October 24, 2024
The Grinnell-Newburg Community School District and the Grinnell Area Mental Health Consortium are excited to announce the next installment of their community-wide speaking event series. Past events have featured speakers like Lyndsey Fennelly sharing her mental health journey, Douglas Gentile discussing the effects of media on children, and Dr. Lanaya Ethington speaking on suicide awareness.
This year’s series, titled Coping in the Digital Age, will focus on navigating the challenges of technology and social media. On Tuesday, November 12, Dr. J.R. Paulson, M.A., M.D., will present Part One: “Coping, Parenting, and Grandparenting in the Digital Age.” The presentation is based on Jonathan Haidt’s book, The Anxious Generation: How We Got Here, which examines how the “great rewiring” of childhood has contributed to an epidemic of mental health challenges. Dr. Paulson will explore how the rise of social media has reshaped our culture, particularly for the younger generations growing up with smartphones. “This presentation will dive deeply into the multiple causes of our current situation and how social media proliferation has impacted recent generations,” said Dr. Paulson.
In addition to the presentation, families are invited to enjoy a free pasta meal provided by Pagliai’s Pizza, served from 5:00–6:00 PM in the Grinnell Middle School cafeteria. A community resource fair will take place simultaneously from 5:00–6:00 PM in the middle school media center. The fair will feature local agencies providing information on mental health services, housing and heating assistance, food resources, dental and vision care, public health, and more.
The evening’s main event, Dr. Paulson’s presentation, will be held from 6:00–7:30 PM in the Grinnell Middle School auditorium. At the end of the evening, there will be a drawing for two $100 Grinnell Chamber of Commerce “Bucks”. “With the increase in anxiety, depression, and loneliness among adolescents, this is a timely event that will provide parents and caregivers with valuable insights and strategies to help youth thrive in today’s digital world,” said Amy Miller, LMSW, Grinnell Middle School Social Worker.
While the event is free to attend, reservations are required for the meal. Attendees can reserve their spots by scanning the QR code on event flyers or by calling the Foundation Offices at Ahrens Park at 641-236-5518.
Mark your calendars for the second event in the series, “Mental Health Solutions for the Digital Age,” on Tuesday, December 3. Dr. Paulson will return to the Grinnell Middle School Auditorium at 6:00 PM for another impactful discussion.
Both events are part of an ongoing effort by the Grinnell-Newburg Community School District and the Grinnell Area Mental Health Consortium to support mental health in the community. For more information, please contact Jennifer Cogley, Director of Partner Programs at the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation, at jennifer@ahrensfamilyfoundation.org.
