Blog
-By DLC Children's Outreach Specialist Jessica Liria, M.S. It is not often that I see shoppers in the grocery store reading the labels of the food they purchase. I admit, I was not usually one to... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
By DLC Children’s Outreach Specialist Jessica Liria Sadness, anger, anxiety—these are normal human emotions that everyone feels. So why do some of us have a harder time managing them than... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Mental health challenges can be difficult to identify because, unlike physical ailments, the signs and symptoms can be subtle or even hidden. By understanding the 10 warning signs below, identified... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and with COVID-19 still affecting millions, directly and indirectly, it is an opportune time to increase education and identify resources. Regardless of whether... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Local Drug Court Team earns national recognition, thanks in no small part to DLC’s commitment to the program. Collier County Judge Janeice Martin says she’s a “fan of second... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Name & Title: Kelly Ballesteros Buitrago, Prevention Specialist In her position, Kelly Ballesteros Buitrago implements evidence based prevention programs throughout the community, and in both... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Name & Title: Vanessa Rivero Gil, Prevention Specialist In her position, Vanessa Rivero Gil implements evidence-based prevention programs throughout the community, and in both school and... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
With many parents spending an increased amount of time at home with their children in light of COVID-19, David Lawrence Center’s Children’s Outreach Specialist Jessica Liria provides the... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Tips for Mindfulness and Coping with Stress around COVID-19 DLC's Children's Outreach Specialist Jessica Liria provides some ideas and suggestions for how to practice mindfulness amidst the stress... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Oftentimes, people struggling with addiction go back to old habits immediately after being helped by rescue personnel or in emergency rooms, ignoring the pleas of doctors and nurses to get additional... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Give Where You Live Collier is a Collier County-wide movement to celebrate and increase philanthropy for selected nonprofits through online giving. Donations will be amplified with $500,000 in... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Naples Daily News recently published an editorial called, "It's time for Legislature to improve Florida's weak record on mental health" that includes comprehensive information about current mental... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
And the Aye’s have it! With a unanimous 5-0 vote from Collier County Commissioners, 2020 marks the first year of the County’s first-ever strategic plan for how to better care for residents... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Name & Title: Arely Guzman, Prevention Specialist, October 2018-Present. In her role, Guzman implements evidence-based prevention programs throughout the community, and in both school and... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
David Lawrence Centers has a new FACT (Florida Assertive Community Treatment) team that provides community-based mental health care for adults experiencing severe and persistent mental health... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Coping with depression around the holidays As the refrain “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” plays in every store and radio station across the country, the holidays are anything but... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Statistics show that mental health is a serious issue among young people – one in five teens or young adults lives with a mental health condition, and depression is globally one of the... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Can a house save a life? You bet it can. David Lawrence Center's Crossroads 28-day recovery program does amazing work with people who struggle with addictions. And there are hundreds of success... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Today, children and teenagers are more at risk than ever to be suffering from mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or even substance use. Another huge issue facing adolescents today... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
As a teenager, opening up about mental health can be a difficult process. Statistics show that mental health is a serious issue among young people – one in five teens or young adults... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Maggie Baldwin has long had a passion for helping people who struggle with mental health and substance use disorders. It’s why she majored in psychology as an undergrad. It’s why she got a... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Our DLC Prevention Team provides insight on how to identify and discuss anxiety with your child, and clears up confusion over CBD products. Q: My daughter is in 8th grade and appears to be... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
David Lawrence Centers is closely monitoring Hurricane Dorian, and proactively taking steps to prepare for any shifts in her path that would directly impact SWFL, our clients and our facilities.... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Storytellers Creative Arts is bringing hope and healing to DLC clients through a program that breaks through tough exteriors and goes right to the heart. As a child, Bill Barnett worked through... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Name & Title: Jane Teszler, Prevention Specialist, October 2016-Present In her role, Teszler implements evidence-based prevention programs throughout the community, and in both school and... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health symptoms, and people can experience it in varying degrees. You may be feeling everyday stress that you can generally manage, or you could be... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
One day last November, the children’s crisis stabilization unit (CCSU) at David Lawrence Centers was already beyond full, with 11 clients receiving critical care for their urgent needs. But that... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
DLC's Ariella VanHara and Jessica Liria were recently certified as MentaI Health First Aid Trainers, and here's how they’re making a difference. Ariella VanHara grew up watching her mom, a... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
“My Job Is a Dream Come True” As a Peer Recovery Coach, Deb Lewis loves nothing more than helping her clients stay on the road to sobriety. After all, she’s been in their shoes. Deb Lewis... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
The nationwide epidemic has hit home in Collier County schools. Just a few years ago, most middle- and high-school students had never even heard of “vaping”– the smoking of e-cigarettes.... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Have you ever suddenly started sweating, felt dizzy, began to tremble, and maybe even lost your breath? You might get nauseous, feel numb, or get chills. It may happen when you’re in a stressful... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Do you remember where you were on April 20, 1999? Austin Eubanks will never forget. He was curled up under a table at Columbine High School, fearing for his life. Two students went on a shooting... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Name & Title: Nicole Combs, Prevention Specialist, May 2015-Present Nicole implements evidence-based prevention programs throughout the community, and in both school and after-school... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
After the death of a family member, a 16-year-old local high school student was struggling with depression. Someone notified the school’s social worker, who began meeting with this young woman. And... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Q&A with Jessica Liria, M.S. | Supervisor of Prevention Services Q: I know I should be having discussions with my kids about drugs, but I have no idea what to say. How do I bring it up? A: It... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
On January 31, 2019, The Mental Health Access Improvement Act (S. 286), was introduced into the U.S. Congress. This bipartisan bill, if passed, would expand benefits to Medicare recipients so they... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Mariana Perez has always looked out for the little guy ...and still does so, serving a community in great need at DLC’s Immokalee office. Mariana Perez used to get into fights as a little girl... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
AN ALCOHOLIC FELL IN A HOLE and couldn’t get out. A businessman went by and the addict called out for help. The businessman threw him some money and told him to buy himself a ladder. But the... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
What does an alcoholic “look like” anyway? If I had a nickel for every time somebody told me I didn’t “look like” an alcoholic, well… What was I supposed to look like? Disheveled,... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Name & Title: Coral Vargas, Prevention Specialist, July 2017-Present In her position, Vargas implements evidence-based prevention programs throughout the community, in both in-school and... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
StopBullying.gov, a Website managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has five great tips for kids about how to deal with bullying: Treat everyone with respect Nobody should be... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Here's what one mom has learned after her daughter stood up for a friend in a bullying situation at school . . . and what you can learn from it, too. -By Karen When the phone rang and I looked at... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
The Project Recovery program in the Collier County Jail system has been around for decades, helping inmates overcome their addictions. And with the opioid crisis that has swept the nation, the need... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
She’d often be seen walking the streets of Naples, acting abnormally, talking nonsense, disturbing the peace. But she was no physical threat to anyone. She had been arrested numerous times, but... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Allen liked to stick to himself. And when he interacted with people, he was usually pretty irritable and hard to be around. But when he interacted with Chico, a new side of Allen took... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
The following commentary, by Scott Burgess, David Lawrence Centers President & CEO, ran in the Naples Daily News on October 11, 2018 (view the article here). Burgess was asked to explain how the... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
David Lawrence Centers proudly supports the Naples Chamber of Commerce in the One Collier initiative. If you’re not familiar with One Collier, it is a political committee formed in Collier... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Sen. Kathleen Passidomo is Legislator of the Year after passing a bill to provide every child in Florida schools with access to mental health services When State Senator Kathleen Passidomo was asked... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
After almost three decades of service at DLC, Nancy Scheffer, who helped thousands of people, is lauded with a Lifetime Recognition Award. Nancy Scheffer will never forget that time, years ago, when... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
Local evangelist makes generous contribution to Mindful Compassion Initiative. Reverend Sheila Zellers of Motivated by Love Ministries is well aware of the toll that mental illness and addictions... Read MoreRead More About This NewsArrow Right
