May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

May is mental health month, a time to raise awareness of the importance of striving for good mental health.

Our head is connected to the rest of our body, and when our physical health isn’t great, it impacts our mental health, and when our mental health isn’t great, it impacts our physical health. It is evidenced by the fact that people with diabetes, heart disease, and even COVID have higher rates of depression. A mental illness or poor mental health symptoms can include stomach aches, pounding heart, and muscle pain. So, if we want to be healthy, we must also focus on our mental health.

Striving for good mental health means focusing on nutrition, moving or exercising, and staying connected to others. It also helps to do things like meditation, mindfulness activities, yoga, and simply being outdoors. Even if you live with a mental illness, doing these things can help you feel better.

During May, NAMI Minnesota offers several free virtual classes to provide education, support, and hope. Topics include suicide prevention, Tardive Dyskinesia, self-care, mindfulness, youth resources, and more.

Join classes, support groups, and special activities

Mental Health Awareness Month is a good time to promote good mental health practices and resources. In honor of this month, NAMI Minnesota will offer resources, events, and workshops to all in Minnesota, including people living with a mental illness, parents and caregivers, professionals, and the general public.

Suicide Prevention Classes:

NOTE: In East Central Minnesota, if you or a loved one is experiencing a crisis:
Local Mobile or Phone Crisis Help 800 523-3333 Text: “MN” to 741741 | Call/Text 988 

• May 7th, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm and May 23rd, from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm, Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) the three steps anyone can take to help prevent suicide for professionals and the general public: Just like CPR, QPR can save lives. The Board of Social Work has approved this class to provide 1.5 CEUs upon completion. This online class meets the continuing education requirement for teachers. 
• May 13th and 14th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST): Learn to provide suicide first aid. ASIST is a best practice in suicide prevention where participants learn to intervene and help prevent the immediate risk of suicide. Studies have proven that the ASIST method helps reduce suicidal feelings for those at risk. This is a two-day interactive workshop. This class has been approved by the Board of Social Work to provide 8 CEUs upon completion. This class also meets the continuing education requirement for teachers. Minnesota Safety Council, 474 Concordia Ave, Saint Paul MN 55103.
• May 21st from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm, QPR Suicide Prevention for Agricultural Communities: NAMI Minnesota and the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center are partnering to provide suicide prevention classes tailored to farming communities. Our aim is to change the public perception in agricultural communities and better equip the community to identify and help people who may be having thoughts of suicide. This class has been approved by the Board of Social Work to provide 1.5 CEU’s upon completion. This 1.5-hour class meets the continuing education requirement for teachers.

Special Events And Classes:

• May 9th, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, Intro to Trauma and a Trauma-Informed Approach Online Workshop for the general public, employers, and professionals: An overview of the impacts on the brain of adverse events or experiences. Let’s build awareness and take action to create trauma-informed and responsive spaces where people feel safe and valued. The Board of Social Work has approved this class to provide 1 CEU upon completion.
• May 14th, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, and Thursday, May 30th, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Self-Care and Mindfulness Online Workshop: So often self-care and mindfulness takes a back seat in life. Join us to discuss this important health topic and how it connects to mental health.
• May 22nd, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, Positive Psychology Online Workshop, the scientific study of what makes life most worth living: With an approach focused on strengths instead of weaknesses, Positive Psychology will teach you new exercises to help you lead a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
• May 29th, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, the Minnesota Heritage Luncheon, presented by Zinpro: enjoy a delightful luncheon experience amid The Machine Shop’s industrial-chic ambiance while engaging in thought-provoking discussions led by NAMI Minnesota Leaders. With tickets priced at just $60, this event is accessible to all who share our passion for mental health advocacy. Machine Shop: 300 2nd St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414.

Classes For Parents And Caregivers:

• May 9th, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Let’s Talk About Mental Health for parents and caregivers: Care Ministries is hosting NAMI Minnesota for a panel discussion on what should know to support a loved one of any age experiencing mental health concerns or living with a mental illness. You’ll learn from NAMI Minnesota staff how to support good mental health, how to care for yourself or your loved one and what resources are available. New Hope Church, Sandberg Chapel. 4225 Gettysburg Ave N., New Hope, 55428
• May 11th, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, and Tuesday, May 14th, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Hope for Recovery Online Workshop for family, friends, and loved ones of a teen or adult living with a mental illness: Learn current information on anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and co-occurring disorders as well as the diagnostic assessment process, treatments, and recovery. Participants will also learn about crisis management and suicide prevention, tools for healthy relationship building while helping a loved one, and local resources from trained family members who have been there.
• May 15th, from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm, the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain and NAMI Minnesota will present Co-Parenting with Success For Black, Indigenous, and People of Color: With Alysha Price and Emmanuel Donaby at 2025 E River Parkway, Minneapolis.
• May 21st and May 28th, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm, Hope for Recovery at the Calvary Evangelical Free Church, 5500 25th Ave NW, Rochester MN 55901: In our in-person Hope for Recovery workshop, you’ll find support among peers and feel like you’re not alone. The 5-hour workshop comprises two 2.5-hour sessions. Through presentations, discussions and interactive exercises, you’ll learn: Current information on anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, schizophrenia and co-occurring disorders; the diagnostic assessment process, treatments and recovery Crisis management and suicide prevention; tools for healthy relationship building while helping a loved one; and local resources.
• May 29, 2024, from 12:00 to 1:30 pm Ayudar a los Estudiantes a Triunfar Facebook Live: Aprenda sobre el sistema de educación especial, los derechos de su hijo en la escuela, cómo buscar un IEP o plan de 504 y los mitos y realidades de la educación especial.

Find more classes here.

Sources:

May Is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month