New Mental Health Sessions Feat. Sterlin Harjo, Marlin Lavanhar Coming To Tulsa

An inspired new series, “I Didn't Want To Tell You: Normalizing The Conversation Around Mental Health” continues tonight with Reservation Dogs creator, Sterlin Harjo.

It all started with a Facebook post that hit social media on November 8, 2024.

"There are a ton of virtual options but I’ve been having a difficult time finding in-person support groups for PTSD and anxiety disorders in Tulsa. If anyone has any suggestions or input, I’d appreciate it."- Bobby Dean Orcutt.

"I put up a post looking for input on groups in Tulsa that allowed for in-person conversations about experiences with PTSD, anxiety disorders, and mental health,” said Orcutt. “I wasn’t able to find anything that wasn’t virtual, super expensive or accessible which led to a conversation with a good friend who is a mental health professional and well-versed in these areas.”

The online, “conversation turned into a plan to help fill what appears to be a vacuum in our community related to accessibility to resources and destigmatization surrounding conversations about mental health, trauma and healing. Heavy on the healing. We want to try and provide a safe space where anyone who is carrying anything heavy can find a community to share with and hopefully leave a little of that baggage at the door on the way out. Oh, and we want it to be fun,” Orcutt said in a follow-up post on December 7, 2023.

Orcutt says he wasn’t alone in seeking out resources for mental health in the Tulsa, OK area.

What it led to was a series called “I Didn’t Want to Tell You: Normalizing The Conversation Around Mental Health.”

Orcutt says the project was created and curated by the talented Ohio-based photographer, Chad Cochran.

“In this series, Chad invites songwriters to openly discuss their relationships and, at times, struggles with mental health. Each story includes a portrait of the songwriter. It is a profoundly moving project, and the openness and vulnerability it showcases inspired us to adopt that groundwork to build on,” says Orcutt.

The first event was called “Spirituality and Trauma: How Religion Harms and Heals” and was held at WOMPA (West O Main Producers Assoc.) in West Tulsa on Jan 11, 2024. Marlin Lavanhar, Minister, All Souls Unitarian Church spoke at the event.

Orcutt recalls that about 70 people attended.

“We ran out of chairs and had to pull extras from lofts,” said Orcutt.

There is clearly a need for mental health resources in Oklahoma and in the Tulsa community.

Emily Farmer is a suicidologist with Family & Children's Services in Tulsa. She says that when the pandemic hit in 2018, the suicide rates in Oklahoma continued to rise during COVID, while the rates in the United States as a whole initially increased.

"By 2022 both in Okla. and the U.S., rates were back up to higher than before COVID," said Farmer.

Orcutt says there seemed to be a tremendous need for art, music and mental health resources within the community and interest for the series has grown within the community. They continued holding the events in February.

The second event was held on Feb 1 and it was called, “Healing Trauma Through Community.” It featured Brad Piccolo, guitarist, singer/songwriter, and founding member of Oklahoma’s Red Dirt Rangers, and Amy Carlin Lee, Oklahoma musician and singer of And Then There Were Two.

The third event was held on Feb 22 and was called, “From Addiction to Connection.” It featured Katie Dale, Executive Director of Red Dirt Relief Fund, and Annie Heartfield, MS, LPC, Licensed Professional Counselor.

On Thursday, March 14, Sterlin Harjo, creator and director of Reservation Dogs on FX and “Break on Through: Psychedelics and Trauma will be at the fourth event in the series, “Anxiety, OCD and Art.” Joining Harjo are Michael Mason + “Family Band, ”featuring Johnny Mullenax and friends for a concert at the VFW Post 577 in Tulsa.

Orcutt says that he is looking forward to more sessions.

“We are in the process of lining out additional dates to keep the series going. I think my favorite part of the night is the after-hour, seeing people visit and discuss what we all just experienced together, making new connections, looking forward as a stronger community, it’s kind of magic in a way,” said Orcutt.

“Anxiety, OCD and Art” Featuring Sterlin Harjo, American filmmaker, and director of FX comedy-drama series Reservation Dogs + “Break on Through: Psychedelics and Trauma” with Michael Mason + “Family Band” concert to follow featuring Johnny Mullenax and friends. It starts at 5:30 p.m.

Location: Tulsa VFW Post 577 1109 E. 6th St, Tulsa, OK

It is our policy to provide resources for anybody considering self-harm when reporting about a situation involving suicide or a suicide attempt.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else is 988. To speak with a certified listener, call 1-800-273-8255.

The Veterans Crisis Line and Military Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1) connect veterans and service members in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text.

Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HELLO to 741741. It is free, available 24/7, and confidential.