A veteran once asked me, "So, you think you know me?" After 10 seconds, I realized I was full of misconceptions, 'bad intel", and unrealistic expectations. I took the time to listen and better understand and it opened up my eyes to the often insurmountable challenges returning veterans face. I learned that when a military person serves, the whole family serves and is full of emotions. It seems each war has its own inhumanity, psychological turmoil, survivor guilt, fear of failure, and major adjustments for its service men and women. While Vietnam veterans probably had it the worst, each generation of military face enemies that can't see, they can't define them because of no official uniforms, or they use children to carry bombs to kill Americans.
The suicide rate for Iraq/Afghanistan veterans is the highest of any American military war or conflict. Why?
Didn't the Commander's debrief with the troops prepare them for returning home? "What debrief?" a soldier once said back to me. This podcast's guest is Army Reserve Veteran, Chris Kreiger, Founder, President/CEO of WNY Heroes, Inc. (501 c 3 Not-for-Profit Since 2008). Chris did four tours in Iraq and was seriously injured four times. As a medic, he pushed to get back in the battle and take care of the wounded, but when he came home, how was he treated? Please listen to this podcast and share it with someone who could benefit. Also, Chris will talk about, "Pawsitive for Heroes" - a military service dog program for qualified veterans (only). This has grown to become a nationally requested need of many veterans around the United States. They have matched more than 200+ veterans to military service dogs. They need more support. Each graduating dog costs between $7,500-$10,000 to fully train. Maybe you love animals or you have a veteran in your family or community who could benefit from a service dog. Here's how to apply: Call- (716) 630-5020 or www.WNYHeroes.org. Tell them you heard about it on MindSet with Tom McNulty, M.S.
Support Our Troops by Supporting WNY Heroes!!
Tom McNulty, M.S.
P.S. "Not Broken" is a hit by Goo Goo Dolls about returning veterans. Thanks, guys!

Your Children Need Behavioral Health

Children are increasingly at risk when it comes to their behavioral health. They need informed parents and trained teachers and administrators to recognize their emotional ups and downs. Children from birth to 17 (and into early adulthood) are more vulnerable today because of multiple factors that can engulf them:
1.) Increased thoughts of self-harm and suicide.
2.) Vaping, drinking, hazing, drug use, and poor nutrition.
3.) Domestic violence, separation/divorce, parents with multiple partners.
4.) School shootings and the perception that it could happen to them.
5.) Television news, social media, web (and 'Dark Web'), and cyberbullying.
6.) Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs): School bullying, body shaming, hostile teachers, racism, gender, and ethnic discrimination.
7.) Poverty, dangerous neighborhoods, fear of police, and shootings.
8.) Lack of positive parental interactions: shouting vs. affection; swearing vs. teaching coping skills; cellphones vs. face-to-face conversations, selfish parents vs. family time, and using video games/TV/l Pads as 'babysitting' conveniences.
9.) Parents who don't participate in their children's schools.
10.) Teachers who don't practice behavioral health basics when interacting with students.
Is that enough? Because many more issues are stressing our children that parents and teachers may not comprehend. This podcast will help you better understand the behavioral health stressors children and teens face and what to do about it NOW!
Please share this important podcast with parents, grandparents, teachers, and friends.
Thank you for caring,
Tom McNulty, M.S.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression defined by a reoccurring seasonal pattern highlighted by mood changes, irritability, helplessness, pessimism, persistent sadness, decreased energy, hypersomnia, overeating, seasonal hibernation, aggressive behavior, reduced work or school performance, and family history. Millions of Americans (more women than men and more younger people than older adults) experience SAD.
While many people believe it is a "winter-only" condition, it can surface in late spring into summer and late fall into and through the winter. Summer SAD is often related to the heat and humidity in scorching areas for months at a time. The heat can feel unavoidable for those prone to summer SAD.
This podcast addresses SAD with the most current clinical information on definition, signs and symptoms, geography, family history, diagnostics, causes, and treatment. Listeners will also learn about light therapy, antidepressant medication, psychotherapy, Vitamin D, substance abuse risks, and the plausibility of preventing SAD.

Resources: National Institute of Mental Health, DENT Neurologic Institute, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mental Health America, and your local county Department of Behavioral Health.

• Please share this podcast with family, friends, co-workers, doctors, and other healthcare professionals.

Thank you,
Tom McNulty, M.S.
Host, MindSet with Tom McNulty, M.S.

Lixin Zhang, M.D., Ph.D. is an Attending Neurologist and Director of the Dizziness and Balance Center at DENT Neurologic Institute. His patient focus is on balance disorders, dizziness/vertigo, sleep medicine, and epilepsy as well as general neurology. Dr. Zhang has 12 years of extensive neuroscience research experience with almost 30 peer-reviewed publications in various neuroscience journals. As one of the principal investigators, Dr. Zhang has been involved in multiple national clinical research projects in Restless Leg Syndrome, Neuropathic Pain, and Epilepsy. Currently, he is developing new research projects focusing on Meniere’s Disease, migraine-associated vertigo, and imbalance/falls in elderly patients. There are 15 different types of vertigo, so seeing a neurologist first for a comprehensive assessment is critical. DENT Neurologic Institute is fully equipped with the best diagnostic technology to identify your type of vertigo accurately. Dr. Zhang sees patients from all over the world and is highly sought after for his research and innovative treatment for vertigo and balance disorders. Contact DENT Neurologic Institute at (716)250-2000.
Thank you and please 'Share' this important information.
Tom McNulty, M.S.

Schoolyard bullying is bad enough. We all know what it looks like, or so we think, right? Kids tease each other, but it can get grossly out of hand and end tragically. Imagine bullying behavior in the workplace. Executives, managers, supervisors, and even fellow employees use bullying tactics to intimidate employees to do something they know is wrong. But where do you go? To your boss? To Human Resources, maybe? It can be an extremely stressful reality and one often ignored by those who could intervene. We've become aware of sexual harassment xenophobia, racism, and gender bias in our workplace, but CEO and management bullying is rampant. Poison pen emails, text messages, and phone calls mount as intimidation grows more harsh each day. How do you make it stop? Your daily behavioral health is at risk. It would be best if you didn't have to quit to make it stop, but many staff cannot take a minute more. Sadly, suicide does occur and even then, things do not change. This broadcast will help you. Please share this with your colleagues. You may save a life. Thank you!

Tom McNulty, M.S.

Behavioral health is often an afterthought in today's healthcare environment, but not at DENT Neurologic Institute. The largest neurology practice in the country has an international reputation and a progressive neuropsychiatric approach for patients with challenging behavioral health disorders. Truly a disease of the brain, mental illness can be a treatment-resistant condition for many unique patients who have not found success with medication and/or therapy. DENT Neurologic Institute, located in Buffalo, New York, has embraced behavioral health with passion and vigor to find solutions for depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress, and other serious conditions.
Having access to their fellow neurologists gives DENT a true "treatment team approach" to any presenting patients - many who may have other non-behavioral medical conditions that may add to their health struggles. DENT Neurologic Institute is also involved in more than 100 clinical trials through its DENT Neuroscience Research Center in Amherst, New York. To book an assessment appointment, call (716) 250-2000 and ask for behavioral health.

DENT Neurologic Institute is celebrating its 60th Anniversary!

Thank you for listening to MindSet with Tom McNulty, M.S.
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Welcome to MindSet 2023 with Tom McNulty, M.S.

Without a doubt, Fentanyl is today's most frightening, sneaky, hidden killer that has taken the lives of 110,000 people last year. It is hidden in opioids, cocaine, marijuana, and street drugs that get laced with Fentanyl such as Xanax - is anything off limits? No!

Unless you get your medicine from pharmacies that use child-proof caps (not guaranteed) or sealed containers, you cannot be 100% certain. Recently, Fentanyl has been presented as colored gummies or tablets that can look like chewable vitamins to attract younger users. These dangerous times require that current and accurate information be disseminated to parents, teachers, law enforcement, religious leaders, EMTs, urgent care/emergency care/primary care, campus security, and the public. This is exactly the mission of The Episodes Project and its Spotlight on the Community program - training and coaching frontline stakeholders at rapid assessment, referral, and follow-up. Many EMTs and police officers indicate that, over the last several years, they are on more overdose calls than heart attacks, accidents, strokes, and other life-threatening calls.

This episode of MindSet 2023 gives you very hard realities of what happens when a loved one ingests Fentanyl and resources to follow to learn more.

MindSet 2023 is brought to you by DENT Neurologic Institute, Spotlight on Hope, Inc., and The Episodes Project.

Social media is an enormous and omnipresent reality of our global communications. It's everywhere! As such, it has its advantages if you take the time to investigate each platform's purpose and the benefits it can bring to your daily life. Sadly, it can also be deadly in ways designers never imagined. Almost 95% of pre-teens and adolescents from countries all over the globe use varieties of social media for multiple hours a day. Do parents know what their children and teens are watching every day? In most cases, they do not. Herein lies the danger and the pathway to potential tragedy.

In this broadcast of Tom McNulty's MindSet, we provide food for thought about social media in general. There are pros and cons when we can communicate with strangers. The human brain is not fully developed until around age 25. Adolescents are not equipped or prepared to deal with message overload from cell phones and laptops. In fact, many young people are trying to "belong" to something bigger than themselves and reach into areas used to deceive. "Catfishing" is a giant net cast out by predators, human traffickers, those involved in sexting/sextortion, and individuals misrepresenting their identity to pretend to be someone else. Typically, someone engaged in catfishing is searching for a vulnerable victim they can manipulate, embarrass, seduce for sexual favors, threaten, or engage in ruining a person's reputation. While many have a diagnosable mental illness, it does not excuse their planned attacks on social media nor does it mean that individuals with a mental illness are all "catfishing" on the Internet. The critical message in this broadcast is directed at parents, grandparents, and caregivers to be knowledgeable and hypervigilant about what social media and other sites their children and teens are using. Start with an open discussion and encourage honesty (with immunity) as you talk to your children about the very real dangers of engaging in conversational chats with strangers. Not sure? Talk to a behavioral health expert, police officer, or the FBI (I spoke with an FBI agent a few years ago). This is NOT a subject to take lightly. "Catfishing" can be deadly. Thank you for caring enough to listen. Please share this podcast with other parents.