Body and mind go hand in hand.
We are both.
We live in a world today that has made lightning-speed advances in fixing and repairing all manner of physical ailments. Of course, room for progress remains. Hello, common cold. And cancer. And Alzheimer’s. And on and on.
But the question of how our mind links with our physical being offers many unknowns—with the obvious fallout in the form of depression and suicide.
Intuitively, don’t we know that we feel better after we exercise? That we have a brighter outlook if we’ve challenged our physical body? At the same time, don’t we accomplish more, and treat others better, when we feel positive and optimistic about ourselves? How do those mental health switches turn on—or off?
A thousand self-help books have been published along these lines and yet, as a society, we struggle. Suicides are the leading cause of death among those 10 to 24 years old.
That is a jolting statistic—and certainly nobody could claim we are a healthy society as long as that statistic remains.
So how do we tackle this major problem?
We think it starts with learning
About ourselves.
To that end, we are very excited that the non-profit The Anatomy in Clay® Centers is hosting a four-part, monthly series devoted to issues of depression, suicide, and mental health.
The first two workshops—November 9 and December 10—will be held in Loveland, Colorado (at Artspace, 140 W. 3rd Ave.). The second two will be held in Denver at the non-profit’s home workshop space.
The four-part series includes:
· Nov. 9, 2019 – Eating Disorders, Diet and The Gut
· Dec. 7, 2019 – Depression & Suicide Prevention
· Jan. 11, 2020 – Anxiety & Panic Attacks
· Feb. 8, 2020 – Substance Abuse
The workshops will run from 1 to 4 p.m. Each workshop will include guest speakers, panel discussions, and classes.
The key aspect of this, of course, is a hands-on activity at each session. Attendees will use clay to build a part of the human body that has a relationship to each mental health topic. Like any other application of the Anatomy in Clay® Learning System, the hands-on approach boosts self-confidence and self-awareness.
Guest speakers and experts for the Nov. 9 workshop on Eating Disorders are already set. They include:
· Lindsay Adler—Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and yoga teacher.
· Kerry Duncan—Registered Dietitian and the owner of Mindful Nutrition Therapy, LLC.
· Dr. Jennifer Hellier, Ph.D. —Assistant Director, Pre-Health Advising and Teaching Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences at University of Denver.
· Cheryl Mlcoch—Licensed Professional Counselor, Founder and Executive Director of the non-profit CLEAR Lighthouse.
The cost of the Mental Health workshops is $40 for a family; $25 for adults, and $10 for youth under 18 years old. All are welcome. Reserve a seat here: https://tinyurl.com/y3m2yoa7
Please note that space is limited. Registrations will be taken until one week before each session (Nov. 2 for the Nov. 9 workshop). Checks will be accepted the day of the event. To register, contact Mary Bahus-Meyer at 800-950-5025 or MaryB@anatomyinclaycenters.org
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