Ep 54 - Scott Ezell and Charlie Mueller (Bootheel Behavioral Health) - From Basketball Wins To Saving Lives: Southeast Missouri’s Push Against Youth Suicide
Episode Description
The Bulldogs brought home a statement win, but the biggest victory here aims higher: making it easier for a kid to ask for help and get it fast. We sit down with Scott Ezell and Charlie Mueller from Bootheel Behavioral Health to unpack a local, no-nonsense approach to youth suicide prevention that anyone can use—parents, coaches, teachers, pastors, and employers.
Scott breaks down the firearm suicide prevention grant in plain terms. It’s not about politics; it’s about the 10-minute window where an impulsive decision becomes deadly. Limiting access to lethal means, using locks and safes, and making temporary transfers can buy precious time. Charlie walks us through QPR—Question, Persuade, Refer—the CPR of mental health that teaches everyday people how to ask directly, listen without judgment, and make a warm handoff. We cover practical routes to real help: 988 by call or text, ER walk-ins, school-based support, sliding-scale therapy, and virtual options for rural families.
We also surface what adults often miss: sudden withdrawal, routines that abruptly change, or kids giving away prized items like game skins or card collections. Cyberbullying and early exposure complicate the picture, but the fix is human and local. Their three-pronged strategy builds trusted adult networks across churches, employers, and youth sports—places where kids already show up and open up. You’ll leave with actionable tools, including the Jason Foundation’s “A Friend Asks” app and a simple checklist to start the conversation at home tonight.
Stick around for Bulldogs hoops highlights, then lean in for the real win: becoming the person a kid can call at 2 a.m. Save 988. Share this episode with a coach, pastor, or manager. And if this helped you, tap follow, leave a review, and tell us who should get QPR training next. Your share might be the reason someone finds their way to help.
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