The impact of a gift
Ruth Strom McCutcheon’s connection to healthcare runs deep. From her early career as a nurse practitioner to her work in healthcare administration, Ruth has always been committed to improving health and well-being.
Her personal experience with a sister battling schizoaffective disorder, combined with her awareness that many of her patients were struggling with the effects of lifestyle stress, fueled her passion for mental health. This inspired her to pursue a master’s degree in the field, believing that true healing can only happen when the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—is considered.
Ruth’s involvement with Miller-Dwan Foundation’s Problem Management Plus (PM+) program, a World Health Organization initiative designed to provide low-cost, evidence-based mental health support, began unexpectedly. Already closely tied to the Foundation as a board member during the development of Solvay Hospice House and Amberwing–Center for Youth & Family Well-Being, Ruth felt drawn to PM+ when Rick Gertsema and Traci Marciniak reached out.
“I’m an elder now,” Ruth reflects. “When they were looking for PM+ Helpers in my age group, they thought of me. It felt like the right time to give back.”
Her personal journey—fighting multiple myeloma and grieving the loss of her husband to cancer—has shaped her ability to cope. During the pandemic, Ruth witnessed how stress affected people in different ways. Some could manage, while others struggled. The coping strategies she developed over the years—breathing exercises, mindfulness, and resilience—became her anchor.
Joining PM+ as a Helper marked a new chapter in Ruth’s life. The training was empowering and the rewards were deeply fulfilling. Ruth gained tools that not only helped her teach others but also supported her own cancer journey. “I relearned so
much,” she says. Through PM+, Ruth discovered that this was more than just a program—it was a lifeline, both for her and for the people she served.
The most powerful moments have come from the personal connections Ruth has formed with those she helped. Through conversation, Ruth uncovered one woman’s deep fear of losing her independence in older age. Through their PM+ sessions, Ruth helped her confront this fear and embrace coping mechanisms. What started as hopelessness transformed into empowerment.
Ruth stresses that PM+ is not therapy. It’s not about solving every problem. It’s about creating a safe space for people to share their feelings, process their experiences, and find their own solutions. “We all have struggles, especially as we age,” Ruth reflects. “Sometimes, we just need a quiet space to talk to someone who will listen. PM+ helps normalize the process of reaching out. And the best part? It’s voluntary and free.”
For Ruth, helping others through the PM+ program is a way of paying forward the tools that helped her through some of the hardest moments of her life. “PM+ is such an incredible gift to our community,” she says. “I’m honored to be a part of it.”
PM+ is one of the World Health Organization programs offered through the Miller-Dwan Foundation’s ArcaMind, Global Institute for Mental Health Solutions. Anchored in compassion and guided by excellence, ArcaMind’s global mental health network delivers innovative solutions to address community needs aiming to prevent crisis, multiply healing, and foster lasting transformations worldwide.To learn more about ArcaMind, visit arcamind.org.
