Raising Joy

In this powerful final episode, hosts Kristen Pyrc, M.D. and Wini King announce that Raising Joy is going on a hiatus after five successful seasons and over 125 episodes. They celebrate that the mission of the Joy Campaign—to support the mental well-being of children—will absolutely continue at Cook Children's.
To close out their run, they welcome back their very first guest: Kathleen Powderly, M.D. Dr. Powderly was the "canary in the coal mine" who first sounded the alarm on the youth mental health crisis during the pandemic.
She shares vital progress:
  • Reduced Stigma: Fewer severe suicide attempts and a massive shift in families being willing to seek help earlier, before the situation becomes desperate.
  • Better Resources: Increased availability of therapists, more insurance options, and the growth of employee assistance programs (EAPs).
  • Success Stories: Dr. Powderly shares the professional "joy" of seeing her former patients—who accessed help during the crisis—now in college and "better".
To our listeners, thank you for many moments of JOY! We are grateful for each and every one of you. Remember, Just Breathe, Open Up, You Matter!

What is Raising Joy?

Raising Joy is part of Cook Children’s Joy Campaign, which aims to encourage hope and resilience among children and teens. Cook Children’s Health Care System is located in Fort Worth, Texas and has seen the mental and emotional toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on children and their families. In this podcast, hosts Wini King and Dr. Kristen Pyrc explore topics of anxiety, stress, depression, trauma and suicide in order to bring hope and needed resources to struggling children and families. Raising Joy is produced by the public relations team at Cook Children’s. The theme music was created by Raymond Turner from the Sparklefly Recording Studio at Cook Children’s.

Disclaimer: The opinions and advice provided by our guests are not endorsed by Cook Children’s. If you
or someone you know are struggling, please reach out for professional help. Cook Children’s has a list of crisis contact information for youth and families on its website: cookchildrens.org/joy.

Executive Producer:
Winifred “Wini” King