Mental Health Matters was an award-winning talk show with a fresh perspective on mental health. It ran between May 2012 and December 2014.
Host Shannon Eliot interviews experts and people with mental health issues on controversial topics such as medicating children, forced, treatment, and the taboo surrounding diagnosis.

This Week at Peers, Week of May 2nd, 2022
Here’s what we have lined up this week for you here at PEERS. If you have any questions, feel free ...
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What Simone Biles Taught the World about Putting Mental Health First
Photo courtesy of Danilo Borges/brasil2016.gov.br By Leah Harris Simone Biles, widely considered to be the world’s G.O.A.T (Greatest of All ...
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Holiday Stressors
In the first episode of its kind, Mental Health Matters goes to the streets! Real folks from the community ask how to ...
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Primary Care and Behavioral Health Integration
In this episode of Mental Health Matters, we break down what the integration of physical and behavioral health care means for doctors and ...
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Compassion Fatigue
A caretaker's job is rarely easy. Whether you're a counselor, parent, health professional, etc. it can come with a physical ...
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Peer Specialist Certification
Host Shannon Eliot chats with two peer support experts to discuss the concept of peer support and the new certification ...
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How to Choose A Therapist
So you've made the decision that you want to pursue therapy. But where do you start, and how do you ...
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Mental Health and Poverty
The link between poverty and mental illness is real, although not always acknowledged. Host Shannon Eliot interviews Donita Diamata, Project ...
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Mental Health and Sports
Sports can act as a great wellness tool for those with mental health challenges. But intense competition and a pressure ...
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Emotional Eating
Emotional eating is an issue that many of us have experienced at one time or another. And one doesn't need ...
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Hearing Voices
Hearing voices can be a scary thing, but did you know it can also provide comfort to some? Why is ...
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Mental Health and the Workplace
The Mental Health Matters team recently had a chance to attend the 2013 Work & Well-Being Conference in San Francisco, presented by ...
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Virtual Reality as Therapy
It's not uncommon for veterans to struggle with mental health challenges. It is unfortunately all too common, however, for those ...
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When Therapists Disclose
With one in five Californians struggling with a mental health issue, it's likely that therapists and providers have similar challenges ...
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Couples and Mental Health
Have you ever been in love with someone with a mental health issue? Have you ever been the loved one ...
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Music in Recovery
Music is perhaps one of the most underutilized tools in mental health recovery. Host Shannon Eliot chats with Michael Kessler, ...
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Coming Off Medications
Will Hall is a nationally recognized mental health advocate, counselor, and speaker. He is also the author of the Harm ...
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The Exploratorium and the Changing Face of What Is Normal
How do you define a mental health issue? What does it mean to be normal in today's society, and what ...
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Refugee Mental Health
Mental health challenges can be trying for anyone, but for those who are forced to flee their home country and ...
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Veteran Mental Health
Veterans now account for one of every five suicides in the U.S., according to the George Washington University Face the ...
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Mental Meets Physical Health
What better way to kick off the new year than to commit to some healthy resolutions? Learn more about the ...
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Mental Health and the Internet
What is the Internet's effect on our wellness? Is there such a thing as Internet addiction? Does the Web do ...
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Eating Disorders
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, yet only 1 in 10 individuals suffering from the ...
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Peer Respite Centers
Peer respite centers are community-based alternative models of mental health residential care. They foster wellness, are holistic in scope, and ...
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Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP)
Wellness Recovery Action Planning, or WRAP, is an evidence-based system that is used worldwide by people who are dealing with ...
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Meet Comedian Joshua Walters
Joshua Walters, a comedian living with bipolar disorder, chats with host Shannon Eliot about art, theatre, mental health empowerment, and ...
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Mask Healing
The creative use of a mask-making workshop to help people living with mental health difficulties to have transformative experiences and ...
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Spirituality and Wellness
Join host Shannon Eliot as she chats with PEERS Spirituality Liaison Minister Monique Tarver and BOSS Executive Director boona cheema ...
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The Making of “Shine”
Join host Shannon Eliot as she interviews Dan Reilly, Director of Shine, a documentary that highlights the inspirational and personal stories of ...
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Rap Therapy
Beats, Rhymes, and Life, or BRL, is an Oakland-based community organization that aims to promote mental health and wellness among ...
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Bridge Over Troubled Waters
Host Barbara Meyers chats with guests Gigi Crowder and Pastor Horacio Jones about a specialized training in Alameda County aimed ...
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Children and Psychiatric Medication
Much controversy exists around the increasing numbers of psychiatric prescriptions for children. When is it appropriate — and not appropriate ...
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Crisis Intervention Training
Crisis Intervention Training, or CIT, is a program that trains police officers on how to better understand and interact with ...
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