Kimberly Dennis, MD Of SunCloud Health Hosts Open Forum On Substance Use, Eating Disorders And Mood Disorders With An Emphasis On Our Youth
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill., Nov. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- An open forum on the mental health issues that affect a growing number of teens will be held Wednesday, Dec. 7 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at SunCloud Health Outpatient Treatment Center, 210 Skokie Valley Road, Highland Park.
Kim Dennis, MD, Founder and Medical Director of SunCloud Health, will lead an open discussion on struggles such as substance abuse, eating disorders, depression and anxiety in teens. An expert panel will offer insights and practical suggestions for parents, coaches, educators, counselors and others who work with youth in our communities.
The event is hosted by SunCloud Health in partnership with Community – The Anti-Drug (CTAD), a coalition of parents, schools, government, clergy, students and law enforcement working to keep youth alcohol-free and drug-free in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Highland Park, Highwood and Riverwoods.
Panelists will include the Rev. Court Williams, Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Highland Park and Co-Vice-President of CTAD, along with SunCloud therapists Marcia Nickow, PsyD, CADC, CGP and Shale Marks, MSW, CADC.
A local teen currently in recovery will join the experts to share personal experiences and expand the dialogue.
"We'll be talking about when to guide, when to let go, and when to seek treatment for teens," Dr. Dennis says. "Parents and community need to work together to provide total support for our young people, especially those who may need professional help to regain control of their lives."
Families of teens need support, too, Dr. Dennis notes – so panelists will offer resources to help parents deal with the specific stresses and challenges they face.
This free event is part of an ongoing series offered by SunCloud Health as part of its comprehensive outpatient services for teens and adults who struggle with addiction, mood disorders, eating disorders, trauma and PTSD.
Outpatient treatment is an ideal choice for many people dealing with one or more of these issues, says Dr. Dennis. The center's 5-member staff currently offers individual and group therapy as well as intensive outpatient care for teens and adults. A partial hospitalization program is under development.
"SunCloud is an effective, flexible, affordable option for those who benefit from living at home while they pursue a plan for lifelong wellness," Dr. Dennis explains. "We also serve patients who are stepping down from residential programs, helping them feel strong and supported along their continuum of care and with their entire care team as they create a new life for themselves."
Dr. Dennis is a graduate of the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine, an editorial board member with Eating Disorders: the Journal of Treatment and Prevention and a regular mental health contributor to CNN, The Huffington Post, the Chicago Tribune, the Boston Globe, and WebMD. She has appeared on The Learning Channel's My Strange Addiction and ABC's 20/20.
Prior to founding SunCloud Health, Dr. Dennis served as CEO and Medical Director of Timberline Knolls, a 164-bed residential treatment center in Lemont, Illinois.
The December 7 event is free and open to the public. For more information, call SunCloud Health at 866-729-1012.
For more information on SunCloud Health, go to www.suncloudhealth.com, and for more information on CTAD, go to www.communitytheantidrug.org.
SOURCE SunCloud Health
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