A conversation between two women trying to make the planet a better place. Deeann talks about bullying in the alopecia world and Vonne discusses the impact on our children and youth who feel different from their peers based on her experience after losing her daughter to suicide in 2005.
TIMESTAMP:
00:00 Vonne introduces the episode and welcomes Deeann to the show.
03:38 Vonne introduces her daughter Janaya and gives an overview of her views on bullying and what you can expect from the episode.
06:03 Deeann discusses the "Oscars slap", the buzz it created both in and outside of the alopecia community and the missed teaching moment at the Oscars.
13:45 Vonne shares her thoughts on bullying.
16:17 Deeann elaborates on bullying in general of kids living with alopecia and explains what it's like (she's lived with alopecia since she was seven years old).
19:43 Vonne and Deeann share a robust conversation about the specific problems kids face in the school, on the playground and elsewhere being bullied or feeling different from their peers, what is being missed at every level and what we can do to stop it by sharing the responsibility for change.
31:32 Deeann shares the very public story of a young girl living with alopecia who recently took her life as a result of being bullied, despite all the attempts her family made to lobby for change in the school.
33:29 It's not only peanut allergies we need to worry about. Vonne discusses a need for policy changes in the schools to create inclusivity for kids and teens living with invisible differences where it may be equally life-threatening and talks with Deeann about what we can do to create more compassion, empathy and awareness at all levels.
41:23 We're not okay! Five minutes makes a difference! The reality of living with the pain from bullying or being a parent of a child who feels or looks different and excluded.
46:07 The importance of support, what we still lack in resources in both the suicide and alopecia communities, and the impact of feeling different.
55:24 If you have a child that is different in any way, you're going to be worried about something.
57:58 Deeann shares tips to create change and a great resources for the classroom.
1:01:02 Vonne talks about organic suicide support groups popping up and the practice of post-vention support.
1:03:47 Every voice counts! Deeann shares her resources.
1:06:12 One last thing ... the harm of jokes and the diseases we don't make fun of. What's the difference?
1:07:55 Vonne closes out the episode. Thanks for watching or listening! Thanks to Deeann.
Deeann's website:
www.alopecialife.com
Episode 5: Loss and Grief: we're not that different
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2021182/11070742
Deeann's book on Amazon:
Head On, Stories of Alopecia
Vonne's website:
https://vonnesolis.com/vonne-solis-about/
Vonne's books:
https://vonnesolis.com/vonne-solis-books/
Vonne's resources:
https://vonnesolis.com/resources/
Subscribe to the podcast! Share your favourite episodes! Connect with Vonne on LinkedIn and Facebook.
