‘Making a Mental Note’
Lakewood Health System is honored to partner with the Staples Area Men’s Chorus on Mar. 4 to present “Making a Mental Note.”
“Making a Mental Note” is a night of mental health awareness with discussion, food and music with the Staples Area Men’s Chorus.
“The Staples Area Men’s Chorus has a long tradition of community involvement and collaboration with other local groups,” said Dr. Erik Dovre. “The group will be returning in late February from a command performance of the signature piece ‘Testament of Freedom’ at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The men wish to share this piece with the Greater Staples community, so a collaborative venture such as this is ideal.
“The performance of this piece is the essence of how much a group can accomplish when working together, in a way that is powerful for the performers and the audience alike. The Staples Area Men’s Chorus is interested in exploring new forms of outreach into the community, and the board decided that a men’s health event would serve the community in a manner beyond mere musical performance.”
This event will focus on bringing awareness to the mental health issues affecting men and their families in our community.
Men and women experience many of the same mental health disorders, but the willingness to talk about their feelings are different. This is also the reason their symptoms differ. Men in particular tend to hide or mask their emotions and often times turn to alcohol or drugs in coping with their emotions.
According to Mental Health America, the top mental health problems affecting men include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychosis and schizophrenia and eating disorders. Over six million men suffer from depression every year and often go undiagnosed.
Suicide rates in the U.S. are found highest with Caucasian men over the age of 85. Suicide is the seventh leading cause of death among males, accounting for 2.2 percent of all male deaths in 2011.
At Lakewood Health System, our team is dedicated to helping our communities care for mental health illnesses and conditions. Lakewood offers four types of mental health services: clinical counseling, intensive outpatient, Lakewood Reflections and nursing home consulting.
Clinical counseling is available to all patients, regardless of age. Lakewood’s counseling services provide the tools and resources one needs in dealing with any situation, by building positive behaviors and developing emotionally-healthy outlooks.
One of the many benefits of working with a behavioral health professional at Lakewood Health System is the close partnership the team has with our medical providers. They work in the same clinic and communicate as necessary about patient diagnoses and treatments, while ensuring careful attention to confidentiality. Through this partnership, we are able to help patients live healthier lives.
“The teamwork embodied by the Staples Area Men’s Chorus is strikingly similar to the teamwork demonstrated by the healthcare professionals at Lakewood Health System,” said Dr. Dovre. “This gives further credence to the collaborative nature of this event and a wonderful way to give something back to our community. Staples is fortunate to have these two teams, and in turn, the two teams flourish because of the support given by the Staples community.”
We hope you can join us for this spectacular event on Mar. 4 at 4:45 p.m. at Staples Centennial Auditorium. Tickets include dinner catered by Ted & Gen’s and can be purchased at The Shoppe at Lakewood Health System; Nelson Insurance Agency, 325 2nd Ave. NE, Staples; or the Staples Area Men’s Chorus website: www.staplesmen.org.
Deadline for tickets to be purchased is Saturday, Feb. 26.
