Mental health affects every one of us. Whether it’s anxiety that disrupts daily life, depression that isolates us from loved ones, or trauma that lingers long after the event, emotional distress is part of the human experience. Yet, for millions of people across the United States, access to effective mental health support remains limited—especially in rural, underserved, and historically marginalized communities.
At the Miller-Dwan Foundation, we’ve long understood that healthcare—especially mental healthcare—must evolve. It must be inclusive. It must be practical. And it must reach beyond the walls of hospitals and clinics. That’s why we’ve developed ArcaMind, a new global institute dedicated to reimagining mental health care in ways that are bold, scalable, and community-driven.
This blog shares the heart behind that decision—why ArcaMind matters now, how it aligns with our mission, and what it represents for the future of mental health.
The Mental Health Crisis Is Real—and Growing
There is no question: we are in the midst of a mental health crisis.
- 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness each year.
- Over half of U.S. counties—most of them rural—don’t have a single practicing psychiatrist.
- Youth mental health challenges have skyrocketed, with suicide now the second-leading cause of death among people aged 10–24.
- Barriers like cost, stigma, workforce shortages, and cultural disconnects keep millions from getting the support they need.
Despite a growing awareness of the importance of mental health, our systems remain overburdened and underprepared.
We know that not everyone has the time, resources, or access to traditional therapy. We also know that people experiencing stress, grief, trauma, or everyday anxiety don’t always need long-term clinical treatment. What they often need is simple, practical support—delivered by people they trust, in places they already go.
And that’s where ArcaMind and Problem Management Plus (PM+) come in.
The Solution We’ve Been Waiting For
ArcaMind is a new kind of mental health institute—one focused on scalable, evidence-based, community-delivered solutions. At the center of its work is Problem Management Plus (PM+), a five-session mental health support program developed by the World Health Organization. PM+ equips trained community members—not just licensed therapists—to deliver proven mental health skills to those experiencing emotional distress.
In short: PM+ meets people where they are, with tools that work.
At the Miller-Dwan Foundation, we saw in PM+ and ArcaMind a rare combination of qualities that are too often missing in today’s mental health landscape:
- It’s practical and skills-based, teaching people how to manage worry, stress, and real-life challenges.
- It’s designed for accessibility, delivered by trained non-clinicians like peer support workers, teachers, faith leaders, or healthcare staff.
- It’s globally validated, used in over 50 countries to respond to humanitarian crises, displacement, and everyday psychological distress.
- It’s flexible and adaptable, ready to be tailored to the language, culture, and values of each community.
Most importantly, it works—not just in theory, but in real-world settings where traditional mental health care isn’t available.
Why Miller-Dwan? Why Now?
Founded more than 50 years ago in Duluth, Minnesota, the Miller-Dwan Foundation has always pursued one clear goal: to invest in people’s wellbeing—body, mind, and spirit.
Over the decades, we’ve supported world-class burn care, end-of-life care, and physical therapy among many other programs as well as mental health programs that break the mold. We’ve built healing spaces like the Solvay Hospice House and Amberwing – Center for Youth & Family Well-Being. And we’ve continuously asked hard questions about how to do better—for those we serve and those who are too often left out.
Our decision to create ArcaMind wasn’t just about a new program. It was about a new paradigm, a complete shift in the way we provide mental health care.
Here’s why:
1. Mental Health Should Be Human, Not Clinical First
We believe that healing happens in relationships, in community, and in everyday interactions—not just in offices or treatment plans. PM+ allows that healing to take place through natural helpers and trusted community members, trained with compassion and skill.
2. Access Shouldn’t Depend on Zip Code or Income
Rural Minnesotans, BIPOC communities, refugees, and those living below the poverty line are often the least likely to receive mental health support. With ArcaMind’s model, care can reach into homes, clinics, schools, shelters, and faith spaces—places where people already live, work, and gather.
3. Early Intervention Works
PM+ focuses on building practical skills before problems escalate into crises. It helps people manage stress, re-engage with life, and find a sense of control again. This early support can prevent hospitalizations, deepen resilience, and reduce long-term health costs.
4. Training the Community Creates Sustainable Change
With ArcaMind, we’re not just offering short-term solutions. We’re building long-term capacity. Every PM+ provider trained becomes a multiplier—reaching dozens or hundreds of individuals who might otherwise fall through the cracks.
The Vision Behind ArcaMind
ArcaMind is more than a program—it’s a movement to shift how we think about mental health in America. Its vision is big, and we believe in it:
- To build the U.S. infrastructure for PM+, training providers, supporting implementation, and ensuring cultural responsiveness.
- To collaborate with communities—not drop in with a one-size-fits-all approach, but adapt PM+ to the unique realities of each partner.
- To advocate nationally, making the case for scalable mental health supports as essential components of health equity, justice, and resilience.
- To measure and demonstrate impact, showing funders, health systems, and policymakers that this model is not only humane—it’s effective.
At the Miller-Dwan Foundation, we knew this kind of institute wouldn’t emerge from traditional systems. It needed visionary leadership, grassroots roots, and philanthropic courage. So, we developed ArcaMind’s—not just as funders, but as hands on trainers and partners who can help fuel your desire to build a healthier organization, businesses, community.
What We’ve Seen Already
In its early months, ArcaMind has trained PM+ Helpers and Guides in Duluth and beyond. It’s begun pilots with nonprofits, religious communities, and tribal organizations. It’s built partnerships with national experts in trauma, resilience, and scalable mental health care.
The response has been powerful:
- Participants report feeling more confident in supporting others.
- Clients describe reduced anxiety, improved functioning, and stronger social connections.
- Organizations say PM+ fills a gap they’ve struggled to address for years.
This is only the beginning.
Join the ArcaMind Movement
Creating ArcaMind was a bold step—but it can’t be the last. This work requires a wide network of collaborators: community leaders, clinicians, funders, educators, public health officials, and advocates who believe in a new path forward.
We invite you to join us:
- If you’re an investor, consider supporting ArcaMind’s national expansion or regional pilots.
- If you’re a health or social service organization, bring PM+ to your community.
- If you’re a policymaker or educator, advocate for scalable, community-delivered mental health supports.
- If you’re someone who cares deeply about people, help us spread the word.
A Future Worth Building
At the Miller-Dwan Foundation, we believe the future of mental health care doesn’t lie in building more walls—it lies in breaking down barriers.
We believe mental health care should be:
- Accessible
- Culturally grounded
- Skills-based
- Compassionate
- And above all—human
ArcaMind represents that future. It is a lighthouse in the fog of crisis. It is a strategy grounded in hope. And it is a testament to what becomes possible when philanthropy, science, and community come together.
We put in the hard work to build ArcaMind—so you don’t have to. Designed with care and purpose, ArcaMind was born from our belief that everyone deserves a clear path to well-being. Now, from initiation and training to implementation, we’re ready to help you bring that path to life.
Learn more about ArcaMind and PM+ at www.arcamind.org.
