THE WELL OF PBC / October 2022

editorfromLetterthe

This edition marks our 1st anniversary of The Well of PBC and we could not be more excited! We began this journey wanting to connect every nook and cranny of Palm Beach County to behavioral health resources and each other through your stories and contributions. It’s been such an exciting year watching the momentum and enthusiasm grow!

Throughout time, humans have always gravitated toward self-expression as an outlet in times of stress. Whether through singing, dancing, acting, or writing, these artistic avenues have proven to provide people with feelings of joy and relief and aid in soothing the mind. It was eye-opening to dive into NeuroArts and the science behind how expression through art can improve our physical and mental health, help us prevent or recover from illness, enhance brain development in children, and more.

As a creative person myself, it brings me joy to know that so many people in our community understand these effects and offer expressive therapies to promote a healthy mind and body. Each person who contributed to this edition shared a unique, inspiring story about how expressive art has acted as therapy and provided a positive impact on them or someone around them.

In this edition, you will learn more about Palm Health Foundation’s Train the Brain campaign, aimed to educate and remind people that taking care of your brain is just as important as taking care of your body. The 2022 campaign will focus specifically on celebrating human flourishing through the NeuroArts and all of the NeuroArt experiences within Palm Beach County.

We extend a hearty thank you to our sponsors. Palm Health Foundation and core partners like FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain

Institute, the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, the Cultural Council of PBC, and the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens are providing opportunities for state-of-the-art research and innovative educational opportunities for NeuroArts in the Anothercounty.exciting

event to note is the Community Change Experience. This threeday event will take place on October 24-27 in Delray Beach, FL, and it is all about shifting mindsets and helping you to build the skills you need to lead authentically and enable your community to shine. Discover and be inspired by how others tackle pressing issues in their communities. To find out more, you can visit www.communitychangeexperience.com/

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on our October edition. We hope it encourages you to maintain a healthy brain and engage in whichever expressive arts therapy suits you.

To share feedback, obtain advertising information, or contribute, please reach us at thewell@bewellpbc.org

MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR INVESTED PARTNERS

To be the primary resource for behavioral health and wellness for Palm Beach County, a safe exchange space for community, and an outlet for our neighbors and stakeholders to transform the behavioral health landscape.

“

Thank you for being a part of the mission:

The Well of PBC is an online publication that strives to be the primary resource for behavioral health and wellness for Palm Beach County, a safe exchange space for the community, and an outlet for our neighbors and stakeholders to transform the behavioral health landscape.

Our Team

Lauren is the Executive Director for the countywide initiative, BeWellPBC, advanc ing behavioral health and wellness for all residents in Palm Beach County. The Well of PBC is a passion project for Lauren to in crease behavioral health awareness, engage diverse perspectives across the county, and promote solutions to address our county’s most complex challenges.

Katrina, founder & CEO of Unity3 Palm Beach, brings her executive advertising background combined with her love of faith, family, and this vibrant multicultural commu nity to The Well of PBC and BeWellPBC.

BeWellPBC Creative Team:

BeWellPBC wants to give a special thank you to additional creative team members: Vanessa Moss and Carrie Browne who were instrumental in the vision and implementation of this edition.

Julie Khanna Editor-in-Chief

Julie, CEO of Khanna Connections, enjoys using her creativity to help health and wellness industries communicate with their audiences.

Surej, founder of Photography & Design by Sunman, is the creative visionary that brings life into each page, concept, visual and digital design of The Well of PBC publication.

The information in this issue of The Well of PBC is for information purposes only. The Well of PBC assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The information contained about each individual, company, product or organization has been provided by such individual, company, product or organization without verification by us.

The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Well of PBC. Therefore, The Well of PBC carries no responsibility for the opinion expressed

Alita Faber is the Networks & Special Projects Manager at BeWellPBC. Through her work, she wishes to help the field of behavioral health to become more equitable for the entire community, including those seeking services and those looking to work in the field.

Melanie, president of Otero Communications, provides consulting ser vices for some of Palm Beach County’s lead ing nonprofit organizations. With a special interest in behavioral health, she serves as a contributing writer to The Well of PBC.

Anytherein.form of reproduction of any content in this magazine without the written permis sion of the publisher is strictly prohibited. © 2022 The Well of PBC All rights reserved.

Beauty and the Brain Human Flourishing Through the NeuroArts

Aveteran who suffered a traumatic brain injury manages his epilepsy and PTSD by playing the ukulele.

A young woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder paints to demystify her condition and work through her emotions.

A former prima ballerina with Alzheimer’s disease listens to Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” and begins to spontaneously perform from her wheelchair, lifting her arms in sync with the choreography stored deep in her brain.

The effect of the arts on health and well-being has long been experienced by generations of people and cultures. But now, as science and technological advances allow scientists to see and measure the effect of the arts on the brain, the field of NeuroArts is catching fire.

“Over the past two decades, the technology in neuroscience that allows us to visualize and study the brain has exploded,” said Nicole L. Baganz, M.S., Ph.D., assistant director of the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. “It’s exciting to see how quickly the field is growing in academia and what we are learning about where the arts can be tapped as a modality for diseases of the brain.”

Dr. Baganz and the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, along with the Max Planck Institute for Neuroscience, the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, and The Palm Beaches Florida have come together through the Palm Health Foundation NeuroArts Collaborative to focus on identifying and mapping local partners, programs, resources, and existing research to support the advancement of NeuroArts in South Florida.

For Palm Health Foundation, exploring the NeuroArts is a natural extension of one of its strategic priorities: building a brain-forward ecosystem that the Foundation’s president and CEO, Patrick McNamara, envisions could one day become a “brain coast,” as highly recognized as Florida’s Space Coast.

“What excites me most about our role as a foundation is championing the human

The effect of the arts on health and well-being has long been experienced by generations of people and cultures. But now, as science and technological advances allow scientists to see and measure the effect of the arts on the brain, the field of NeuroArts is catching fire.

factor,” said McNamara. “The amazing science and cultural assets we have here in Palm Beach County, and the potential to blend brain science with the arts and the human condition, unleashes our understanding of brain health and the way a person experiences their world.”

Bama Lutes Deal, Ph.D., cultural concierge program manager at the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, sees the potential. “Now we have transdisciplinary fields coming together—musicians with brain scientists—looking at MRIs to understand what’s happening in the brain and develop new modalities of healing,” she said. “That’s where the gold is.”

A Blueprint for Advancing the Field

The Collaborative is modeling its approach in alignment with the NeuroArts Blueprint initiative. Launched in 2019, the Blueprint is a partnership between the Johns Hopkins International Arts + Mind Lab Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics and the Aspen Institute’s Health, Medicine & Society Program. Elizabeth Jameson.

”

“

“The NeuroArts Blueprint set out to provide a roadmap for translating the science of the arts and aesthetic experience into evidence-based action,” said Susan Magsamen, co-director, NeuroArts Blueprint, and executive director, International Arts + Mind Lab at the Pedersen Brain Science Institute at Johns Hopkins University. “This starts with the cultivation of a NeuroArts ecosystem, a dynamic field where practitioners and researchers can direct their collective power to improving the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Rigorous evidence is essential, but health and well-being is importantly place-based in local communities where research, practice, policy, and sustainability create great outcomes. Palm Health Foundation is a leader in developing ways to work with diverse fields and is part of the growing vanguard helping to build this ecosystem at the community level.”

Training the Brain Through the Arts

Place-based experiences for community members are exactly what Palm Health Foundation is promoting through their Train the Brain initiative for October 2022: “Celebrating Human Flourishing Through the NeuroArts.” Train the Brain is an annual community health campaign presented by the foundation with the goal to help Palm Beach County residents understand that taking care of the brain is just as important as taking care of the body.

Throughout the entire month, the Foundation, the Cultural Council, and several other partners will share free NeuroArts events across the county. Highlights include a NeuroArts learning panel midday on October 18, 2022, at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuro science, and a celebration of the arts and Palm Beach County culture the evening of October 25, 2022, at the Delray Beach Arts Warehouse.

The Potential for Transformation

Dr. Lutes Deal frequently sees people experiencing the benefits of the arts. “When I go into local galleries, I see people looking at art who are very quiet, deep in thought,” she said. “That’s visual stimulus. Then there is communal engagement, like dancing, singing, raising voices together, or creating harmony with an instrument— there is something really important going on. As we learn more about the NeuroArts, we have the potential to transform the cultural community.”

A personal experience Dr. Lutes Deal had as a musician and teaching artist transformed her middle school student who was dealing with Tourette syndrome. “He typically displayed rapid and unwanted twitches, jerky movements, and vocal sounds called tics,” she said. “But when he was playing the French horn or listening to music, those uncontrollable movements would cease—it was incredible. Since then, research on the relationship between Tourette syndrome and music has proven that both active and passive musical activities reduce the frequency of tics, which is pretty exciting!”

Dr. Baganz is an artist in her own right as a dancer, excelling in classical and modern ballet and tap dancing from a young age. She made the connection of her art with her mental health from the time she was a toddler. “I had anxiety problems since I was three,” she said. “When I was on stage, I would get nervous, but as soon as the light hit and the music started, the fluid move ment and mindfulness relieved my anxiety. It was exhilarating.”

While dance was her sanctuary, the most significant turning point in Dr. Baganz’s life—the impetus for her career in neuroscience and her passion for the NeuroArts—came from tragedy. She lost her sister Brittany to a drug overdose. In the years that followed, Dr. Baganz turned to music on the anniversary of her passing, composing a soundtrack that resonated with the grief she felt that year, and pulling out Brittany’s pictures, letters, and drawings to help replay memories of her sister in her mind. One internet find

revealed an article about a poster contest five-year-old Brittany won for a vibrant crayon drawing of a dinosaur. In the article, Karl Elder, a professor and acclaimed poet commented, “… by God, Marc Chagall never made a creature more beautiful than that

Inchild’s.”anaward-winning article Dr. Baganz wrote about Brittany in her alma mater Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s magazine, she shared: “One drawing, one creation made my sister a famous artist, and my heart ached at the thought that she never knew how she had enriched the lives of others with her color. Because of Brittany and the numerous others in my life afflicted by mental illnesses, I was motivated to become a scientist to try to uncover the fundamental causes of psychiatric disease and develop ways to alleviate the pain that so many bear.”

Harnessing the Power of the Arts

Many are still bearing the painful behavioral health effects of the pandem ic, which makes the groundswell for the NeuroArts all the more important. “There is a real hunger for what motivates us,” said McNamara. “The experience of the human condition, especially after the pandemic, calls us to foster an environment where we can all flourish. NeuroArts honors the way people experience the world to better connect—that to me is what equity aspires Dr.toward.”Lutes

Deal agrees. “You know how musicians tap their feet and audiences clap their hands, where all of us are in sync?” she asked. “Where else in nature do you see that happen? Let’s harness the power of the arts and all tap our feet and clap our hands together.”

CommunitiesConnectingThroughArtsEngagement

Arts. Science. History. Community. These four words have been central to the work of the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County since it was established by Alexander Dreyfoos in 1978. With the mission to champion, engage, and grow Palm Beach County’s cultural sector, the Cultural Council believes that communities grow stronger and healthier through arts engagement. We work to strengthen and grow the cultural sector of Palm Beach County through advocacy, service, professional development, grants and other forms of support, building the capacity of our local cultural organizations and creative professionals to engage the entire community.

NeuroArts is transdisciplinarythe study of how arts and aesthetic experiences can measurably change the human body, brain, and behavior. ”

a variety of neurodiverse conditions, including Parkinson’s, traumatic brain injury, stroke, PTSD, Autism, and Alzheimer’s. Within the local cultural sector, this knowledge is also fostering

Bocahealing.Ballet

Recently, the Cultural Council joined a new initiative led by Palm Health Foundation to explore and map out elements of the emerging field of NeuroArts here in Palm Beach County. NeuroArts is the transdis ciplinary study of how arts and aesthetic experiences can measurably change the human body, brain, and behavior. How might this information be translated into therapeutic practices to advance health and wellbeing in our communities? By mapping out a local network of profession als in the creative arts, neurosciences, and

applied healing professions, we hope to foster new collaborations and studies that refine our understanding of exactly how the arts enhance wellness.

We all know that human beings are wired for the arts. Listening to music, for example, stimulates and reactivates areas of the brain associated with memory, reasoning, speech, emotion, and reward. We also know that children love to sing and move to music naturally. Similarly, music and dance can ease symptoms from

Theater’s BBT4PD program is a Certified Dance for PD© program, led by Cindy Surman, that supports those living with Parkinson’s. Now in its 8th amazing season of music-and-movement classes, and enjoying sponsorship from the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation of Baptist Health South Florida and The Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton, BBT4PD is making a huge impact. Participants report improved mobility and balance, straighter posture, less rigidity, fewer tremors and “off” periods, and even stronger vocal functions, all from dancing to music. They also report powerful emotional and social benefits, like increased laughter, improved moods, greater self-confidence, and a reduction in the sense of isolation that is associated with Parkinson’s.

In West Palm Beach, Armory Art Center hosts two arts engagement programs that promote brain health and emotional heal ing. Led by licensed mental health coun selor and artist Brian Wood, The Art of the Phoenix program serves teens and young adults dealing with past trauma and Brave HeARTS is an arts engagement program for combat veterans. Veterans with PTSD report the ability to be more fully present and calm as a result of these experiences. They also report enhanced physical dexter ity and a greater sense of confidence and

Similarly,accomplishment.Artofthe

Phoenix combines expressive art projects with counseling to address trauma-related topics, like surren dering resentments, dealing with anger, building self-esteem, forgiving others, and self-love. Participants creatively work through past traumas while learning to manage their anxiety and impulsivity. According to Brian Woods, arts engage ment also helps “with visualizing goals and with communication for those who have challenges in that area.”

These are just a few examples of how the need for arts engagement is being fulfilled by Palm Beach County’s cultural sector. As the only organization solely dedicated to supporting arts and culture in The Palm Beaches, Florida’s Cultural Capital, the Cultural Council for Palm Beach Coun ty encourages everyone to get involved and to explore this powerful connection between arts engagement, brain health and wellness. Visit palmbeachculture.com for more information.

The Reservoir is the cultural space for contributors to highlight cus toms, celebrations, holidays, rituals, recipes, and more. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@ bewellpbc.org with “The Reservoir” in the subject line.

andScienceNeuroArtsAdvancingThroughofArts,HealthWell-Being NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS

The Mind, Music, and Movement Foundation for Neurological Disorders (M3F) is a 501(c)3 Palm Beach-based nonprofit organization that offers singing with the Voices of Parkinson’s chorus, yoga, meditation, Dance for Fluidity, movement and balance, boxing, support groups and much more. Their programming is offered at the Tropical Sands Christian Church located on Burns Road in Palm Beach Gardens. Mind, Music, and Movement is a NeuroArt-based program. The Foundation is thrilled to be involved with the Neuro Arts Collaborative with Palm Health Foun dation and other organizations to spread the importance of connecting the arts and brain health. Research continues to explore the connection between brain function, mood, and overall well-being.

Today we are surrounded by three major institutions in Jupiter: UF Scripps Biomed

ical Research, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, and the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute; we have the opportunity to link research, science, and the arts. M3F is excited about sharing its passion for neuroart with these institutions and the important role they all can play in helping to improve disease outcomes and the quality of life.

The Elgorts, founders of the Mind, Music and Movement Foundation, wanted to offer a holistic, integrative approach to well-being for people who needed to im prove their balance, coordination, and voice projection, as well as the improvement of brain neuroplasticity. They live with Parkin son’s every day (her husband, Stephen El gort, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s more than 10 years ago). Beth calls it her secret ménage à trois, “You have to embrace the disease and live with it to the best of your ability.” M3F also offers optimism and hope.

They have caregiver support groups as well as other support services. Caregivers can participate for free. Living with a neurode generative disease can feel lonely and can become isolating. The true joy of the Mind, Music, and Movement program is seeing the smiles on the participants’ faces. Their enthusiasm is contagious and portrays hope and success for everyone involved.

Dan Ewbank, a client of M3F states, “I have been an active participant with this group for over a year now. Besides keeping me moving, the companionship with this group of people is what I have come to enjoy and look forward to the most. This group cares about each other, shares their experiences with the many symptoms of Parkinson’s, and shares their knowledge of medications and local doctors. I have made lifelong friends with people in this group.” Being es tablished for more than 3 years, they have witnessed positive progress of their clients.

They have seen measurable improvements in their clients’ speech, memory, mood, mobility, and overall health.

The M3F team of health professionals and instructors share their knowledge, passion, and heart through the power of the arts. When you walk through the door you become part of the M3F family. Participants, teachers, and founders all are in this together. Socialization is crucial for everyone, especially coming out of the covid Elgortlockdown.states,“When

you have a neurologi cal disorder, movement becomes your daily vitamin. This program is for anyone who wants to improve their fluidity. We have many seniors joining in as ambassadors to spread the word ‘use it or you lose it.’ We hope that the local physicians continue to become our supportive liaisons as we become theirs to improve the quality of life for their patients.”

Classes are offered Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Visit the website www.m3f.org for more information.

Free dance classes will be offered during October for new clients. The Yoga & Med itation Fall Workshop, “Stress Reduction Through Mindful Living,” will also be offered September 28th to October 26th, and the PARK & RIDE Spin Fundraiser in NYC, in-person or virtual, on October 21st, 2022.

Beyond The Couch highlights non-traditional mental health out lets and resources in Palm Beach County. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc. org with “Beyond the Couch” in the subject line. with

MeetsBraintheArts

The myth of science and the arts being on a separate wave length became the predominant perspective for much of history. The idea was that our DNA and neurons never intersected with the world of theater and music. Up until as early as the 1900s, this myth was seen as factual. However, busted and bruised, the myth became the vehicle for new conversations in therapy, treatments, and breakthroughs. Specifically, music has an immense impact on brain health. As a piano major, my mu sical background is deep within that area. Seeing how piano affects my mental health and others’ has become a perspective that has guided me to a simple conclusion: Music affects brain health in a multitude of ways, serving as a form of therapy and providing a more healthy brain

Music(scientifically).allowssomeone

to lose themselves and become one with the song, piece, or harmony. It enables every person on this planet to leave their troubles behind and arrive at a state of relaxation and tranquility. Ranging from classical piano to Drake, every human has their own therapeutic approach to music, and these approaches offer therapy to those who need to take care of their mental health. Mental health disorders range from anxiety to schizophrenia. One in four people in the world suffer or have suffered from a mental health disorder and 450 million people are suffering from a mental health disorder right now (Clubhouse International). This is a shocking demographic and it shows

how our world is falling to the shadow of mental health disorders. However, one way to break up this shadow is with music. Re search has shown that “listening to music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood,

producing a more stress-free environment in the brain.Not only are there mental health benefits, but the physiological benefits of music on the brain are unmistakable. The saying that music provides the brain with a total workout is 100% true. It may seem as though music is being “comprehended” by the brain in an easy, “just-like-that” way. However, music is a build-up of relationships from one note to the next. Every note that plays and every subsequent note produces a chain of events in the brain that sends electrical impulses from the eardrum to the brainstem. After passing through the brain stem, it funnels to the rest of the brain where the music is interpreted.

mental alertness, and memory” (Johns Hopkins Medicine). Music has a power that no words, screens, or programs could offer-it gives connection. Every musical piece, from piano to Broadway songs, gives a story and message. And every musical piece gives a perspective that the listener can relate to. This relationship with music is absolutely vital in musical self-care. Music allows one to be truly connected with the brighter side of the mind, allowing your right hemisphere (the area where creativity functions) to work a little harder,

Music allows someone to lose themselves and become one with the song, piece, or harmony. It enables every person on this planet to leave their troubles behind and arrive at a state of relaxation and tranquility

“

”

Thus, music allows you to jumpstart your creativity. Specifically, new music introduced to your brain forces the brain to adapt and identify music by using past musical exposure as a marker. This produces creativity because now the right hemisphere of the brain is fixing up past exposures and creating a new foundation for this specific musical form. Furthermore, music helps your brain recall memories at more efficient rates. The temporal lobe is responsible for memory and more specifically, the hippocampus. As music makes its way to this region, neurons begin to fire which produce electrical signals that notify musical memories to identify the incoming music as a genre that you might know. I could go on about how the brain is stimulated by music and the benefits as music presents itself as a “poster child” for therapy and treatments.

In any case, music is true therapy for mental health. Both the psychological and physiological mind benefit from exposure to every musical genre. As a pianist myself, playing music always calms me down after a stressful day of school or outside events that may cause temporary stress or anxiety. You do not need to master a specific art form to feel the full effects of this connection. Simply learning a song, a tune, or a passage can give someone the full feeling. The power of music should never be underestimated. It is said that music may be the brain’s ultimate healer. I say let it be its ultimate companion.

The Fountain is a space for youth to share their point of view on things that matter to them. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewell pbc.org with “The Fountain” in the subject line.

What type of expressive therapy do you offer Palm Beach County?

We offer music therapy which uses music to ad dress therapeutic goals for individuals with a variety of needs. Some goals include improving commu nication, self-expression, motor skills, and func tioning, increasing social skills, alleviating physical pain, and elevating one’s mood. Music therapists work with people with developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, anxiety disorders, depression, those facing terminal illness, and babies born prematurely to name a few.

NAMI PBC offers peer support-based programming (rather than clinical). We offer creative programming to support mental health called “Wellness Work shops” on Zoom. We host art and/or writing workshops Tuesdays at 4:30 pm and Trauma-Informed Yoga, Mindfulness, and Journaling Fridays at 3:30 pm. You can find out more cation/other-programs/wellness-workhttps://namipbc.org/support-and-eduhere: shops/

Through creative rary public art experience the ing “tree-ness”.benefits mindful breathing, flection, individuals renewed hope. collected native to cultivate more riencerelationshipprovides and moves you.

creative multi-sensory activities and tempo art tree installations, community members the positive mental health and wellbe of connecting with trees and their own Engaged in imaginative gentle movement, breathing, song, tree memories, and self-re individuals experience increased calm and hope. Playful mobile making with locally native tree materials empowers participants more balance in their daily life and in their with the natural environment. Each expe provides opportunities to create art that moves you.

We offer Sand Tray Therapy, Psychodrama, Art Therapy, and Play Therapy. Our clinicians are certified in these experiential therapies and are lifelong learners of these methods. The effectiveness of experiential expressive therapies has been researched in the reduction of anxiety, depression, trauma healing, increased coping skills, and the healing of interpersonal relationships. The latest neuroscience research suggests that experiential therapy is also the most preferred method of trauma treatment. Trauma is not experienced or processed in language, and the action method of expression provides the brain with this healing and processing opportunity. For example, the use of the body in psychodrama includes the whole person approach to treatment. Research explains that through the action of psychodrama the brain has an opportunity to integrate the whole body experience our core beliefs, trauma material, and our expressed emotions. We provide individual and group therapy for the entire family in West Boynton Beach and a child hub (play therapy for 3-10) in Wellington.

As a modern library that continually strives to go beyond traditional, we proudly offer an expressive therapy experience at least once a month at the Mandel Public Library. In October, guests can experience Soulful Stitching (October 23, 2:00-3:30) with fiber artist Kianga Jinaki, who will give sewists at all levels a place to stitch, chat, and create something beautiful in a supportive group environment.

PATRICE MIGLIORI-FARNES

REFLECTIONS CREATIVE THERAPIES GROUP

@RCTCREATIVETHERAPY

To have your voice heard from your corner of the neighborhood, send an email to thewell@bewellpbc.org with “Corner Talk and north, central, south, east or west” in the subject line.

“ ”

Train the Brain is a community health campaign annually presented by Palm Health Foundation in the month of October. The campaign kicks off on October 1st and ends on the 31st. The goal of Train the Brain is to help Palm Beach County residents understand that taking care of the brain is just as important as taking care of the body.

With information and resources provided, participants are encouraged to make changes in their thinking about mental health conditions and adopt brain health habits that integrate self-care behaviors into their daily routines.

www.palmhealthfoundation.org/train-the-brainhttps://youtu.be/o13VhU9lhEE

This month The Well of PBC celebrates our 1ST Anniversary!

The stories and experiences that have been shared throughout these pages, have been genuine, inspirational, educational, and displayed the bravery that it takes to push through when facing adversity.

Thank you to all of the contributing writers, artists, systems and community leaders, grassroots organizations, and residents with their passion and commitment to seek change and erase the stigma that is often associated with behavioral health.

A special thank you to our multi-talented Editor-in-Chief Julie Khanna and Creative Director Surej Kalathil aka Sunman! With your vision and creativity, we have witnessed magic in each and every issue.

This publication would not be possible without our Invested Partners.

Palm Health Foundation is advancing brain health in our community by providing needs-based financial support to those seeking bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work, psychology, clinical mental health counseling, school counseling and other focus areas.

Palm Health Foundation and local philanthropists partner to build the mental health workforce in Palm Beach County.

Help grow a much-needed field in service to our community. Learn about, support, or establish your own scholarship fund at PalmHealthFoundation.org or contact Carrie Browne, Director of Stewardship & Strategic Partnerships, carrieb@phfpbc.org , 561-837-2281

The key to addressing critical workforce shortages in the mental health field is to invest in passionate people who are prepared to meet our community’s need.

I established a scholarship fund at Palm Health Foundation to encourage students who are dedicated to local health advancement.

Frances Fisher, Trustee, Palm Health Foundation

DisordersEatingandtheBrain

DisordersEatingandtheBrain

Mental illness is one of the most prevalent public health issues facing the world today, yet as clinicians and physicians know, we have a long way to go toward understanding what causes devastating conditions such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Experience and genetics both play a role in the development of mental health disor ders but understanding how experience and genetics interact and influence our brain to determine our behaviors is much more complicated. The brain is an unfath omably complex puzzle; with an average of 86 billion neurons and 100 trillion synaps es, each with a unique purpose that scien tists are just beginning to understand.

At the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, we are part of the Max Planck Society, the world’s number one biomedical nonprofit, with more than 80 institutes that conduct fundamental research about how the world works. Our institute focuses on neuroscience and uses cutting-edge technology to help us better understand the brain and its capacity to control our memories, movements, emotions, and decisions.

My research group specifically focuses on how the brain guides behaviors related to Obesityfeeding. and eating disorders are preva lent worldwide, and there does not seem to be one consistent cause, but rather a

combination of genetic and environmental factors. However, fundamentals such as understanding the circuits of the brain in volved in making decisions about eating are still not understood. We believe that a bet ter understanding of the neural structures involved in feeding behavior will tremen dously impact the understanding of obesity and eating disorders and is essential for developing treatments for the millions who struggle with these conditions.

Whether conscious or unconscious, our brains are constantly looking for equilib rium. In ideal conditions, we should eat when we are hungry and stop when we are full. But that doesn’t always happen. This is because experiences are often complex and our brain processes every situation as something that either contributes to or threatens our existence, shaping our future behavior as a result. In nature, if animals encounter a threat, their brain encodes this information to help them to avoid the situation in the future. But, in the case of anorexia nervosa, what if the perceived threat is also something they need to sur vive – like food?

Even non-disordered eating behavior demonstrates that decisions surrounding food intake are shaped by our environ ment. Take, for example, a trip to the movie theater. It feels perfectly natural (required even!) to consume a large bucket of popcorn while enjoying a two-hour movie. But if you change the location, and

imagine yourself listening to classical music at the symphony, eating all that popcorn seems strange and unappetizing. Knowing that every habit we develop is encoded somewhere within our brains and that ex treme stress and trauma can lead to eating disorders and other mental illnesses, we are working to identify what parts of the brain encode these experiences and what physical changes are taking place in these brain areas when they occur.

Researchers in our lab use state-of-theart technologies ranging from molecular profiling to optogenetics and cutting-edge high-resolution microscopy, to identify the neural circuits and molecules that con tribute to learning processes that drive complex motivated behaviors, including feeding, aggression, and social behaviors.

In our previous work, we showed that over consumption in response to learned cues requires a circuit from the insular cortex to

the central amygdala that suppresses ho meostatic feeding signals. We also showed that acute environmental stress leads to sustained decreases in food consumption through a lateral septum to lateral hypo thalamus circuit. More recently, we are developing models to help understand more complex feeding behaviors, like binge eating and anorexia.

The Max Planck Society motto is “Insight Must Precede Application” – in other words, you can’t fix it until you understand how it works. Basic research, like that which is conducted in my lab, addresses just a small part of how the brain works. But every discovery we make is paving the way for a better future, one where we have more understanding of the incredibly com plex inner workings of the brain and can more effectively help those who struggle with mental illness.

Dr. Sarah Stern is a Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience. You can read more about her work and stay up to date on research updates from MPFI by visiting mpfi.org

The Providers is a space for providers, practitioners, thought leaders, and systems change leaders to share. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc. org with “The Providers” in the subject line.

Knowing that every habit we develop is encoded somewhere within our brains and that extreme stress and trauma can lead to eating disorders and other mental illnesses, we are working to identify what parts of the brain encode these experiences and what physical changes are taking place in these brain areas when they occur.

Whether through dance, song, writing, or painting, we believe that well-being is enhanced by expressions of self, imagination, and creativity. NeuroArts help us to improve ourselves physically, emotionally, and mentally and realize the promising effects of art.

Youth ExpressiveIgnitesExplosionUnityThroughArt

Many people turn to the arts to help them alleviate stress and improve their mental health. Studies pub lished from the NeuroArts Blueprint are proving that there is a correlation between the arts and the way they can help to improve our physical health, and mental health, amplify our ability to prevent, man age, or recover from disease, enhance brain development in children, and build more equitable communities.

Pastor Willie Lawrence is a lifelong resident of The Glades and is an advocate for the community. He is a passionate gospel sing er and even auditioned for Sunday’s Best with Kirk Franklin. His passion for singing has driven him to start a program called Youth Explosion. Youth Explosion is an event for youth choirs and dance groups to come together and perform for their peers for cash prizes. This event took place for the first time on August 7th and attracted over 200 community members. During this

celebration, an explosion of youth talent was presented in the form of song, inter pretive dance, and gospel praise.

“As a music major from Bethune Cookman College, I am thrilled to be able to offer a space for our youth to come together and express themselves. It is important to me to be able to give youth in the community a chance to explore their musical talents,” says Pastor Lawrence.

Hosting a friendly competition like this within the community is important for many reasons. For one, it gives a place for youth and families to come together and support one another. Another major reason is that it provides opportunities for youth to explore how the arts have a positive effect on youth development. From per sonal experience, I can tell you that music can enhance emotional health for these children down the road, as it has mine.

“The youth are energized and the commu nity is very thankful, especially the parents. The prize money came three days before the start of school, which we hope helped with school clothing and supplies. Most importantly, everyone came together to put on this event. It was such a big hit that we even had a suggestion to host one for adults,” says Pastor Lawrence.

With more and more NeuroArts studies showing the positive impact of art and performance-based outlets being used as medicine, we hope to see more spiritual leaders take charge and provide spaces for youth, as well as adults, to take part in these activities in the hope of creating a healthier community as a result. We look forward to providing more creative outlets for youth and adults in our community with the hopes of aiding some of society’s most difficult problems regarding mental health. Whether through dance, song, writing, or painting, we believe that well-being is enhanced by expressions of self, imagina tion, and creativity. NeuroArts help us to improve ourselves physically, emotionally, and mentally and realize the promising effects of art.

The Depth is a space for faithbased leaders and individuals to share their thoughts, guidance, encouragement, what they’re wit nessing, and more. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@ bewellpbc.org with “The Depth” in the subject line.

Changing the Course of DisorderBipolar

Creativity and the Bipolar Brain Changing the Course of DisorderBipolar

According to the National Institute of Mental Illness, approximately 4.4% of adults and 2.9 % of ad olescents in the U.S. are diag nosed with Bipolar Disorder at some point during their lifetimes. Bipolar Disorder is an illness of the brain that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression).

During a manic episode, people may ex perience severe mood changes, increased energy, and disregard for risk. When depressed, people may feel sad or hope less and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. If left untreated, people with the disorder can be at great risk for suicide, incarceration, substance abuse, job loss, or other harmful consequences. The Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation was found ed by Joyce and Dusty Sang in memory of their only child, Ryan Licht Sang, who passed away at the age of 24, in order to address these issues.

“The Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation is dedicated to fostering awareness, under standing, and research for early-onset Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder can be difficult to diagnose as there is currently no clinical test that can diagnose the disorder. The Foundation is on a Quest For The Test™ to find an empirical, biomarker test for Bipolar Disorder so that early diag nosis and early intervention become not only possible but also routine. To further the Foundation’s mission, the Foundation works to change both the biological course of this insidious medical illness of the brain by funding proof-of-concept research, and to change the societal stigma that often accompanies it by holding its INSIGHTS

Art Exhibitions, Bipolar Disorder Medical Briefing Luncheons and by bringing the Adolescent Depression Awareness Program (ADAP) to high school students, teach ers, counselors and parents around the country where they can learn about Bipolar Disorder and Depression. In addition, the

During a manic episode, people may experience severe mood changes, increased energy, and disregard for risk. When depressed, people may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities.

“

Foundation is partnering with organizations like Palm Health Foundation to spread the word about brain health. By working to bring about scientific breakthroughs as well as societal benefits we hope that people with Bipolar Disorder will begin to see brighter days in our son’s memory,” accord ing to Joyce.

“By addressing the complex problems in the field of early-onset Bipolar Disorder in this manner, we believe that the benefits will be progressive and cumulative and that the serious issues affecting so many families will finally gain the long overdue attention they deserve,” added Dusty.

“Ryan began exhibiting symptoms of Bipolar Disorder at 5 years old. He was very creative and in his short life, he produced a body of artwork, writings, and music of someone who had lived much longer. The non-stop creative drive of some with Bipolar Disorder, especially when they are in a manic period, can take your breath away,” explained Joyce Sang.

“People with Bipolar Disorder that are high functioning just seem to see the world differently. Their palate is filled with more colors. Our son loved to say that Bipolar Disorder was an evolutionary step in brain development, but the bugs hadn’t been completely worked out yet,” said Joyce and

ToDusty.support

other artists with Bipolar Disorder, the Foundation started an art exhibition entitled INSIGHTS. The exhibition was designed to highlight the creativity that can often accompany this serious illness of the brain. The artwork in this exhibition is chosen by an esteemed jury of art experts, collectors, and gallerists from a national competition with hundreds of submissions. Each selected artist, who had to represent they had Bipolar Disorder, received a grant from the Foundation and each artist donated their respective artwork to the Foundation for its permanent touring collection. Over the years, the INSIGHTS exhibitions have grown and the Foundation has heard from artists with Bipolar Disorder who felt a sense of validation when they viewed the works of other artists with the same illness.

“By showing incredible art that speaks volumes about the creative genius that some with Bipolar Disorder have, the stigma of this illness is diminished as peo ple speak freely about their life stories and their experiences. In the future, there will be additional national competitions so that more artists with Bipolar Disorder can be involved,” recounted Dusty Sang. information about The Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation can be found on its

The Word is a broad topic space for contributing writers (a.k.a the community) to share your stories of behavioral health or anything self-care related i.e. fitness, health, educational, parenting, hobbies, wellness, etc. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc.org with “The Word” in the subject line.

Abuilt environment touches all aspects of life and can be described as man-made structures that provide people with space to live, work and recreate on a day-to-day basis. This can include buildings, homes, streets, sidewalks, or even structures like the Unity Wall located in Lake Worth, FL.

The historic Unity Wall served as an unofficial border between the residents of the “Osborne Colored Addition” and their white neighbors for years. Recently, revitalization efforts have been made as artists from all over South Florida came together to paint beautiful murals on the 1,175-foot wall to serve as a way to break down barriers, unite the community and improve brain health for artists and community members.

Having something like the Unity Wall allows for a celebration of community and unity. Today, the Unity Wall stands for people of all races and cultures coming together to break down the walls and barriers of hate, and injustice.

From left to right – Adella Bell, Patrick Livingston, Retha Lowe, Carla Blockson, Sam Goodstein, Carmelle Marcelin-Chapman, Sydney Rodriguez, Dahlia and Lula Sandra Gover.

The Draw is a space for creatives to share their art, poetry, spoken word, etc. and/or how their art helps themselves and others. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@ bewellpbc.org with “The Draw” in the subject line.

The Unity Wall stands for people of all races and cultures coming together to break down the walls and barriers of hate and injustice.

“

Do puzzles really help your brain health? I know they say it’s good, but I’m in my 40s and feel like I exercise my brain daily with normal life stuff. -R.C.

Although, doing puzzles which are considered cognitive stimulating ac tivities, is good for brain health, brain health involves more than just doing puzzles. Brain health involves healthy eating, physical activity, social engage ment, cognitive stimulating activities, and reducing or addressing stress. The key to cognitive stimulating activities, like puzzles, is doing them if you enjoy them; if not consider other activities that you incorporate into daily living. Cognitive stimulating activities such as computer-based “brain games,” puz zles, word search, learning something new or engaging in leisure activities that are mentally challenging can be beneficial for brain health.

-Karen Chambers, APRN

Keep learning, and train your brain to do new things. Start with the belief you can do hard things to include challenging puzzles, then be patient with yourself. You’re stretching your brain’s health by selecting puzzles that make you think beyond your “normal”

capacity or thinking routine. Think of it as yoga or pilates for your brain. The brain is an organ and a very unique and complex one at that. It plays a role in all of our body’s functions, controlling organs, our thoughts, memory, speech, and movements. Take care of it like you guard your heart. Puzzles are a fun way to build connections. Families and friends can gather to collaborate with you, or it can be a solitary personal activity. The best part is you get to choose. There’s also the added benefit of stress relief. With no time limit set for puzzle completion, you have the ability to relax your mind and focus on the task at hand without distractions or busyness around you.

How do I help brain fog and what causes it? -K.R.

Brain fog is not a medical condition but rather the presence of certain symptoms that can affect your ability to think. You may feel confused or disorganized or find it challenging to focus or put your thoughts into words. Some conditions where brain fog may be present are during pregnancy and menopause (due to hormonal changes), certain health conditions like depres sion, anxiety, cognitive impairment

(dementia), heart problems, lupus, low blood sugar, dehydration, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, advanced chronic kidney disease, certain medications or herbal supple ments, lack of sleep, and more recently post-COVID 19. The first step in treatment is to discuss your symptoms with a health care provider to evaluate if there is a health condition that could be causing your symptoms. Other things you can do is get 7-9 hours of sleep each night, keep a regular sleep schedule, engage in regular physical activity, reduce stress by listening to music, meditation, and eating a healthy diet.

Brain fog is a very common personal circumstance described as confusion, forgetfulness, and a lack of focus and mental clarity. It can be caused by overworking, lack of sleep, stress, and spending too much time on the computer. It can be a symptom of a medical diagnosis, a persistent condi tion, or a side effect of medication. The combat for brain fog begins with you on the front lines. Draw your lines in the sand by setting limits and boundaries for your time & tasks. Increase the focus on memory and

attention by challenging your brain in new ways. Switch up your routine and environment if you’re able, that will inspire a fresh perspective. The benefits of natural supplements, such as those found in multivitamins, herbal teas, and essential oils, have also been known to decrease brain fog.

QWhat can I be doing daily for optimal brain health? -L.W.

ADaily optimal brain health is something I like to call calisthenics for your brain. Engaging regular physical activity has many benefits for the brain (increased blood flow to the brain), getting plenty of good sleep (clears the abnormal proteins in the brain), and staying mentally active (like your muscle, you use it or lose it). Mental activities include crossword puzzles, Sudoku, reading, playing cards, or putting to gether a jigsaw puzzle (something you enjoy). Other things to promote brain health include limited alcohol intake, (drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men or 1 drink or less in a day for women), being socially involved (helps prevent depression and reduce stress) and eating a healthy diet. The one diet that has shown benefits for brain health is the Mediterranean diet where you eat

less red meat and more plant-based foods, whole grains, fish, and healthy fats such as olive oil. Most important is reducing or addressing stress by taking time to rest, meditate, or other relax ing activities, and managing health conditions such as, diabetes, hyper tension, and chronic kidney disease (all these are risk factors for dementia) and treating depression/anxiety when present.

AAs individuals, our brain health is as uniquely important as the compo nents of our physical health. All brains change with age, as does mental func tion. Cognitive challenges aren’t at all unavoidable. To optimize brain health for longevity, researchers suggest getting mental stimulation, physical exercise, and improving your overall diet and key health indicators (blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol. Specifically, your LDL “bad cholesterol” has been associated with an increased risk of dementia. Self-care is key to optimal brain health. People who experience anxious feelings, depressed moods, sleep-deprived, or exhaustion tend to show signs of a decline in cognitive functions. Maintaining good mental and physical health and getting restful sleep are important goals.

Kenya C. Madison Senior Director of Healthier Delray Beach, a Palm Health Foundation initiative, has spent much of her life and career dedicated to service. A life-long, multi-generational resident of Delray Beach, FL. Kenya has focused keenly on erasing the stigma of mental illness. Providing support to children, youth, and families, Kenya is a pioneer, creating new channels for people to get the help they need in community-based settings—our schools and the faith community. In her current role, she has been a leader in integrating the topic of mental health sup port in the faith community, and a strong advocate for equitable standards of care for the community. Under Kenya’s leadership, the Healthier Delray Beach network has expanded to include county-wide, state-wide, and multi-state partnerships.

Karen Chambers

Karen Chambers is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and a board-cer tified family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who practices in the FAUNCHA Community Health Center in West Palm Beach.

The Source asks YOUR questions to a lived and learned expert. Lived experts have experienced behavioral health challenges and/or are family members, caregivers, faith-based leaders, neigh borhood champions, and influencers. Learned experts are behavioral health professionals, nonprofit agencies, local government, educational institutions, system leaders, and funders. Email thewell@bewellpbc.org with “The Source” in the subject line to ask a question or contribute as an expert.

The information presented is for the purpose of edu cating people. Nothing contained in this publication should be construed nor is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qual ified healthcare provider. Should you have any health care related questions, please call or see your physician or other qualified healthcare provider promptly. You should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this publication.

The Spotlight

Dr. Alina Alonso has been serving the medically underserved in Palm Beach County through the Health Department since 1989. As the Director since 2009, she oversees the operations of one of the largest coun ty health departments in the state. Its 720 plus em ployees provide a full range of primary and preventive services to seven health centers located throughout Palm Beach County. Its numerous other Public Health services include Epidemiology, Communicable Disease Control, Environmental Public Health, Nutrition, Emer gency Preparedness, School Health and Community Health and Education, making it a nationally recog nized academic organization in a class by itself.

Alexia Betances is a current Palm Health Foundation behavioral health professional scholarship recipient thanks to support from The John T. Merrell Scholarship Fund. She has channeled her loss from a family mental health tragedy at the age of ten into a career in the behavioral health field. Her goal is to provide the support and consistency adolescents need—in the same way her social workers once cared for her—when she completes her master’s in social work at Florida Atlantic University in Spring 2023.

The Spotlight is the space to recognize the amazing people and diverse work of behavioral health helpers and careers in Palm Beach County.

To nominate someone, send an email to thewell@bewellpbc.org with “The Spotlight” in the subject line.

Palm Beach County-wide and