Each honoree was selected by a distinguished panel of industry leaders and the Benefits Pro editorial team, further solidifying Emotional Vaccines’ commitment to creating a lasting, positive impact in the mental health space.

NIH research shows preteen suicide rates have increased by 8% annually since 2008, highlighting the urgent need for better prevention strategies. The findings also highlight the need to better understand, identify, and help preteens who may be at risk for suicide. 

That’s one of the key areas of focus for Emotional Vaccines – 2-3 minute video resources, developed by Dr. Mehra, which focus on prevention through education. Dr. Mehra believes that parents and educators must understand that suicide in young people is often impulsive, partly due to their still-developing brains. External stressors and exposure to suicide can influence a child’s actions. 

“One of the reasons suicide at young ages happens as an impulsive act, is in part because the brain’s not fully developed until age 25,” said Dr. Mehra. “And when children experience external stress and they hear about suicide from outside sources, they may consider then to take that act.” 

While some children may not show obvious signs, parents should watch for: 

• Social isolation 

• Changes in hygiene 

• Mood irritability 

• Sleep disturbances 

Emotional Vaccines is proud to be collaborating with initiatives like Operation Jack’s Village, founded by Liz Martin after losing her 13-year-old son to suicide, to help educate and empower parents working towards identifying those kids who are at-risk. This joint effort encourages parents to take action over awareness. 

Suicide is a critical issue that needs to be addressed proactively, especially with youth who may be silently struggling with overwhelming emotions. Parents play a vital role in initiating these conversations, creating a safe and open environment where their children feel comfortable discussing their feelings and fears. Emotional Vaccines provide parents with tools that help them understand how to initiate and navigate these difficult conversations. 

By talking about suicide early and openly, parents can help break the stigma surrounding mental health, equip their children with coping strategies, and provide the necessary support to navigate life’s challenges. This proactive approach not only fosters emotional resilience but also encourages young people to seek help when they need it, ultimately reducing the risk of tragedy. 

It’s crucial to listen to your instincts as a parent. If something feels off, don’t ignore it. By understanding the risks and learning to identify warning signs, we can better protect our children. 

Remember, if you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Together, we can work towards a future where fewer families experience the tragedy of youth suicide. 

Weekly videos will be provided to families in this unique Hillsborough County community to help them build resilience and support thriving futures. Tampa, FL – March 20, 2024 

Emotional Vaccines® is proud to announce its partnership with New Life Village, a one-of-a-kind community in Hillsborough County for families raising foster-to-permanency, kinship and adoptive children. This groundbreaking initiative aims to equip New Life Village residents with the tools and knowledge necessary to cultivate emotional resilience, build strong connections, and thrive as individuals and families.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with New Life Village and introduce our Emotional Vaccines program to their unique community,” said Rahul N. Mehra, MD, CEO and founder of Emotional Vaccines® “Our mission is to proactively nurture resilience and empower people to navigate life’s challenges with greater ease. This partnership allows us to bring our expertise directly to these families.”

The Emotional Vaccines® program at New Life Village will focus on providing residents with engaging educational resources, interactive activities, and a supportive environment that encourages personal growth and social cohesion. Weekly videos and community events will cover crucial topics such as stress management, effective communication, and healthy relationship-building.

“We are excited to bring such a practical and relevant resource to our onsite program for our families who have been affected by many traumas and hardships,” said Mariah Hayden, Executive Director of New Life Village.

“Our community of lifelong learners is excited to proactively engage with this intentional content in the continued effort of prevention negative outcomes associated with children impact by foster care,” said Natalie Gomez, Program Director of New Life Village.

This week, residents received the first “Wellness Blast” containing resilience-building content, initiating the now weekly practice.

Throughout the New Life Village community, designated “Wellness Corners” will also be established, complete with engaging signage and access to the program’s digital resources, encouraging residents to explore and participate in comfortable settings.

“We believe that by proactively fostering emotional resilience and strong social bonds, we can empower families to navigate challenges, find fulfillment, and truly thrive,” added Mehra. “Our partnership with New Life Village represents a significant step toward creating a model resilient community.”

For more information about the Emotional Vaccines program, please visit emotionalvaccines.com.

For Interviews or More Information,

CONTACT: Richelle Hoenes | 941.544.0961

TAMPA, FL (February 26, 2024) – Emotional Vaccines®, the emotional health education platform founded by Dr. Rahul N. Mehra, M.D. has partnered with the Early Learning Coalition (ELC) of Pasco and Hernando Counties to support the wellbeing of early childhood educators and parents across nearly 300 childcare centers.

The partnership comes at a time of increased global focus on issues like stress and anxiety, and as early learning educators are noticing more challenging child behaviors in the classroom. Emotional Vaccines® is a Tampa-based organization that provides adults and children with science-backed coping skills before these issues become more serious.

“Supporting the educators and parents who nurture our kids is so vital. Bolstering their emotional health and coping strategies extends beyond the classroom and helps foster positive outcomes and behavior at home,” said Rahul N. Mehra, founder of Emotional Vaccines® and board-certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist. “This partnership will provide free access to emotional support with researched-backed coping skills and resilience strategies without charging monthly subscriptions or requiring confusing apps.”

Dubbed “Mondays with Mehra,” the weekly offering will provide ELC teachers and parents with free access to Emotional Vaccines’ video content on managing stress, regulating emotions, and avoiding burnout. Videos will be accessible via QR codes on posters placed in every ELC center. The content library will continue building over the weeks ahead.

“This collaboration will introduce a comprehensive approach that prioritizes the health of early learning educators and the families we serve,” stated Early Learning Coalition Pasco Hernando Executive Director, Steve Knobl Ph.D. “We are excited to share these invaluable resources with our community. Our goal is to continue to empower and support childcare providers and parents/caregivers through prevention and education.”

The “Mondays with Mehra” initiative launches this week.

For more information on Mehra and Emotional Vaccines®, visit emotionalvaccines.com.

For Immediate Release:

CONTACT: Richelle Hoenes | 941.544.0961

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About Early Learning Coalition of Pasco Hernando Counties

The Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, Inc. Is a 501c3 organization and one of 30 Early Learning Coalitions in Florida. Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten (program is for all children who are four-years old on or before September 1. School Readiness provides subsidized childcare for low-to-moderate income working families. The nonprofit serves over 10,000 children between infancy and twelve-years old, working with over 300 childcare providers in both counties.

]]> https://emotionalvaccines.com/dr-rahul-n-mehra-is-featured-guest-on-dr-drew-podcast/ Thu, 21 Dec 2023 16:33:07 +0000 https://emotionalvaccines.com/?p=1056 TAMPA, FL (December 13, 2023) – Tampa based behavioral health expert Rahul N. Mehra, M.D. will be featured on an upcoming episode of the nationally recognized “Dr. Drew” podcast to discuss one of the most prevalent topics in the world right now, mental health.

Each year, one in four adults is diagnosed with a mental health illness, and according to the most recent numbers from the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI), over 16% of young children and teenagers struggle with mental health related issues. While the current protocols prescribe treatment after diagnosis, Mehra advocates for a more proactive approach.

“We need to create resiliency among children and adults before everyday life challenges become overwhelming and catapult into a significant mental health issue,” said Dr. Mehra. “In the same way we encourage preventive care in physical illness, we can also mitigate emotional stress and anxiety by teaching proactive coping behaviors and self-awareness to avoid a clinical diagnosis.”

Mehra is the founder of Emotional Vaccines^®, a company that produces physician-led videos providing coaching and techniques that focus on prevention of mental health symptoms to lessen more detrimental future consequences such as suicide and more severe mental illness. These videos are beneficial to people of all ages and are currently used by Limestone University in South Carolina, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Suncoast in Pinellas County, the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, as well as various employer groups.

In the podcast episode with Dr. Drew, airing December 13, 2023, Mehra highlights the need for true primary prevention and discusses more specifically some of the challenges within the existing treatment model.

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak about this vital issue on a national platform, raising awareness about the possibility to effect meaningful change and genuinely assist families and individuals in managing day to day life events. A change in thinking in our approach is essential to navigate this terrain more effectively and I am honored to share that message with more people,” said Mehra.

Mehra is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology as a Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist, and is currently the CEO/Chief Physician Executive of the National Center for Performance Health (NCPH).

In addition to promoting Emotional Vaccines and his work at the National Center for Performance Health, Mehra is also the Medical Director for the Children’s Home Network in Tampa and has previously served as medical director at other Florida-based non-profit behavioral health organizations.

He has also been the medical keynote speaker for the NFL and NFL Players Association and has served as a team physician for the XFL and Major League Baseball.

Mehra’s episode on the “Dr. Drew” podcast will be available on Apple and Spotify. He is available for interviews prior to the episode premiere. To schedule, please reach out to the media contact above.

For more information on Mehra and Emotional Vaccines, visit emotionalvaccines.com.

PRESS CONTACT:
Preston Rudie
Preston@CatalystCommunicationsGroup.com

A Conversation with Dr. Rahul Mehra – USF Health Podcast

In this episode of “Healthcare Superteams,” Dr. Haru Okuda engages in a profound discussion with Dr. Rahul Mehra, who serves as the CEO and Chief Physician Executive of the National Center for Performance Health. In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Mehra introduces the groundbreaking concept of “emotional vaccines”, delves into the critical importance of emotional resilience, the need to confront and dispel stigma and the promotion of open dialogues. Dr. Mehra’s solutions bring a ray of hope and optimism to professionals and parents alike, offering a path towards a brighter future.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (November 13, 2023) – Behavioral health expert and renowned child psychiatrist, Rahul N. Mehra, M.D. (Photo Attached), is the medical keynote speaker at the Upstate Behavioral Health and Wellness Forum, today November 13, 2023, in Greenville, SC, co-sponsored by Prisma Health and the Wellbeing Partnership of Greenville County.

Mehra is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology as a Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist. He is currently the CEO / Chief Physician Executive of National Center for Performance Health (NCPH).

Additionally, Mehra created Emotional Vaccines®, a company that produces physician-led videos providing coaching and techniques that focus on prevention of mental health symptoms to lessen more detrimental future consequences such as suicide and more severe mental illness. These videos are provided to strategic organizations within the community such as colleges, schools and non-profit groups that serve children.

“As our country grapples with the mental health crisis, I want to challenge the traditional treatment and diagnosis of mental illness and encourage our medical leaders to be proactive instead of reactive,” said Mehra. “We must equip people, especially children, to manage their symptoms and get ahead of a problem before it starts, if we want to create effective change. It is an honor to return to my roots and deliver this message to medical professionals, business leaders and students who want to learn how to be part of the solution.”

Mehra has close personal ties to the South Carolina community having immigrated to the state from his birthplace in India. Mehra was raised in Gaffney, SC and currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Limestone University, where his father was a professor. Mehra attended the College of Charleston and majored in biology and co-founded a pre-medical society before graduating from the Medical University of South Carolina. He continues to give back to the community through a scholarship endowment in his parents’ name that benefits Gaffney High School students.

In addition to promoting Emotional Vaccines® and his work at the National Center for Performance Health, Mehra is also the Medical Director for the Children’s Home Network in Tampa and has previously served as medical director at other Florida-based non-profit behavioral health organizations.

He has also used his extensive knowledge of behavioral medicine to consult professional athletes and teams in the NFL, NFL Players Association, XFL, and Major League Baseball.

Mehra is available for interviews today at the conference or virtually. To schedule, please reach out to the media contacts above.

For more information on Mehra and Emotional Vaccines®, visit emotionalvaccines.com.

TAMPA, FL (November 8, 2023) – Tampa Bay Business & Wealth has honored Rahul N. Mehra, M.D.

with the 2023 Philanthropist of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award for his service and commitment to rethinking our approach to mental health.

Mehra created and founded Emotional Vaccines®, a company that produces physician-led videos providing coaching and techniques that focus on the prevention side of mental health symptoms—specifically stress and anxiety—to lessen the probability of more detrimental future consequences such as suicide and more severe mental health diagnosis. 

  
“These are everyday life challenges that we are not discussing with others in our inner circle and problems slowly build. Too often we diagnose and treat these symptoms after they have become a bigger problem,” said Mehra. “I am humbled and honored that Tampa Bay Business & Wealth recognizes we are a disruptor to the traditional health care model on mental health and are change-makers in our community and beyond.”  

Physician videos produced by Emotional Vaccines® are strategically positioned in community-based organizations and corporations and offered to parents as a support structure to stop a mental health issue before it starts. Currently, the Boys and Girls Clubs, USF College of Nursing, and Hillsborough County Public Schools in the Tampa Bay area utilize these videos.  

Mehra has been in practice for more than 30 years in Florida and South Carolina. Many of those years have been spent serving children in foster care. He is currently the Medical Director for the Children’s Home Network in Tampa and is the former Medical Director of Gracepoint Wellness, Directions for Living (Pinellas), and Joshua House. Mehra has also consulted for the NFL, NFL Players Association, XFL, and Major League Baseball.  

For more information on Mehra and Emotional Vaccines®, visit emotionalvaccines.com.

Dr. Mehra is passionate about the impact education and conversations can have on the improvement of mental health treatments. Raising the topic of mental health in schools and work is important, although it may seem difficult. To those who may be wondering how to start a conversation about mental health, simply asking the phrase, “are you feeling stressed or anxious?” can start an open and honest discussion, free of judgement. Social media has also become a place of stress for a lot of people, so Dr. Mehra also suggests to chill out, and turn social media off. We should have no more exposure than 15 minutes of social media or the news each day, to help eliminate stress, especially in times during a pandemic. While it is important to be educated, we also need to be mindful of our sources and its impact on our mental health. When parents stress out about the media, it can trickle down on their children, causing them to be stressed as well. It is important to approach situations with positive thoughts, and think in a problem-solving mindset.

There are new medications and treatments being brought into our community, which have allowed an easier access to care. Technology advancements have helped telemedicine gain traction, and has been used by more patients, especially during the pandemic. But, Dr. Mehra believes that we should address the lack of mental health awareness in our community, particularly education about suicide to help as many people as possible who may be suffering with mental health disorders in our community. Dr. Mehra works closely with the Children’s Home Network, and finds other opportunities in the community to help out when it is needed, such as work with the Pasco County Sheriff office by training senior leadership on mental health topics.

In times of E-Learning, it is important for parents to understand the impact of social isolation, especially for their children. Social connection should be a priority, while following the CDC guidelines and social distancing— video calls, parking lots, or social distancing outdoors can be a great way to continue social interaction while staying healthy at the same time.

Mental health impacts everyone, and it is important to bring awareness to our Tampa community. Give a family member or friend a phone call who you have not talked to in a while, check-in, and re-connect. We are all in this together, and it is important to never forget that.

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National Center for Performance Health is a unique  organization designed with one goal in mind – to help you become your best you. We use advanced medical research and technology to achieve proven results.

If you’ve ever thought about taking your game to the next level – we can help. Contact us at info@nationalcph.com or (866)684-2007 to learn more.