Archive for the ‘Mental health’ Category

Upcoming free seminar: Creating the Chemistry of Joy

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

On Thursday, January 19, the Miller-Dwan Foundation and the Holiday Inn will host a free educational seminar given by Dr. Henry Emmons. Dr. Emmons is an integrative psychiatrist and the author of The Chemistry of Joy and The Chemistry of Calm, books that describe his models for restoring resilience in the face of depression, anxiety and other stress-related conditions. Dr. Emmons will explore the need for a healthy brain and how to incorporate lifestyle strategies, natural therapies and spiritual practices to support the recovery from depression and a return to a more resilient state.

Parents, teachers, health care practitioners and community members are welcome to attend this session. 2.0 contact units of continuing education are available through Essentia Health.

More about the speaker: Dr. Emmons received training in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction from Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and completed a Bush fellowship studying the integration of natural and alternative therapies in psychiatry. He has co-developed and facilitated “A Year of Living Mindfully” and “The Inner Life of Healers” programs through the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality and Healing. He practices general and holistic psychiatry and consults to several colleges and organizations in and around Minneapolis-St. Paul. He currently practices general psychiatry at The Penny George Institute for Health and Healing at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.

If you plan to attend:
Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012
Location: Holiday Inn Great Lakes Ballroom (200 West First Street in Duluth)
Time(s): 5:30-7:30 pm (doors open at 5:00 pm)
RSVP: There is no cost to attend, but please call the Miller-Dwan Foundation at 218-786-5829 to reserve your seat by January 16

Posted in Education, Event, Mental health | No Comments »

ARTcetera 2011 a record-breaker

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

We are thrilled to announce that this year’s ARTcetera was our biggest and best yet. On Oct. 15, 375 attendees and 65 volunteers came together to support Amberwing. After all expenses were paid, the event raised a record-breaking net of more than $500,000.

ARTcetera 2011 featured 137 silent and live auction items, live music and dancing with the Randy Lee Ensemble, and special guest and music legend Judy Collins, who sang and spoke about her personal struggle with depression and the tragic death of her son by suicide at age 33.

While ARTcetera attendees ate dinner in the DECC’s Harbor Side Ballroom, Dave and Lisa Goldberg surprised the audience with a challenge: they offered to match every dollar raised throughout the evening, up to $250,000. The audience responded enthusiastically and met the challenge goal with generous gifts.

The $500,000 raised will be used for building Amberwing, the children’s mental health and chemical dependency center that is currently under construction in Duluth and expected to open in 2012. We are continuing to raise the remaining $300,000 left to reach the project’s $6,000,000 construction goal.

Since its inception 13 years ago, ARTcetera has raised a net of more than $2.3 million to advance medical initiatives in our region.

Posted in ARTcetera, Children, Event, Mental health, Teens, Young Adults | No Comments »

Amberwing groundbreaking ceremony!

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Tomorrow is a big day for the Miller-Dwan Foundation! We will break ground for Amberwing – Center for Youth & Family Well-Being on Friday, September 23^rd at 11 a.m. on the corner of Pecan Avenue and Rice Lake Road in Duluth. The public and friends of the Foundation are invited to attend.

The $6 million, 22,000-square-foot center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2012 and will serve up to 60 young people per day.

Donors, staff and friends of the Foundation will be on hand to supervise as Board members help break ground. Among those scheduled to speak are Don Ness, Mayor of Duluth; Diane Bodin-Link, Miller-Dwan Foundation Vice-Chairperson; Dr. Tom Patnoe, Essentia Health President and Chief Medical Officer; Dr. Steve Sutherland, Essentia Health Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Section Chair of Psychiatry; Rick Gertsema, Essentia Health Behavioral Health Psychotherapist; Patricia Burns, Miller-Dwan Foundation President and Sister Kathleen Hofer, Essentia Health East Region Board Chair.

If you come: Take Rice Lake Road to the the Summit Ridge Apartment lots on Boulder Drive. The entrance to this lot is directly adjacent to the construction site entrance. We received special permission to park in the lots on the left side. Once you park, walk back down the drive to Rice Lake Road and then over to the construction entrance. (Look for the Foundation staff, who will be helping direct traffic!)

If you plan to attend, please give us a call at 786-5829 to let us know. We hope to see you there!

Posted in Children, Event, Mental health, Teens | No Comments »

ARTcetera presents: An Evening with Judy Collins

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

Join us at the 13th Annual ARTcetera, where we will welcome legendary singer Judy Collins as our very special guest speaker. Collins, a Grammy-award-winning platinum recording artist and best-selling author, has a very personal connection to our Amberwing campaign, and she will sing and share her story at ARTcetera.

We have a truly spectacular line up of live and silent auction items this year, including exclusive international travel opportunities, unique experiences and dinners, luxury items, jewelry and fine art. Just a few of this year’s artists include Anne Labovitz, Ann Jenkins, Cathee Clausen, Adu Gindy, Tim Cortes, Pam Dull, Adam Swanson, Craig Blacklock, Michael Tonder, Donalee Kennedy and Henry Royer.

The event’s signature live auction item is an English countryside mini-cottage, custom designed by architect Rebecca Lewis of DSGW, constructed by carpenter Keith Olafson, designed by Suzi Vandersteen of Kitchee Gammi Design Co. and furnished by Slumberland-Hayward, with additional donations from numerous individuals and local businesses.

Since its inception 13 years ago, ARTcetera has raised a net of more than $1.8 million to advance medical initiatives in our region. Every dollar raised at ARTcetera 2011 will be used to create Amberwing, an innovative mental health and wellness center that will support youth and parents in achieving greater health and happiness. Ground is being cleared now for this 26,000 square foot building scheduled to open in 2012.

ARTcetera will be held on Saturday, October 15 starting at 5 pm in the DECC’s Harbor Side Convention Center and Ballroom. Tickets are $150 or $250 and may be purchased online or by calling the Miller-Dwan Foundation at 218-786-5829. A limited number of $250 VIP tickets include special seating and a private reception with Judy Collins.

Tickets are available now – click here to register!

Posted in ARTcetera, Event, Mental health | No Comments »

Vote for Amberwing to receive $50,000!

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

We need your help! The Miller-Dwan Foundation is in the running to receive a national $50,000 Pepsi Challenge grant for Amberwing, our children’s mental health and wellness center slated to be complete in the Spring of 2012. Winners are determined by votes. There are several ways to vote in support of the Miller-Dwan Foundation receiving this grant:

1. Vote daily online: Visit www.refresheverything.com/amberwing

2. Text your vote: Text 107608 to PEPSI (73774). Standard text messaging rates apply.

3. Power vote: “Power vote” by using a code from specially-marked Pepsi products to earn up to 100 votes. This is the fastest and easiest way to make your votes really count!

4. Spread the word: Pass this message along via email, Facebook, Twitter, and your other social networks so we can continue to spread the word and gain votes!

If we receive the $50,000 grant, it will go towards the last $700,000 in building costs for Amberwing, a $5.5 million Duluth-based mental wellness and chemical dependency center for children, adolescents, young adults and their families. Construction started just last week; we plan to open the doors next summer.

Please vote often. Every vote counts. Thanks for your support!

Posted in Children, Grants, Mental health, Teens, Young Adults | No Comments »

Attend ARTcetera 2011!

Monday, May 16th, 2011

We are gearing up for the 13th annual ARTcetera on Saturday, October 15, 2011. This year, we continue to focus on transforming mental health care for young people and families in our region. We are asking you to join with us for an exciting evening that will raise funds for Amberwing, a $5 million innovative Duluth-based mental health and wellness center. Your attendance at ARTcetera 2011 will save and transform countless young lives.

Along with this year’s co-chairs, Diane Bodin-Link and Jill Kaiser, we are excited to announce a very special guest: musical icon and best-selling author Judy Collins. Through voice and song, she will share the grace she has always found in music and her personal journey with depression, addiction and the tragic loss of her son to suicide.

Because of Ms. Collins’ appearance, we have received many requests for early registration and are already 45% sold out. We don’t want you to miss out on this special evening, so make sure to purchase your tickets soon; click here or call us at (218) 786-5829. Tickets are $150 each; or $250 each for limited VIP seating and a private reception with Ms. Collins. Our format will be revised for our special guest speaker, but much will stay the same with a silent auction, short live auction, and gourmet wine dinner. Reserve your spot today – we expect to sell out soon!

Thank you for your support! We look forward to seeing you this fall at the DECC’s Harbor Side Ballroom for an evening to remember.

Register now!

Posted in ARTcetera, Event, Mental health | No Comments »

Do you need a survival guide to the adolescent brain?

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

We’re very excited to announce that on Thursday, May 12, the Miller-Dwan Foundation will present international speaker and best-selling author, Dr. David Walsh. He will discuss adolescence, which has been described as a “normally abnormal stage of life.” What happens to the adolescent brain on the path from childhood into adulthood? Dr. Walsh will share the latest scientific findings in easy-to-understand terms to show why moodiness, quickness to anger, willingness to take risks, miscommunication and other familiar teenage behaviors are so common; all are linked to physical changes and growth in the adolescent brain. He’ll then discuss how parents and professionals can use this information to understand, communicate with, and stay connected to their kids.

The presentation will start at 5:30 p.m. following a 5 p.m. reception at the Holiday Inn’s Great Lakes Ballroom. Registration is required by May 9. The cost to attend is $25 and includes a light dinner. Click here to register or call 786-5829. Space is limited!

Dr. David Walsh has emerged as one of the world’s leading authorities on children, teens, parenting, family life and the impact of technology on children’s health and development. He has authored nine books, including two national best-sellers; he has contributed articles to newspapers across the country, including the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times; and he has been a consultant on numerous national television shows, including NBC’s Today Show, Good Morning America, Dateline NBC and ABC’s 20/20. He presents workshops to parents, educators and professionals throughout the world, blending humor, warmth, scientific substance and practical advice.

1.5 contact units of continuing education will be provided by Essentia Health.

You won’t want to miss this very special guest speaker! Register now

Posted in Children, Education, Event, Mental health, Teens, Women, Young Adults | 1 Comment »

Women Leading Change – Strong Foundations: Promoting Early Childhood Mental Health

Monday, February 28th, 2011

The Miller-Dwan Foundation and Lake Superior Medical Society Alliance present Casey Ladd, who will speak to parents, professionals and the community on the subject of early childhood mental health.

Early relationships and experiences have a permanent effect on brain development, health and mental health. The nurturing and interaction infants, toddlers and young children experience organize the brain and provide the foundation for all future learning and relationships. This presentation will provide an understanding of what infant/toddler mental well-being is and give information about early intervention services that may be beneficial to families.

Casey Ladd, MSW, LICSW, LMFT, is a family therapist with 35 years of experience working with chronically stressed families. She also has 25 years experience of teaching and training. In 2005 Casey was invited to participate in a DHS sponsored initiative to grow a statewide community of mental health professionals skilled and trained to work with infants/toddlers/preschoolers and their families. In 2008 she brought her passion for early intervention to the Human Development Center. She is dedicated to training professionals and developing programs in the Twin Ports to increase quality mental health services to some of our community’s most vulnerable families.

This event will be held on Thursday, March 24 at the Radisson Hotel’s Great Hall. $18 includes a light dinner. Pre-payment is required by March 21. Click here to register or call 218-786-5829. Space is limited.

We hope you’ll join us!

Posted in Children, Education, Event, General, Mental health, Women | No Comments »

Majority of youth with mental disorders may not be receiving sufficient services

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

An article on the National Institute of Mental Health’s website discusses how a substantial proportion of youth with severe mental disorders do not receive mental health care, according to data from an NIMH-funded survey published in the January 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The national survey talked face-to-face with over 10,000 teens ages 13-18.

The results of the study found that of the 20 percent of youth affected with a severe mental disorder, about 36 percent received services, and only half of these youth received professional mental health treatment.

Service use was highest among those with ADHD (60 percent), and behavior disorders like conduct disorder or oppositional defiant disorder (45 percent). Among those with mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder, 38 percent received services, and 18 percent of those with an anxiety disorder received services. In addition, 15 percent of those with a substance use disorder received services, and 13 percent of those with an eating disorder received services.

The researchers concluded that more efforts are needed to increase access to services. Despite recent programs designed to improve mental health services for youth, many children in need of mental health care still do not receive it.

To read the full article, go to: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2011/majority-of-youth-with-mental-disorders-may-not-be-receiving-sufficient-services.shtml

Posted in General, Mental health, Teens | 1 Comment »

Women Leading Change – Goodbye Ed, Hello Me: Recover from Your Eating Disorder and Fall in Love with Life

Friday, February 4th, 2011

The Miller-Dwan Foundation, UMD Health Services, and The Emily Program are presenting internationally renowned author and speaker, Jenni Schaefer, who will speak on eating disorders, body image issues and her personal story of hope and recovery.

Almost everyone worries about their weight occasionally. People with eating disorders take such concerns to extremes. Internationally renowned author and speaker, Jenni Schaefer, will speak on eating disorders, body image issues and her personal story of hope and recovery.

This presentation will offer inspiration and proof that those who are struggling with eating disorders – and their families – can recover and move on to live life to the fullest. “It is possible to move from being in recovery to being fully recovered,” says Schaefer. “I want people struggling to get into life and follow their dreams, not be stuck in or defined by an eating disorder.”

Schaefer is an internationally known author and speaker whose work has helped change the face of recovery from eating disorders. Her appearances on shows like Dr. Phil and Entertainment Tonight, in publications ranging from Cosmopolitan to The New York Times, and before live audiences have brought a world of hope to men and women seeking real solutions.

Admission is FREE and open to the public. Event will be held at the UMD Chemistry Building, room 200 (1039 University Drive). Meet and mingle at 6:30 p.m.; Schaefer will speak at 7:00 pm. For more information, call Dori at 726-7046 or email ddecker@d.umn.edu.

We hope you’ll join us. See you there!

Posted in Children, Education, Event, General, Mental health, Teens, Women, Young Adults | No Comments »