NLCMHA Plans Array of May Mental Health Awareness Activities

/in , , , , ,

Northern Lakes Community Mental Health (CMH) is promoting Mental Health Awareness Month with activities each week in May.  “Look Around, Look Within” is this year’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Month to encourage everyone to consider how the world around them effects their mental health.  

 This year, we are offering an array of education opportunities to encourage learning and conversation about protecting your mental health, building your resilience, strengthening your well-being, and learning how to access help for yourself or another person when needed. We invite you to join us!

 

Mental Health Awareness Walks – May 24 in 4 cities!

Northern Lakes CMH staff from each of its four office locations will lead Walks For Mental Health Awareness simultaneously in four cities, in Cadillac, Grayling, Houghton Lake, and Traverse City on May 24, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. The public is invited to join in! In Cadillac, meet at 527 Cobb Street. In Traverse City, meet at noon in the parking lot in back of the CMH building at 105 Hall Street for a walk to the Open Space. In Houghton Lake, meet at the CMH building at 2715 S. Townline Road.  In Grayling, meet at the CMH office at 204 Meadows Drive. 

Special Community-Based Events

 Traverse City –  

  • Traverse House Clubhouse is hosting an OPEN HOUSE on Wednesday, May 31, 4:00-5:30 p.m. Come take a tour and learn everything Traverse House has to offer. Hear member recovery stories and enjoy delicious appetizers.  Traverse House works to enable every member to reach their full potential as a productive member of society.  
  • Northern Lakes CMH staff will also have a resource table set up all month in the first floor lobby at 105 Hall Street with educational materials and giveaways for visitors to the building. 

Cadillac –  

  • Club Cadillac is hosting an OPEN HOUSE on May 25, from 5-7:00 PM. Come take a tour at 2105 6thAvenue and learn everything Club Cadillac has to offer. Hear member recovery stories and enjoy delicious appetizers. Club Cadillac recently launched a new website at ClubCadillacClubhouse.org.  
  • In addition, Northern Lakes CMH staff are setting up a Gratitude Wall at the Cadillac Office at 527 Cobb St.  Visitors to the building are invited to add their messages of gratitude in the lobby and plants will be available to take home with inspirational notes to visitors all month.

Houghton Lake – 

  • MENTAL HEALTH ROCKS! – The public is invited to paint inspirational rocks and hide them around the community. On May 16 a session for adults will be held from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and a session for children from 3-5:00 PM. When the rocks are found, the finder will be instructed to take a picture with it and post it on their Facebook page. Snacks will be provided. 
  • There will also be a Grand Reopening of the New Connections Drop-in Center at 404 W Houghton Lake Drive in Prudenville on May 31.  

Grayling – 

  • MENTAL HEALTH ROCKS! – The public is invited to paint inspirational rocks and hide them around the community. On May 25 a session for adults only will be held from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and a session for children from 3-5:00 PM at the Northern Lakes CMH Grayling office at 204 Meadows Drive. When the rocks are found, the finder will be instructed to take a picture with it and post it on their Facebook page. Snacks will be provided. 

Mental Health First Aid Training for the Community 

During May, the Adult Mental Health First Aid class is May 3 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The youth class is May 24. Both will be held in person at the Northern Lakes CMH Cadillac Office at 527 Cobb St. from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Participants will learn how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults or youth. The courses are offered to increase the capacity of our community to respond appropriately to people we know who may be experiencing a mental health issue. Cost per course is $50 and includes lunch, snacks and a valuable training manual. The public is invited to register using the link below.    

Registration information at https://bit.ly/3L5elaV 

Tools4Resilience Virtual Education Series  

We are teaming up with North Country CMH to offer a free virtual education series in May focused on the theme #Tools4Resilience.  

The series provides valuable insights and practical strategies for promoting mental health and self-care and is open to anyone interested in learning more about mental health issues and techniques for building resilience. 

The series features webinars every Thursday and most Tuesdays throughout May from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.  

Mental health professionals from both organizations as well as the Northern Michigan Regional Entity (NMRE) will share practical tips and techniques, insights into specific mental health issues, and strategies for promoting self-care. After each presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussions with the speakers, and will receive access to myStrength, a free self-help health and wellness app. 

The #Tools4Resilience offerings include: 

  • May 4: Letting go of the heavy backpack: working through difficult situations. Learn how to communicate in a positive way to help others. Learn techniques how to handle situations where people might become angry, or behaviors escalate. 
  • May 9: Navigating conflict resolution. Skills and tips to practice to positively and constructively communicate with people in your work or personal life.  
  • May 11: A DOSE of life. Increase and balance your happy hormones to become more resilient by taking control and living your life! 
  • May 16: Developing cultural intelligence. Gain an inside view of individual bias to increase understanding and for personal development.  
  • May 18: Strong foundation, bright futures: building a healthy tomorrow.  An overview of the parent-infant relationship and its impact on mental health, wellbeing, and resiliency. 
  • May 23: Trying to keep yourself safe online. A roundtable discussion on ways to thwart common techniques scammers use to steal our financial and personal data.
  • May 25: Health is our wealth. Choices to holistically integrate your physical and mental health in order to achieve optimal health. Techniques to advocate for yourself with a primary care provider, food as medicine, and more! 

Register and receive links for the #Tools4Resilience virtual education series at Event Brite at https://bit.ly/3zCwTKA.