Like many of us, Tim Dupell has seen and heard the stunning statistics of increasing numbers of young people who are experiencing major symptoms of depression and anxiety—especially in the wake of the isolation and fear bought about during the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic. But, the sad truth is that these numbers had been climbing for many years prior. Social media pressures, bullying, substance abuse, or genetic predisposition to emotional challenges are some of the reasons why more and more teens are frustrated, defiant, stressed, angry, or confused.
As a mental health advocate, recovery participant, and one of 30 minority investors in Family Health and Wellness, Dupell supports programs who work directly with parents and their children to bring about improved relationships, better school/life behaviors, and ways to manage mild or severe mental health diagnoses. These programs offer a structured and therapeutic environment that have made a positive difference in the lives of thousands of young people.
Transitioning from a corporate financial career into his role in individual and family services has been a journey for Tim Dupell that is full of passion and drive. Using his 25 years of experience deploying capital to finance the creation and growth of various healthcare entities, he is now a mental health advocate working to help families who may feel they have reached the end of the road find the help they need.
When traditional avenues like school counselors, therapists, or mental health outpatient programs just don’t seem to work, Family Help & Wellness has been successful in using relationship-based therapy modalities that are evidence-based and outcome driven. As a mental health advocate, Mr. Dupell’s voice, along with the thousands of others that have the direct or second-hand experience of watching a young person striving to cope in a fast-paced and sometimes threatening world, can lead to improvements in healthcare policies, government legislation, and treatment service development.
Ways to be a mental health advocate
The saying “it takes a village to raise a child” is especially true when it comes to mental and social health. Mental health advocates have become an increasingly large portion of a support system that is the voice and victor for families with mental health concerns. You don’t have to be a lobbyist or even a medical professional to be an advocate. The goal of a mental health advocate is to share and spread a message of support, hope, and care that may be pinpointed in the overall matrix of the problem but is critical to making sure our population remains committed to helping young people become adults that not only survive but thrive.
If you have a desire and passion to make a real difference in a young person’s life, start right within your family and community to be an ear and eye for those looking to recover from mental health challenges. Sharing your story is one of the best ways to let young people know they are not alone and that there is stability and strength found in numbers.
We are living in unprecedented times when a referral for a mental health assessment is only a few clicks away. Today, families can communicate from the comfort of their own homes with a mental health specialist. With the seriousness of mental health crises continuing to rise, local and online therapy isn’t enough for some families. Thanks to mental health advocates like Tim Dupell, there are comprehensive residential treatment options for families in need.
