Dhana Blissett-Healthy Challenge Program to Counteract Medication Side Effects

Dhana Blissett, Nutritionist at Skyland Trail RTC in Atlanta Georgia joined Lon on August 1, 2014 to explain the pilot program they are starting called Healthy Challenge.  The students at Skyland Trail are enrolled there for treatment for fairly serious mental health issues.  Virtually all the students are on medications and since all medications have side effects that can be harmful, Skyland Trail established the Healthy Challenge pilot program to counteract these side effects in a holistic way.  The program is voluntary, but the positive preliminary results are convincing the staff to encourage all their students to be on this program eventually.  Healthy Challenge has three elements:  1.) strict attention to their diet.  2.) some form of physical activity.  That includes them wearing an activity meter measuring the steps they take in a day and each student has a pre-set goal of the number of steps they need to take.  And, 3.) a weekly psychoeducational session on topics such as obstacles to adequate physical activity or how to eat healthy while living a normal active lifestyle.

Contact: Dhana Blissett,  303-315-8333  DBlissett@skylandtrail.org  www.skylandtrail.org

This is one of a series of short interviews with innovative leaders in private parent-choice residential school or program helping struggling teens and young adults. To hear this whole series of interviews, click on "Follow" or go to www.strugglingteens.com