The death of popular comedian and actor Robin Williams in 2014 shocked and saddened the world and sparked a new debate around mental health. After his father’s death, Zach Williams became an avid advocate for destigmatizing mental health and helping people find ways to improve their own mental health.
“I was really excited when Rick contacted me and told me he was looking for collaborators for the HopeX initiative and the Miller Dwan Foundation,” said Williams. “The more I learned about the Miller Dawn Foundation, the more I understood that it was a pioneer. We don’t have enough health care providers to support our country in crisis, let alone Minnesota. Ultimately, it’s all about establishing new and unique ways to deliver clinical and potentially transformative results to people.”
Williams’ new venture with the Miller-Dwan Foundation. HopeX aims to do just that. HopeX will be the most significant fundraising effort in the foundation’s history, according to Miller Dwan. HopeX is; “a new multi-step effort that will transform the way mental health care is delivered here at Twin Port,” according to a press release issued by the foundation.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, just under 30% of adults in Minnesota experience symptoms of anxiety or depression each year. And of those adults, 28% reported needing counseling or therapy but were unable to get it.
“The mental health crisis existed even before the pandemic,” said Tracy Marciniak, president of the Miller Dwan Foundation. It is very difficult for people to get timely care and that is in no way a criticism of the health system or health care providers. It’s just the fact that need always outstrips the number of staff available to provide care.
HopeX’s partnership with Williams’ Miller Dwan Foundation hopes to address the shortage of readily available mental health care.
“What we’re trying to do is bring programs to Duluth that allow us to expand our workforce in new and different ways,” Marciniac said. “And really, to be able to provide a level of service that doesn’t exist today, and to be more accessible to people as we provide them with care. It is about on-site training of professional colleagues, getting them to come to hospitals and clinics for treatment.”
Your professional peers can be anyone in your community, but those who are well known and respected may be the ones who perform best.
“Everyone. It could be you,” said Marciniak. “If you want to be a trained provider, we will train you. You know, it is intensive, but you can work with people in your own community and get their input. We give them the skills they can.” Get them back where they belong. “
Williams said he plans to return to Duluth in the future to continue working with the Miller-Dwan Foundation on HopeX.
“It just fills my heart with joy to hear how people are healing others,” said Williams. “And in turn, heal yourself through that process. I’ve found that in the mental health field, a lot of people are focused on their own healing journey.”
