Mental Health Column

MENTAL HEALTH ANYONE?

By Brad Ridenour CEO of Clark Community Mental Health Center and a Licensed Professional Counselor

Recently I was asked, “How in the world did you get into psychology?” Translated, how is it an individual from conservative, rural Southwest Missouri becomes interested in and pursues a profession in the field of behavioral health? My answer was quick and probably seemed rehearsed as I have answered the same question many times in my career of over twenty years. Growing up, and still today, I am surrounded by folks who would give the shirts off their backs to help even strangers in need. As a young child, I witnessed public outpouring of good will and financial support when a local family’s home was destroyed by fire. Crosslines always has clothing and food available to assist those in need. Churches have food pantries and clothes closets; some even have benevolence funds to help an individual fill-up gas tanks or pay utility bills. I cannot begin to count the times I’ve heard that somebody helped someone with transportation to a doctor’s appointment. And yet, in my latter years of high school, I began to recognize that citizens seemed uncomfortable around individuals who presented with mental health needs. I would hear stories about someone having “a nervous breakdown,” followed by a great deal of discussion about the person’s mysterious problems. Likely out of fear of doing or saying the wrong thing, I saw otherwise kind, compassionate, Good Samaritans who often rushed to the aid of those with physical, financial, and spiritual needs essentially “pass by on the other side.” I saw needs that weren’t being met. I was convicted and felt a “calling” if you will that I should try to be a small part of the solution.

The mental health needs of our community are exponentially greater than they were when I was walking the halls of Monett High School. There are mental health workforce shortages that are especially magnified in rural parts of our State. Students, I want to challenge you to consider the dynamic, growing field of mental health service; I am always open to having a discussion about what you can expect during and after college. Others, if you want to know what to do/say when someone appears to have a mental health need, consider taking a Mental Health First Aid Course.

WHY MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID?

Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.

WHO SHOULD TAKE IT

Employers • Police officers • Hospital staff First responders • Faith leaders Community members • Caring individuals

Nearly 1 IN 5 U.S. adults lives with a Mental Illness.

- National Institute of Mental Health via the National Survey on Drug

Use and - Health and the Substance Abuse and - Mental Health Services

Administration

On average, 123 people die by suicide each day.

- American Foundation for Suicide

Prevention

If you are interested in participating in a MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID course, call the CLARK CENTER at 417-476-1000 ext 222 Mon-Fri: 8am - 3pm • Clark Center: 417-235-6610

CC

The Farnum Family’s latest album, “Another Season’s Promise” is available now on the band’s website

FarnumFamily.org

Toe-Tappin’ n Fiddlin’

THE FARNUM FAMILY BAND

When you think of the sounds of the Ozarks, you might conjure the steady drone of cicadas on a summer afternoon or the calm rumble of a distant tractor toiling in a nearby field.

But for one family, the sound of the Ozarks is a combination of banjo, mandolin, piano, guitars and violin.

The Farnum Family Band of Galena includes Benjamin, 26, Hannah, 23, Maggie, 17, Matthew, 15, Father Norm and Mother Trish.

While the family band was created in the early 2000s with their first gig in 2004 during a church performance, the Farnum family’s musical roots go back even further, with Trish and Norm performing a duet together in Branson before passing their love, passion and talent for music on to their children.

Each member of the Farnum Family Band has their own way to contribute with an instrument, and each of the band members contributes with their own unique vocal stylings.

Tricia plays piano and the penny whistle and has been known to team up with the girls on trio numbers. As mother and musician, Tricia also coordinates wardrobe, plans set lists, helps Norm with itineraries, and emcees live performances opposite her husband and group comic relief, Norm.

She began playing piano at age 6, and in 1987, got her first music job as ragtime pianist in the Homestead Comedy Revue at Shepherd of the Hills in Branson. That same year she and Norm began performing on the Lake Queen, a paddle-wheel boat on Lake Taneycomo.

Originally from California, Norm, the father of the Farnum family started taking banjo lessons when he was 17 years old, and has been entertaining folks on the five-string for nearly 45 years. He started at Silver Dollar City in 1977 in both the Saloon Show and as part of the Marvel Cave Band. Later, he traveled with a rockabilly band (Stumpwater) and in 1983 began performing at the Roy Clark Theater

The Farnum Family has a long-standing relationship with Silver Dollar City, and can often be found entertaining live audiences in Branson during summer concert events.

in Branson. While there, he fronted many Nashville artists, including Whispering Bill Anderson, Freddie Fender, Janie Fricke, Louise Mandrell, Ray Price, Patti Page, Ray Stevens, Tanya Tucker, and of course, Roy Clark.

Norm said it is a tradition in family bands for the father to serve as both comic relief for the band and make sure they do at least a little something to embarrass the kids during a performance.

The oldest of the Farnum children is guitar and mandolin player Benjamin. Benjamin started mandolin lessons when he was 8 years old and took up the guitar a few years later. His strong rhythm and skillful flat-picking are the bedrock of the band – add the charming smile and ready wit and you’ve got an audience favorite. Though he was once a reluctant singer, Norm and Trish said he has blossomed in recent years and is now a featured lead vocalist.

Hannah began “fiddlin’ around” at the age of 6, studying for more than 10 years with world champion fiddle player, Ricky Boen. In addition to her position in the Farnum Family Band, she also occasionally competes in fiddling competitions and won the 2012 Walnut Valley Old-Time Fiddle Contest.

Hannah enjoys playing many musical styles including western swing, bluegrass, and traditional Irish.

Maggie followed big sister’s example and started learning fiddle just before her sixth birthday. After five years of lessons with Ricky Boen, she set her eyes

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New covered outdoor venue available! on bigger things – namely, the bass fiddle. She is known as the “younger and prettier version” of the Farnum family bass player, filling the shoes of big brother, Daniel, who left the band in 2018.

The youngest Farnum, Matthew, joins the family for several feature songs, including “Battle of New Orleans,” “Wreck of the Old ’97,” and, on the family’s latest album, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” Matthew plays the mandolin, and Trish and Norm said they are hopeful that the coming year will find him on stage more frequently.

The Farnam Family Band released their latest album, “Another Season’s Promise,” in late June. They have released a total of six albums, plus one featuring just Norm and Trish.

Norm said the family is focusing on private concerts to promote their new album this summer, but is looking at several dates for theater performances this autumn.

Community members can keep tabs on what the band is up to via their website, www.farnumfamily.org. The website also features merchandise like T-shirts, hats and stickers.

Another way for community members to keep up with the Farnum family and enjoy their musical stylings through Hannah’s pet project Fiddlin’ Friday at 5 p.m. on Facebook Live. Fiddlin’ Friday is Hannah’s brain child, and has garnered international attention in this age of COVID-19, with viewers from across the globe. Trish said Hannah is often, but not always, joined by other family members during the weekly performances.

“People have said that this has brought them great joy at times when they couldn’t go out to see live music,” Trish said.

In addition to Fiddlin’ Friday, the Farnum Family Band also occasionally broadcasts “Toe Tappin’ Tuesdays” via Facebook. Both Fiddlin’ Friday and Toe Tappin’ Tuesday events are hosted free of charge. n