Mindful Headlines

Following his retirement from the Seattle Seahawks, Doug Baldwin has turned his attention to helping out in his community. He speaks to KING 5's Jessica Janner Castro about what drives him to help make positive change, the charitable initiative he started with his fellow former Seahawks called Champion of Change, and his focus on mental health in order to be his best self for his family.   United Way BBQ: https://www.uwkc.org/events/annual-community-bbq/ Champions of Change: https://championsofchange.org/ OSAYS Campaign: https://www.ourstoriesareyourstories.com/video-gallery/v/doug-baldwin

With the help of a local nonprofit, 1,200 girls from all over the Puget Sound Region are preparing to complete a goal they set eight weeks ago: finish a 5k. Girls on the Run of Puget Sound is a program for girls in the third through fifth grade that encourages healthy habits for life while teaching social and emotional lessons. As the program goes on, participants focus on their personal growth while working toward the final event. "It's your own personal goal, and it's so great to see girls... just always increasing their goals," said Izzy Geronimo, Events and Outreach Manager for Girls on the Run of Puget Sound. KING 5's Jessica Janner-Castro talks more with Geronimo about how the program builds girls' confidence and the benefit of pairing social-emotional lessons with physical activities. Girls on the Run of Puget Sound: https://www.gotrpugetsound.org/ Donate: https://www.gotrpugetsound.org/Donate Volunteer: https://www.gotrpugetsound.org/Volunteer

Amid a rise of anti-Asian racism and xenophobia across the United States, Katherine Cheng decided she had to do something. "People don't actually identify us as being relevant, or mattering," Cheng said. "Why don't they do that? Because we're invisible." Cheng realized there is a lack of stories about everyday Asian people, and amplifying Asian voices is a way to illuminate the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) experience. With the help of friends, Cheng co-founded Our Stories are Your Stories (OSAY), a campaign to celebrate the diversity within the community and recognize the similarities many of us share. Share your story: https://www.ourstoriesareyourstories.com/ Doug Baldwin: OSAYS: Doug Baldwin — Our Stories are Your Stories Gary Locke: OSAYS: Gary Locke — Our Stories are Your Stories Dr. Vin Gupta: OSAYS: Dr. Vin Gupta — Our Stories are Your Stories Wing Luke Museum: Wing Luke Museum

Amy Liz Harrison is the author of three books, the mother of eight kids, and she was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. “Getting a diagnosis, it was a freeing, for me it was a very liberating feeling," Harrison said. She described growing up feeling like there was something wrong with her, and like she was less than her peers; feelings that she carried with her into adulthood. Through her diagnosis, she was able to gain the tools to take control of her own mental health. Harrison speaks to KING 5 about her journey and her new book, Eternally Awkward, which covers it all. Eternally Awkward book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09X3Q4R34 Amy Liz Harrison’s website: https://www.amylizharrison.com/ What is ADHD? CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html National Resource Center on ADHD: https://chadd.org/ National Institutes of Mental Health: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/adhd-what-you-need-to-know#pub1

Adoption can be long and expensive, but now a new Seattle tech company's online platform is modernizing the process and helping families cut costs. Erin Quick, the founder of Pairtree, talks with KING 5's Jessica Janner Castro about helping families "self navigate" adoption, putting control back in the hands of adoptive and birth families, and some of the myths and misconceptions people have about the adoption process.

KING 5's Jessica Janner Castro talks to policy specialist John Koenig about the war in Ukraine. Koenig spent more than three decades in the U.S. Foreign Service and is currently a lecturer with the UW Center for West European Studies. Koenig is a former ambassador to Cyprus and a political advisor to the NATO Joint Forces Command. In 2011, he got the Presidential Distinguished Service award for his work and leadership in Berlin, Germany and at the U.S. Mission to NATO. Koenig said a diplomatic solution to the war is still possible. Follow coverage of the war in Ukraine here. Find Seattle-based ways to support Ukrainians here.

This week on Mindful Headlines, KING 5’s Jessica Janner Castro spoke to a Ukrainian man living in Western Washington about the war raging in his home country. Valeriy Goloborodko is the honorary consul to Ukraine in Seattle, and he talked about the local efforts to stop the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Goloborodko also talked about ways to support the Ukrainian people, how he’s talked about the war with his own children and future actions he’d like the U.S. to take. Find ways you can help Ukraine from western Washington here.

KING 5’s Jessica Janner Castro speaks with Alysse Bryson about dealing with disabilities, especially in the workplace. Bryson says she deals with mental illness, addiction and depression. Bryson is also a cancer and heart disease survivor. During the pandemic, Bryson started The Sober Curator, a website dedicated to content related to recovery or a zero-proof lifestyle. Bryson is the keynote speaker for Microsoft’s Disability Employment Symposium. The symposium, which began in 2017, is an annual meeting of Washington state businesses, organizations and leaders dedicated to finding potential solutions regarding disability employment. Bryson will speak to attendees about her journey to self-advocacy, how she’s maintained sobriety for 16 years, recovering from heart disease and surviving cancer. Resources Am I an alcoholic? quiz from American Addiction Centers Crisis Connections Teen Link for teens needing mental health help Charlie Health mental health treatment for teens, young adults and families Peer Washington offers peer emotional support for LGBTQ community and those impacted by addiction Crisis call helpline: 2-1-1 or 1-877-211-9274 Alcohol recovery centers List of recovery centers in Washington Evergreen Recovery Centers Hazeldon Betty Ford outpatient drug rehab Lakeside-Milam Recovery Centers Northpoint Washington

KING 5’s Jessica Janner Castro talks to a local singer and songwriter about the struggles of surviving the COVID-19 pandemic with virtually every live music venue shut down. Zan Fiskum from Maple Valley made her national debut on season 18 of NBC’s The Voice in 2020. Fiskum made it as a top-nine finalist on the show. Fiskum released her debut album, “Sleeping Problems,” in 2020. In fact, much of her career as a professional musician has been during the pandemic. Fiskum said she’s worked several jobs to stay afloat during lockdowns but admitted it’s been a mental challenge. She’s been grateful for the generous support of her fans, who have supported her career through a Patreon account and other social media platforms. Fiskum is performing at the Vashon Center for the Arts on Feb. 12. You can buy tickets online.

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and for the first time ever, Washington state has launched a statewide campaign.   This week on the Mindful Headlines podcast, KING 5’s Jessica Janner Castro talks to Rebekah Covington, a survivor of sex trafficking. She grew up in Federal Way and fell into the sex trafficking industry when she was 18 years old.   Covington is now the corporate relations manager at the nonprofit Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) as a way to help leaders and businesses learn how to better help victims.   Resources to help end human trafficking Organization for Prostitution Survivors Real Escape from the Sex Trade (REST), a direct service agency in Seattle The Lantern Project, which offers education on human trafficking in schools

There has been increased alcohol use during the pandemic, particularly for women. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found alcohol consumption increased 14% compared to before the pandemic, with women increasing their heavy drinking days by 41%.   This week on the Mindful Headlines podcast, Roberta Romero, a KING 5 journalist, reveals her own battle with alcoholism and shares her story of recovery.   Resources Am I an alcoholic? quiz from American Addiction Centers Crisis Connections Teen Link for teens needing mental health help Charlie Health mental health treatment for teens, young adults and families Peer Washington offers peer emotional support for LGBTQ community and those impacted by addiction Crisis call helpline: 2-1-1 or 1-877-211-9274 Alcohol recovery centers List of recovery centers in Washington Evergreen Recovery Centers Hazeldon Betty Ford outpatient drug rehab Lakeside-Milam Recovery Centers Northpoint Washington Residence XII

The New Year is almost upon us, and that means it’s time to consider making resolutions or goals for 2022. But is it a good idea to make resolutions? How do you keep them?   This week on the Mindful Headlines podcast, KING 5 anchor Jessica Janner Castro talks to motivational speaker and author Mike Robbins about best practices to close the chapter on the old year and start anew.

In this week’s “Mindful Headlines” podcast, KING 5 Anchor Jessica Janner Castro spoke to Seattle author Paula Becker about her new book on grief. The book is titled “A Little Book of Self-Care for Those Who Grieve,” and Becker wrote it while coping with the loss of her son Hunter.   In the podcast, Becker’s therapist Laura Takacs also shared helpful tips for coping with grief during the holidays.   Grief resources Crisis Connections (support services for those in King County) Providence grief support services

Erica Wiley, vice president of development for the United Way of King County, explains the brain science behind giving and explains why she thinks people tend to give more during the holidays.   Volunteer for free tax prep with United Way of King County, which has a mix of in-person and virtual opportunities.    KING 5’s annual Home Team Harvest drive to benefit Northwest Harvest is underway. This year’s goal is to raise 21 million meals. Ways to donate: Online at king5.com/hometeamhavest, text “HOMETEAM” to 41444 or starting Nov. 1, visit your local Safeway or Albertson’s to give $5, $10 or $12 toward grocery cards.     Watch the Home Team Harvest broadcast special on Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. on KING 5, king5.com and the KING 5 mobile app.

Every Veterans Day we honor the men and women who have fought and sacrificed for our country.   Jeremy Grisham is now a licensed mental health counselor, but he was once a patient.   Grisham is a medically retired U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman and combat veteran who served his enlistment attached to a Marine Corps unit during the Iraq War. He was once diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and was homeless before getting help from the VA system. As the interim counseling and wellness director at the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, he now holds an executive role in the very system that lifted him out of despair.   Read the article on this story on king5.com.    Resources Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs counseling and wellness Veterans crisis line: 1-800-273-8255, press 1 or text 838255

Have you ever voted for a candidate simply because you recognize their name? Or because they seem kind? You’re not alone. We can often make emotional and frankly irrational choices when it comes to politics. Historian and journalist Rick Shenkman talks about his book “Political Animals: How Our Stone-Age Brain Gets in the Way of Smart Politics.” Shenkman argues that our emotions, biases and impulses can greatly influence us at the ballot box. Shenkman is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has written numerous books about politics and presidential history. He is also the editor and founder of George Washington University’s History News Network, a website featuring historians’ perspectives on current events.

Dolores Huerta, 91, has been an activist for more than six decades. To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, she sat down with KING 5 anchor Jessica Janner Castro to talk about her advocacy work, immigration and equity in governance.   Huerta has received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and she was the first Latina to be inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.   Resources Dolores Huerta Foundation Dolores Huerta Biography via the National Women’s History Museum Dolores Huerta biography via the National Park Service

We sat down with Erin Romanuk, Seattle Public Schools student support services supervisor, to find out how Washington state's largest school district is making mental wellbeing a priority as the pandemic continues.   Watch the interview with Romanuk on YouTube.   Resources Mental health services at Seattle Public Schools

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and this week on Mindful Headlines, Jessica Janner Castro talks with a young woman who recently survived a suicide attempt. Kelsey Motley, 27, shared her story with KING 5 in hopes of saving lives. “I was never the person to think that I would struggle with mental health issues to that extreme. It can happen to anyone. If you are struggling and you’re trying to do it alone, please don’t,” said Motley. Read the full article on king5.com   Resources Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center National Suicide Prevention Lifeline National Alliance on Mental Illness National Suicide Prevention Month | National Prevention Information Network (cdc.gov)

How do you find a mentor? Who should be a mentor? And how do you become a successful mentor? LaKesha Kimbrough, who oversees the mentoring work Seattle University does in the surrounding community, shares the importance of mentorship, both for the mentor and mentee.   Read the article on this story on king5.com.   Resources: 2020 Northwestern University study on mentorship in STEM Seattle University Youth Initiative