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Nonprofit Takes Optimistic Approach to Mental Health A few years back, Tradewinds Carmel hotel owner Susan Stilwell was participating in a National Charity League event with her daughter, Sydney, when she says, "It dawned on me that none of the local charities focus on mental health for youth. It's a little odd when you think that one out of four or five kids have depression or anxiety or ADHD and parents don't know what to do. There aren't any answers." So Stilwell, with help from Sydney and son Richard, founded the non- profit AIM for Mental Health, which focuses on funding brain research to find cures for children, teens and young adults with mental health disorders. "Every extended family has a mental disorder or a developmental disorder that affects the brain," Stilwell says. "The response has been that people are very grateful…It's shocking how long it's taken to talk about mental health." Last year's first annual dinner featured speaker Peter Rodger, screen- writer, filmmaker, and father of a son who killed six people near Santa Barbara. The funds raised from the dinner, along with proceeds from an annual walk, allowed AIM to disburse nearly $200,000 to UCLA for early detection and prevention. This year's event on August 13 features enter- tainment from child prodigy Isabella Nicole and "American Idol" alum James Durbin. Santa Cruz resident Durbin has Asperger and Tourette syn- dromes. Senator Darrell Steinberg will be speaking and UCLA Chancellor Gene Block will be attending the event. The organization is not trying to target a particular disease, because, Stilwell explains, they overlap so much. "Someone with autism may also suffer from depression. Someone with schizophrenia may have anxiety, and someone with ADHD may have depression and OCD." What's exciting, she says, is new research shows the potential to possi- bly prevent mental health issues: for example, a psychotic break in the case of schizophrenia. Stilwell plans on creating a nationwide PSA and is bringing her com- munity fundraising model to other areas—from Los Angeles to Dallas. "Awareness is the second goal of AIM," Stilwell says. "Now is the time to discuss mental health because people are ready to hear it." The second annual AIM for the Cures dinner takes place on Thursday, August 13 in the Parc du Concours Venue Tent in Pebble Beach. The second annual Walk for Kids' Mental Health takes place at Lovers Point on Sunday, October 25. For more information, go to www.aimformentalhealth.org or call 831/594-8566. —Brett Wilbur SHORTCUTS EVENTS 62 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 5 Photo: Michael Scott Slosar Nonprofit AIM for Mental Health looks to find cures for mental health disorders; singer James Durbin (above) has been diagnosed with Asperger and Tourette syndromes. Durbin is performing at the August 13th AIM for the Cures dinner in Pebble Beach.