First hour: Discussing the impact of the book, "Prozac Nation"
Second hour: Exploring the state of housing for older LGBTQ adults
Elizabeth Wurtzel, the author of “Prozac Nation,” died Tuesday at the age of 52 from cancer. Wurtzel’s memoir chronicling her experiences with depression was a best-seller, and has been praised for how it helped open dialogue about mental illness. It also sparked conversations about treatment for depression and other mental health challenges, specifically, the use of psychiatric medication. This hour, our guests discuss the impact of the book, stigma related the mental illness, and how treatment methods have evolved. In studio:
- Eric Caine, M.D., former chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center
- Melanie Funchess, director of community engagement for the Mental Health Association of Rochester
- Jeremy Moule, news editor for CITY Newspaper
- Jerome Stiller, owner of Thrive Health and Wellness LLC, and In Our Own Voices presenter for the National Alliance on Mental Illness
Then in our second hour, an organization called Senior Action in a Gay Environment is teaming up with the Human Rights Campaign Foundation to assess how long-term care facilities are treating residents who are part of the LGBTQ community. Finding housing can be a challenge for many older Americans, but older adults who identify as LGBTQ say it can be particularly daunting due to issues related to possible discrimination. This hour, we discuss the state of housing options for LGBTQ adults, fair-housing practices, and what inclusive and welcoming housing looks like. In studio:
- Nate Sweeney, vice president of skilled services at St. John’s Home, and member of the LGBTQ community
- Saundra Ehman, resident of St. John’s Meadows, and member of the LGBTQ community
- Steve Jarose, executive director of the National Coalition Building Institute in Rochester, and member of the LGBTQ community
