Media Release
Community raises more than $50,000 to develop new and innovative mental health counseling services
(Des Moines, Iowa) November 23, 2016 – More than $50,000 has been raised by the community in October and November to support mental health services through the Ellery H. Duke Fund for Hope & Healing. The fund honors Ellery Duke’s 40 years at the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center as licensed psychologist and executive director, and provides critical resources to serve children, adolescents and adults who need quality counseling.
The Ellery H. Duke Fund for Hope & Healing will support new innovative programs and services such as:
- groups for survivors of suicide loss
- services for Spanish speaking clients
- support for families of addicted loved ones
- satellite counseling centers in neighborhoods with populations of vulnerable and underserved persons
The Center operates in a culture of continuous learning and consultation, a philosophy cultivated by Duke’s leadership. With 26 licensed counselors who are masters and doctorate level experts in their respective fields, the possibilities for research and development are great.
The community need is also great. Consider these Iowa statistics:
- About 25,000 adolescents aged 12-17 (10.4 percent of all adolescents) experience at least one Major Depressive Episode annually. [Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), Behavioral Health Barometer, Iowa, 2015, surveys conducted 2010 – 2014]
- Approximately 60 percent of adults and 50 percent of children who need mental health treatment do not receive the services needed. [The National Alliance on Mental Illness]
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15 – 44 year olds, and the third leading cause of death for 5 – 14 years olds. [Iowa Department of Health]
In addition to implementing new and innovative solutions to urgent mental health issues, The Ellery H. Duke Fund for Hope and Healing may also be used to support existing programs and services such as the Center’s counseling assistance fund and the graduate psychology training program, the Center’s 20-year-old practicum that trains the next generation of psychotherapists.
“Ellery has been a great source of inspiration and professionalism for so many people,” said Mary Gottschalk, President of the Center’s Board of Directors. “We live in a world where mental health still carries negative stigma and is squeezed for resources. Yet Ellery has built a highly-respected organization, and recruited high-level clinicians to provide psychological services for people from all walks of life.”
“Many colleagues have worked together over the years to grow the Center’s mission,” said Duke, who is retiring as executive director in December. “When I think of the people who will be served through this new fund, I am deeply honored and grateful,” said Duke.
The mission of the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling center is to bring understanding, hope and healing to people of all ages through counseling and education.
For more information about Ellery Duke’s tenure please visit: dmpcc.org/Ellery.
More about the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center:
The Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization serving more than 4,000 individuals annually including up to 800 children and adolescents. Although best known for its 44 years of providing professional mental health therapy, the Center is a multi-faceted organization providing a range of services in psychotherapy and education:
- Counseling, including specialized services for children and adolescents
- Psychiatry
- Psychological testing and assessment
- Training for clinical professionals
- Leadership and spiritual life programming
- Career counseling
- Conflict transformation and strategic planning services for congregations, nonprofits and businesses
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Media contact:
- Terri Speirs, Director of Marketing and Communications
- Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center
- 8553 Urbandale Ave., Urbandale, IA 50322
- 515-251-6670 (w) / 515-770-5155 (c) / tspeirs@mindspiritcenter.org / dmpcc.org