Physiology First Presents Our…

Education before medication Campaign

 

“The ability to assess the physiological drivers for stress, anxiety, depression, and attention was not accessible when the diagnostic process for youth mental health was first Created. Today, it is. It’s critical to update our approach to youth mental health for the 21st century and teach students about the power of their minds, bodies, and brains.”-Physiology First President, David Bidler

It’s time for a new conversation on youth mental health!

 

The current assessment process for youth mental health was designed before modern neuroscience and breakthroughs in health technology redefined our understanding of the human body. 

It was designed before the technological revolution of the early 2000’s when the iPhone, Facebook, and other social media apps became glued to the hands of millions of children and adults. 

It was designed for another century. 

It’s time for a 21st century update that teaches students about their physiology, first. 

Currently, millions of children are diagnosed with anxiety disorders, depression, or ADHD with no physiological assessment process. Variables such as sleep quality, exercise levels, nutrition, stimulants such as energy drinks or caffeine, and the impact of technology on the brain and body are absent from the vast majority of mental health assessments. 

Currently, 1 in 5 children in the U.S are diagnosed with a “mental health disorder”-and there is no standardized assessment to screen for common lifestyle related causes. 

Our approach at Physiology First is to provide proactive, science-based, skills-focused education before any student is diagnosed with a “mental health disorder” and prescribed medication, which can be harmful to both long-term neurological development, and addictive. 

Support this work with your donation and let’s give the next generation education before medication and a 21st century toolkit to reach their goals and make their mark on the world!

 

 

 

“A baseline physiological assessment should be the first step for anyone a.) currently experiencing undue stress or anxiety or b.) seeking a deeper understanding of their body and how to optimize health, fitness, and performance.”

-David Bidler, President, Physiology First

Support the Education Before Medication Campaign today and give youth the skills and tools to improve their mental health!

Your donation supports skills-based education on the mental health benefits of sleep, breathing, exercise, nutrition, and more. We bring this education to life through innovative outreach that empowers new solutions to proactively improve youth mental health. We share the latest science of health, fitness, and human potential with students, families, and schools across the globe. It’s time for a paradigm shift in youth mental health that begins with teaching students about their physiology, first!

 

Physiology First bringing the science of health, fitness, and human potential to students and schools across the globe. 

Physiology First partners with experts in neuroscience, cardiac health, and sensorimotor psychotherapy to reshape the paradigm for youth mental health for the 21st century. Our approach is proactive, empowering, and making an impact on students across the globe.

David Bidler and Lex Clark of Physiology First are partnering with Dr. Jose Herrero, Anna Moser, and Mandy Owensby to share science based solutions for improving health, fitness, and mental wellbeing by teaching community members about their physiology. Dr. Herrero is an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at the Feinstein Institiute.  His paper, Breathing Above the Brainstem, highlights the power of breathing to change the brain.

Anna Moser is a Physician’s Assistant specializing in cardiac electrophysiology. Anna will be helping participants understand their heart as muscle that is critical to mental and physical wellbeing. She will be sharing strategies to improve stress resilience, lifespan and improved cardiovascular fitness with students, parents, and schools through Physiology First. 

Mandy Owensby, MSW, MAC, CPT is a social worker and addiction counselor, trained in sensorimotor psychotherapy. Mandy pursued personal training after bringing movement into group mental health sessions and seeing the impact it had on patients with persistent mental health conditions.  She is in private practice as a coach and therapist using bottom up therapies to help clients meet their goals while building emotional and neurobiological resilience. 

What Students Are Saying About the Physiology First Approach

“I used a technique that I learned at Physiology First Univerity called Box Breathing before a major exam. Within seconds I felt calm, focused, and ready to crush the test. I think all students should have access to the skills and tools that Physiology First University has to offer.”

Ethan Smith

“I used to get really anxious. Now, through the exercises that I learned from Physiology First, I’ve learned to use my breathing to calm my body when I’m anxious. I’ve even shared these exercises with other students at my job when they get stresses, anxious, and overwhelmed.”

Daisy Brewer

“I’m so fortunate that I’ve come across the curriculum at Physiology First University.  Every time that I come to Physiology First I learn something new-but it all stems from learning how to slow down, breathe, and focus on the moment.”

Jacob Thich

“Learning to breathe the right way has helped me not only in the gym, but through all aspects of my life. Such simple exercises have helped me to connect with my body and my brain and have made all the difference. “

Delilah Hastings

Support the Education Before Medication Campaign Today and Give Youth the Skills and Tools to Improve Their Mental Health!

Your donation supports skills-based education on the mental health benefits of sleep, breathing, exercise, nutrition, and more. We bring this education to life through innovative outreach that empowers new solutions to proactively improve youth mental health. We share the latest science of health, fitness, and human potential with students, families, and schools across the globe. It’s time for a paradigm shift in youth mental health that begins with teaching students about their physiology, first!

Frequently Asked Questions: 

 

1.) Is your organization anti-medication? Absolutely not. We are grateful for the developments in pharmacology that allow for breakthrough treatments of both physical and mental ailments. We are for the informed consent of anyone-especially youth-regarding alternatives, side effects, and long term ramifications of medication providing that the problem neccessitating medication is lifestyle related, and left unresolved.

2.) What does my donation support, exactly? Your donation supports the following programs to bring physiology based education to students across the globe:

1.) A first of it’s kind campus that teaches neuroscience and applied physiology to students in an environment that inspires and empowers! Our Physiology First University campus in Freeport, Maine not only serves local students-it serves as a scaleable model that we are working to bring to communities around the world.

2.) A free online platform, Physiology First University Online, that offers online courses, live educational experiences led by experts in health and science, and a unique opportunity to connecr students with one another on a “mentally healthy alternative to social media.”

3.) Partnerships with schools interested in bringing the latest science of the brain and body to their students and faculty.

4.) Training the next generation of community based health educators to share our curriculum in their neighboorhoods.

3.) Is my donation tax-deductible? Yes. Physiology First is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and all contributions are 100% tax deductible.

4.) What are others in the medical community saying about this issue? The issue of benzodiazapine overprescrition and the subsequent impact on the health of our youth is becomming a topic of great interest amoung specialists seeking to prevent the next nationwide drug crisis. 

This article entitled “Are Benzodiazapines the New Opiods” from Yale Medicine presents a phenomenal overview of the crisis from a medical standpoint.

We are also deeply engaged in research with Dr. Jose Herrero, neuroscientist and Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at the Feinstein Institute of NYC, to create the next body of stress and anxiety management research highlighting non-pharmacological interventions for state management.

 

Interviews of David Bidler and Lex Clark of Physiology First Sharing the “WHY” Behind Our Work 

A Global Movement is Growing to Share the Science of Health, Fitness, and Human Potential with the Next Generation-and We Want You to Be a Part of It!

Physiology First President, David Bidler, speaking about the need for youth mental health education at the Global Peacebuilding Summit in Kyiv, Ukraine last October.

“It’s time for an exponential investment in youth mental health education that prepares our future leaders for the challenges and opportunites of the 21st century.” – Physiology First President, David Bidler

Work

it’s time to prepare the leaders of the future to thrive!

Support the education before medication campaign

If the current assessment process for youth mental health is lacking a physiological assessment, and the factors influencing increasing rates of stress, anxiety, and depression are physiological in nature, we run the risk of not only failing to solve the problem at its root, but creating a new problem in the form of an addiction crisis. Its time to provide kids with the skills and tools to understand and optimize their physiology first.

Support the Education Before Medication Campaign Today!