DLC Partners With Dennis Quaid

From navigating family dynamics and new stages of growth and development to a barrage of social media and societal pressures, children and adolescents throughout Southwest Florida face monumental challenges that can have a lasting impact on their mental health and well-being.

As a national leader in mental and behavioral health, David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health is honored to be featured on Viewpoint Project with Dennis Quaid to offer insights on ways we can work together to combat the children’s mental health crisis in our community.

DLC has experienced an increased need for mental health and wellness services for children, young adults and their families. In 2022, nearly 30% of middle and high school students in Collier County reported they felt sad or hopeless for more than two weeks in a row during the previous year. That was up from approximately 9% in 2016.

Furthermore, suicide is now the second leading cause of death among children and young adults nationwide. In 2023, more than 670 children and teens received critical care through DLC’s Children’s Crisis Stabilization Unit for suicidal thoughts, depression and other behavioral health struggles.

“At DLC, we’re working in the community to raise awareness, decrease stigma and try to help the community better understand the signs and the symptoms so that we can get early identification of these issues and then early intervention,” said Scott Burgess, the chief executive officer at DLC. “We know that makes a big difference in the short- and long-term prognosis and, with early intervention, we can literally change life trajectories for the better. With the rise in children’s mental health challenges across the country and here in our community, it’s imperative that we address these needs preventatively.”

DLC’s children’s behavioral health care program offers a variety of services for children and their families, including a voluntary day treatment program, inpatient and outpatient services, and supportive community resources, such as case management and translation services.

These lifesaving and life-changing programs were recently featured on Viewpoint Project, a nationally broadcast television program hosted by Quaid airing on public television stations. The episode featured interviews with Scott Burgess, CEO of DLC, Dr. Maxim Chasanov, the medical director at DLC, Kamela Patton, former Collier County superintendent, and Lisa Kahn-Allen, a Naples parent and mental health advocate.

“There are so many different health challenges that our kids have today,” said Kahn-Allen in the segment. “I know in my own family, moods can be mercurial, responses to any type of change in schedule… can really upset the apple cart of a family in the morning and throughout the day of a child who struggles with mental healt hissues.”

Viewpoint Project has captivated viewers nationwide with its engaging content and unique perspectives on various topics. The project is dedicated to the mission of developing and distributing social and educational programming about our neighbors, our community and the world. Each story has one thing in common –changing our lives for the better.

By shining a light on the mental health crisis impacting youth and their families in our community and across the nation, we can raise awareness about DLC’s mission and the array of support available, giving children experiencing behavioral health challenges the best chance for a healthy future by eliminating barriers to vital services and providing an evidence-based continuum of care. Through a thoughtful and intentional combination of education, intervention and treatment that’s holistic and personalized, we can achieve the best results for all children and young adults in need.

Quaid, an Emmy Award-winning and two-time Golden Globe nominee, will be the keynote speaker at the 2025 Sound Minds event on March 20. This annual signature event raises critical funding intended to provide access to quality care for children, families and adults throughout Collier County.

To watch the segment, visit viewpointproject.com/features-david-lawrence-centers

For more information about David Lawrence Centers forBehavioral Health or our substance use programs, visit DLCenters.org