In 2011, a group of mental health experts from around the country created a list of 11 signs that may indicate that your child has an unmet mental health need. The goal of this list is to make it easier for parents, teachers and others who work with children to know when they should take steps to seek professional programming for a child or adolescent.

Diane Miller, director of nursing at Rogers Memorial Hospital-Brown Deer, explained how our Brown Deer location increased patients’ access to nature through purposeful design on The Morning Blend. Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, originally championed the connection between the environment and improving health in the 1800s.

Now approaching its first anniversary of providing comprehensive residential programming to adolescent girls, Nashotah has proven to be a valuable service to patients from all across the United States who are ready to make real change. Serving about 50 patients in its opening year, the program helps young women improve their personal safety and quality of life by validating their emotions which may lead to dangerous behaviors and teaching skills to help them express their genuine feelings. While in treatment, the safety risks associated with emotional dyregulation are decreased and preventative measures are used to to help many of the girls who are at risk of developing personality disorders.

Offering young adults with depression or other mood disorders specialized residential programming since February of 2014, FOCUS in Oconomowoc, WI, has created a pattern of positive patient outcomes. Recently, the program added a second track for adults over 30 years old.

After securing one of three finalist positions for the 2015 BizTimes (link is external) Large Nonprofit Organization of the Year, Rogers Memorial Hospital was awarded this honor at the BizTimes Nonprofit Excellence Awards (link is external) at Potowatomi Hotel and Casino (link is external) in Milwaukee. The award—which is granted to a small and large nonprofit organization in southeastern Wisconsin—acknowledges the winner’s exemplary dedication to their mission and their community’s well-being, exceptional structural sustainability and teamwork, as well as superior organizational skills in management and operations.

Super Bowl Sunday, a day rooted in decades of tradition, infamous commercials, and world champions. At Rogers Memorial Hospital’s FOCUS program, Super Bowl Sunday isn’t about winning or losing, it’s about being a part of a group of individuals who are facing the same challenges with life transitions. FOCUS residents will be watching the game, enjoying snacks together and, although some residents may not be interested in the game’s outcome, the key is participation.

A new study (link is external) found a correlation between chaos in the home and the pictures children draw of their families. As part of Rogers programming, art therapy is used to help patients express themselves. Betsy, an Art Therapist at Rogers’ Brown Deer campus wrote about how art is used within treatment.

Led by Christine, Rogers’ spirtual care coordinator and Mick, Rogers’ experiential therapy manager; our staff has been busy designing and building a labyrinth at our Oconomowoc campus. Yesterday, the team completed the labyrinth, located in the lower gardens. It was built so that the entrance of the labyrinth could be viewed from the gazebo. Rogers’ labyrinth spans over 40 feet in diameter and leads those who enter on a journey just short of a quarter mile.

Teenagers are inundated with expectations in their homes, schools and social lives leading to an estimated half a million attempting suicide each year. It is not uncommon for teens to experience varying degrees of stress, self-doubt, pressure to succeed and worry about their future.

Experiential Therapy

Art, dance/movement, drama, music, recreation/adventure and relaxation are part of a category of therapies collectively referred to as experiential therapy. At Rogers Memorial Hospital, experiential therapy is thoroughly integrated into our patients’ treatment experience. More than a third of the programming (35%) our patients receive is experiential in nature.