May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental wellness is one of four pillars the BIO Girls program is rooted in. BIO stands for Beautiful Inside and Out. That is exactly what BIO Girls is teaching it’s participants they are: Beautiful Inside, and Out.

Dr. Bakke has been a board-certified pediatrician for 11 years. She’s currently working at Sanford Health. She is a wife and mother to four kids including two BIO Girls. This episode covers important information that parents should know about mental health and their children including the prevalence of mental illness and some possible strategies for preventing or helping cope with mental health problems.

Christina is a licensed marriage and family therapist at the Village Family Service Center in Moorhead, MN. She provides individuals, couples, and family therapy for people of all ages who are struggling with a wide variety of challenges.

Dr. Gordon is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy. She’s also the author of “The Suicidal Thoughts Workbook: CBT skills to reduce emotional pain, increase hope, and prevent suicide.” This episode covers suicide.

Laura is a school counselor at Sheyenne High School in West Fargo, ND. Before being a counselor at Sheyenne, Laura worked as the elementary school counselor for Richland #44 school district in Abercrombie, ND 2019-2021 serving kids from pre-k through 6th grade.

Sarah is a Family Nurse Practitioner. She provides clinical care including mental health care at Student Health Services on the University of North Dakota campus. She has over 18 years of health care experience, and is passionate about mental well-being and educating others on recognizing signs and symptoms of mental illness and looking at all available treatment options. Sarah is a past BIO Girls Mentor and a member of the TEARS* Advisory Board at Altru Health System.

Dr. Beth Salafia, a Professor at North Dakota State University in the Human Development and Family Science Department, joins BIO Girls founder Missy Heilman for a conversation around body image and a mother’s influence on their daughter’s body image.

Physical health is a huge component of our mental health. Dr. Becca Bakke, a Pediatrian at Sanford Health, joins BIO Girls founder Missy Heilman for a conversation around physical health and how it affects mental health, specifically in our youth.

Social media fuels a never ending loop of social comparison. BIO Girls Executive Director, Missy Heilman, joined LevelUp Fargo, Matto Foundation and DMF for a webinar to discuss social media and its impact on mental health in youth.

Mental Wellness is one of our four pillars of curriculum at BIO Girls. As a part of Mental Health Awareness Month, BIO Girls will be engaging in coversations around mental wellness, body image and provide actionable takeaways for parents.