{"id":1314734,"date":"2019-09-17T22:46:59","date_gmt":"2019-09-18T04:46:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/?p=987816"},"modified":"2019-09-18T08:38:22","modified_gmt":"2019-09-18T14:38:22","slug":"takeaways-from-tuesdays-longevity-finale-striking-the-mental-health-conversation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/local-news\/takeaways-from-tuesdays-longevity-finale-striking-the-mental-health-conversation\/","title":{"rendered":"Takeaways from Tuesday\u2019s Longevity finale \u2014 striking the mental health conversation"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.7910447761194\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-987816-839\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/LongevityEvent-gpi-091819-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/LongevityEvent-gpi-091819-1-1024x683.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent | Panelists Jackie Skramstad, Kevin Patterson and Carson Marie De Fries are introduced at the start of the panel discusion as part of the Longevity Event held at the Morgridge Commons on Tuesday evening.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Panelists Jackie Skramstad, Kevin Patterson and Carson Marie De Fries are introduced at the start of the panel discusion as part of the Longevity Event held at the Morgridge Commons on Tuesday evening.<\/strong><br \/>Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/LongevityEvent-gpi-091819-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/LongevityEvent-gpi-091819-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/LongevityEvent-gpi-091819-2-1024x653.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent | Panelists Jackie Skramstad, Kevin Patterson and Carson Marie De Fries are introduced at the start of the panel discusion as part of the Longevity Event held at the Morgridge Commons on Tuesday evening.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Panelists Jackie Skramstad, Kevin Patterson and Carson Marie De Fries are introduced at the start of the panel discusion as part of the Longevity Event held at the Morgridge Commons on Tuesday evening.<\/strong><br \/>Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/LongevityEvent-gpi-091819-2-1024x653.jpg\" alt><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/LongevityEvent-gpi-091819-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/LongevityEvent-gpi-091819-3-1024x680.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent | Keynote speaker Frank King poses for the camera in between chatting with people before the start of the Longevity Project event held at Morgridge Commons on Tuesday evening.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>Keynote speaker Frank King poses for the camera in between chatting with people before the start of the Longevity Project event held at Morgridge Commons on Tuesday evening.<\/strong><br \/>Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/LongevityEvent-gpi-091819-3-1024x680.jpg\" alt><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/LongevityEvent-gpi-091819-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/LongevityEvent-gpi-091819-1024x687.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent | Keynote speaker Frank King chats with people before the start of the Longevity Project event held at Morgridge Commons on Tuesday evening.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Keynote speaker Frank King chats with people before the start of the Longevity Project event held at Morgridge Commons on Tuesday evening.<\/strong><br \/>Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/LongevityEvent-gpi-091819-1024x687.jpg\" alt><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/takeaways-from-tuesdays-longevity-finale-striking-the-mental-health-conversation\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/takeaways-from-tuesdays-longevity-finale-striking-the-mental-health-conversation\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Frank King and the mythical George Bailey from the film classic \u201cIt\u2019s a Wonderful Life\u201d have something in common, the self-proclaimed \u201cmental health comedian\u201d related during Tuesday evening\u2019s Longevity Project finale.<\/p>\n<p>Giving the keynote address before about 80 people at Morgridge Commons to conclude the Post Independent\u2019s series \u201cStriking a Conversation: Mental Health for All Ages,\u201d King said the power of starting a conversation can ultimately save lives.<\/p>\n<p>His George Bailey revelation came after speaking at a dental conference, when a woman who was in the audience approached him and revealed that she, like King, suffered from what\u2019s known as \u201cchronic suicidality.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The woman explained that, until hearing him speak, she always thought she was the only one who tended to come back to suicide as an option whenever things weren\u2019t going well.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s the power of starting the conversation,\u201d King said. \u201cPeople need to know they\u2019re not alone, and maybe something I\u2019ve said has taken them just far enough off that path. \u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd it hit me. I\u2019m George Bailey. \u2026 I got a chance to see what other people\u2019s lives would be like if I were not there to speak,\u201d he said, using the analogy of that iconic moment in the movie when Bailey gets a glimpse of what life would be like in his hometown had he never been born.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI cannot kill myself, because I would take all those people with me,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n<p>Attendees also heard from a group of panelists, including Carson DeFries, intergenerational program coordinator for the University of Denver\u2019s Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging; Kevin Patterson, CEO for Connect for Health Colorado; and Jackie Skramstad, clinical operations manager at Mind Springs Health.<\/p>\n<p>Following are eight key takeaways from the event:<\/p>\n<h3>1. <strong>Connect<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Skramstad said it\u2019s critical to \u201cdemystify\u201d mental health. That means being open about it and connecting with people who may be struggling, she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe feel much more comfortable talking about other health issues, yet we still have a lot of reticence talking about mental health,\u201d Skramstad said. \u201cBut the more we do it, the more comfortable we\u2019re going to be. \u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs human beings we have a desire to connect to others to have a sense of belonging, and to have a purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>2. Socialize<\/h3>\n<p>DeFries offered that it\u2019s important to continually find ways to socialize with others and, as people age, to have a support network that can help them continue to engage.<\/p>\n<p>Loneliness can lead to depression and anxiety, she said. That\u2019s especially true for older people.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you have a group of friends you can count, it helps with your self-esteem, your sense of belonging and your sense of security,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Intergenerational sharing<\/h3>\n<p>Another key to maintaining a healthy mental well-being for seniors is to engage with younger generations, including younger members of the family, DeFries said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s important to bring different generations together to exchange ideas, share skills, knowledge and stories,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>In particular, \u201cthe grandparent-grandchild relationship is really special, and it\u2019s where you see a lot of benefits and impact.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That also helps with the social development of the younger generations, DeFries said.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Unplug<\/h3>\n<p>Limiting exposure to the constant barrage of media, and especially that which can be divisive, is one key to maintaining a positive mental well-being, Skramstad offered.<\/p>\n<p>That doesn\u2019t mean not staying up on what\u2019s happening, but knowing when enough is enough and to unplug on occasion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I talk about limiting your exposure, yes, stay informed and know what\u2019s happening, but be able to put your cell phone aside, or turn off the news, and limit how much you\u2019re taking in,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Look for the positives<\/h3>\n<p>On the flip side of unplugging is to look for the positives amid all the negative, Skramstad added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow many times do people do random acts of kindness, and we just don\u2019t notice, because we\u2019re so busy. And yet we notice all the terrible things that are happening in the world.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t stop to see people being amazing human beings.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>6. Slow down<\/h3>\n<p>Patterson shared his perspective about understanding how the brain is connected to the rest of the body, and to recognize when it\u2019s time to listen to the signals that the body is sending out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have to figure out how to listen to it differently, and how to respond to it differently,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s also about how to help ourselves differently and seek that kind of support, so that we can move forward and try grow a little bit differently in our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Slowing down means taking time to take care of oneself, Skramstad offered. \u201cGo out and find what brings you joy.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>7. Whole health<\/h3>\n<p>Panelists also spoke to the movement within the health-care community to provide a wide array of health services in one setting, including both physical and behavioral health.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s about figuring out what\u2019s missing, and then how do we fund and plug those holes,\u201d Skramstad said.<\/p>\n<p>Integrated health care is crucial, Patterson said.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes, a patient has a specific physical problem that they need to address.<\/p>\n<p>And \u201csometimes they might just want to talk,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think that having a place where it\u2019s comfortable and familiar, and that they know they can trust, is really, really integral.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>8. Share the step<\/h3>\n<p>Taking that first step to seek help for a mental health issue can be the most difficult part, panelists agreed.<\/p>\n<p>But if someone can help walk that first step with them, it\u2019s much easier, Skramstad said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know of a way to connect with people that doesn\u2019t involve taking a step with them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>DeFries added that it\u2019s good to \u201clook inwardly\u201d when trying to help someone else. \u201cThink about what you like doing \u2026 and are there opportunities to share that with others.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"mailto:jstroud@postindependent.com\">jstroud@postindependent.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/takeaways-from-tuesdays-longevity-finale-striking-the-mental-health-conversation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Post Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Panelists Jackie Skramstad, Kevin Patterson and Carson Marie De Fries are introduced at the start of the panel discusion as part of the Longevity Event held at the Morgridge Commons on Tuesday evening.Chelsea Self \/ Post Independent Panelists Jackie Skramstad, Kevin Patterson and Carson Marie De Fries are introduced at the start of the panel [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1314734","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-27 15:41:34","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSKE Ski Country","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1314734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1314734"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1314734\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1314740,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1314734\/revisions\/1314740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1314734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1314734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1314734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}