Written by: Raymond Johansen

​Durham Middlefield Local Wellness Coalition (DMLWC) is a group consisting of community members and organizations that have come together to address and reduce the harm of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs that negatively affect our communities. Individuals volunteer their time in order to create action plans, educate others, and offer support. 
Almost everyone struggles at some point in their lives, but it is hard to step forward and ask for help, especially in small towns where everyone seemingly knows everyone. DMLWC works hard to fight the stigma surrounding mental health, addiction, food insecurity, and other hardships, and to come up with effective coping and problem solving strategies. 
The coalition is a group where community members can come together and talk about the issues they think should be addressed, and make and execute plausible, realistic solutions. While working, members listen to each view point, as having different perspectives is invaluable. Administrators, parents, businesses, community leaders and members, and youth have all made their voices heard at meetings, and their input has been able to further efforts to make our communities safer, healthier, and more welcoming. 

Written by: Raymond Johansen​

Mental health means something different to everyone, and that’s what DMYFS’ (Durham Middlefield Youth and Family Services) first community art show seeks to highlight. Appropriately titled Expressions of Healing, this event was created to promote healthy conversations around mental health and addiction and to foster community. Using any mode of representation, including art, poetry, music, and movement, community members are welcomed to answer the prompts “what does mental health mean to you?”, “what does addiction mean to you?” and “what does mental wellness mean to you?” DMYFS understands that these topics can be sensitive and hard to talk about or express, and that’s why submissions can be anonymous, allowing anyone and everyone to feel comfortable sharing their work. 
The art show will be held on June 4th at the Durham Community Center from 6pm to 8pm, where artists can share about their works, and community members are encouraged to attend, so that community wide conversations about mental health can continue to take place. Not only will submissions be physically printed for the show, but they will also be added to a printed and online book, which will be available to order afterwards. 
The deadline to be featured in the show and art book is June 2nd! If submitting an art or paper piece, DMYFS requires the physical copy. Drop off locations for the community include the DMYFS Office at the Middlefield Community Center at 405 Main St. Suite 11, times being Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, Durham Public Library at 7 Maple Ave, and the Levi Coe Library at 414 Main Street in Middlefield. Strong Middle School students can leave their pieces in Mrs. Deitz’s health classroom, and Coginchaug students in the art room (room 132). There is a link on the DMYFS website to submit the necessary information and online pieces. 
The information that must be included with every piece submitted are your name and contact information (this will be used only by DMYFS), the title of the piece, the name to be displayed with it (put anonymous if your wish is for it to be so), and a short description of how the work relates to the prompt chosen. 
Mental health and addiction are important conversations that every healthy community needs to have. Even if you choose not to submit something, consider attending the art show and showing support for our community! Registration for the event can also be found on the website, DMYFS Expressions of Healing. 

Written by: Bronwyn Commins​
Just as pages are bound together to form a book, people can be bound together through a book’s content, particularly when the book supports a sense of connection among community members. As part of the Mental Health Book Club Series, Durham-Middlefield’s Youth and Family Services is proud to partner with Levi E. Coe and Regional School District 13 to sponsor meaningful discussions about those matters that support well-being.

In January and February, participants read The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt’s best seller about social media’s impact on young people. The first part of Atomic Habits was introduced in April, with a follow-up discussion of part two on May 27th, and starting in June, Susan Cain’s Quiet will invite readers to consider the power of the introverted personality.

Pre-registration for programs is preferred. All are welcome.

You can register for part 2 here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/htxd7gj