After facing the unimaginable heartbreak of losing a child, Stephanie Marquesano transformed her grief into a powerful mission to advocate for individuals battling co-occurring disorders. Her son Harris’s struggle with mental health and substance use inspired the creation of The Harris Project, an initiative focused on holistic care. Stephanie’s journey from personal tragedy to activism underscores the critical need for integrated approaches to mental health and addiction treatment, offering hope and insight to families and professionals dealing with similar challenges.
Throughout our conversation, we explore the intricate link between mental health issues and substance misuse, uncovering the root causes like genetics and trauma. Highlighting the societal shift required to address these challenges, we draw attention to the disparity in care and perception compared to other illnesses. By advocating for early intervention and education, we aim to inspire communities to challenge the stigma surrounding these issues, ultimately leading to better outcomes for youth and adults alike.
In this episode, you will hear:
- Stephanie Marquesano‘s journey from personal tragedy to founding The Harris Project
- The importance of integrated mental health and addiction care for co-occurring disorders
- Harris’s story: early anxiety, substance misuse, and systemic failures in treatment
- Advocating for early intervention and education to combat stigma and improve outcomes
- Collaborative efforts like the “You Don’t Know the Half of It” PSA to reshape public perception
- The role of media and partnerships in changing narratives around mental health and addiction\
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