can Access It
Every day, Marisa Russello was overwhelmed by suicidal thoughts. Even one negative thought might cause her to spiral. A writer working on her book manuscript, she’d be unable to change a word without questioning the entire project’s value altogether. Her depression made it hard to fall and stay asleep. She developed insomnia and took to…
Read MoreThe Sanctuary for Independent Media: Alternatives to Suicide
In this interview, Bosh and Sina speak with Marisa Russello, a writer and mental health advocate who works at the Empowerment Exchange in Troy. We discuss her job where she supports people improving their mental health and wellness, one of the groups she facilitates called Alternatives to Suicide, and her suggestions for talking to people…
Read MoreStability Leader Profile
Marisa had quite a start to her first job out of college. After teaching middle school for a week, she began having delusions and paranoia, not recognizing and becoming suspicious of those around her. She later found out she was experiencing an episode of manic psychosis and received a diagnosis of bipolar I with psychotic…
Read MoreThe Former Teachers’ Club Podcast: Episode 22 Teachers Should Take Their Personal Days (from a mental health advocate)
During this episode Leah and Robin chat with Marisa Russello! Marisa is a former teacher who now works as a peer recovery specialist at a local not-for-profit where she supports individuals improving their mental health and wellness. Marisa is a writer and is working on finishing her first book! Her book, which is a memoir,…
Read MoreThis Is What a Manic Episode Feels Like
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes unusual mood swings, ranging from extreme highs (known as manic episodes) to extreme lows (called depressive episodes). There are three types of bipolar disorder, bipolar I is marked by full manic episodes while bipolar II is defined by a pattern of depressive and hypomanic—revved up energy,…
Read MoreWhat’s it Like to be Diagnosed With Autism as an Adult? New Research Takes a Closer Look
While autism research continues to evolve, access to assessments may pose a barrier to diagnosis, and cause many autistic individuals to be overlooked in childhood. A study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found that the age of diagnosis was related to decreased quality of life and increased levels of autistic traits in adults. Getting diagnosed as…
Read MoreHow LGBTQ+ Disabled People Are Celebrating Virtual Pride
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, many in-person Pride events have been postponed or turned virtual. And while I do miss the experience of dressing in an all-rainbow outfit and celebrating in person with my friends—especially because a few of my close friends have come out since in the last year—the move to virtual events offers an opportunity…
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