Mental Health Connect

11/18/2025

Help brighten the holiday for kids and adults in treatment by donating gifts or volunteering.

NAMI Minnesota is holding its annual gift drive for children and adults with mental illnesses who are hospitalized or in residential treatment over the holidays.

Gifts must be new, unwrapped, and safe (nothing sharp, no ribbons, nothing breakable) and can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at our office until December 18. Arrangements can be made for evening or weekend drop-off.

Popular gifts include puzzles, sudoku, markers, colored pencils and pens, origami instruction books and paper, journals (non-spiral), crossword puzzles, word find books, decks of cards, coloring books, nonviolent comic books, fidgets, as well as warm socks, gloves, and hats. Most of the children are 13 or older, so teen gifts are helpful. For more information, go to https://namimn.org/namimn-events/nami-holiday-gift-drive/

Volunteers are needed on Saturday, December 20, to deliver them. A wish list is available on Amazon. Email us for the link at namihelps@namimn.org. Thank you for your caring and generosity this holiday season!

10/31/2025

Is your faith community (or one you know) offering a "Blue Christmas" or other service for hope and healing around the holidays? If so, locations and date/time in the comments would be so appreciated!

We'd love to list these opportunities in our upcoming MHC Holiday Toolkit! More to come soon... THANK YOU, everyone!

10/31/2025

With SNAP and WIC programs in jeopardy, our Navigators have resources for food and other essentials at their fingertips--because we understand that food insecurity--> increased stress--> poorer mental health.
Please share this comprehensive multi-county resource with your networks.
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/dca491dfca284a048e227df1b69348fd

10/10/2025

It was our honor to have Sue Abderholden present at this week's "No One Recovers Alone: Strengthening Family Engagement" workshop. After 24 dedicated and inspiring years, Sue is finishing her final week as Executive Director of NAMI-MN. We're so grateful for all she's done for mental health awareness, access, and support in Minnesota.

Thank you, Sue, and our best wishes for your next chapter! With gratitude from all the staff and volunteers at Mental Health Connect... 💚

10/07/2025

Today we offer gratitude for Sue Abderholden, Outgoing Executive Director of NAMI-MN. Sue’s work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Health Equity Award from the Minneapolis Health Department, the Distinguished Citizen Award from Macalester College, the National NAMI Rona and Ken Purdy Award to End Discrimination, and repeated honors as one of Minnesota Physician’s “100 Most Influential Health Care Leaders.”

THIS THURSDAY will be one of Sue’s very last presentations for NAMI-MN, and we’re grateful for all she’s done for mental health awareness and support in our state. You won’t want to miss the chance to learn from Sue’s many years of experience and expertise!

No One Recovers Alone: Strengthening Family Engagement
Thursday, October 9, 2025
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Mental Health Connect
4100 Lyndale Ave S., Minneapolis, MN
This event is sponsored by a Fairview Faith Community Nurse Grant. There is no cost to attend, and lunch is provided.

Register today! https://shorturl.at/r0mbi

Sue's photo is from NAMI-MN.

10/02/2025

No One Recovers Alone: Strengthening Family Engagement

Thursday, October 9, 2025
11:30-1:00 pm
Bethlehem Lutheran, 4100 Lyndale Ave. S, Minneapolis

Many adults with serious mental illnesses experience loneliness. Often their families are both their caregiver and social support system. This class describes the impacts of loneliness and recognizes that no one goes through a serious illness by themselves. Learn the importance of engaging family members and promoting connections to others, and identify strategies to meaningfully engage family members and friends in a person’s life.

Lunch will be provided. This event is sponsored by a Fairview Faith Community Nurse Grant.

Register here: https://onrealm.org/BethlehemChurch/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=YzM5N2Q4OTEtMjlkNS00OTE2LTgyNjctYjMzMzAxNDBiMzgy

10/01/2025

A great opportunity tomorrow night at one of our MHC Collaborative members Lumen Christi Catholic Community!

A Conversation on Mental Health and Well-Being
October 2, 6:30-8:30 pm
Lumen Christi Catholic Community, 2055 Bohland Ave., St. Paul

The Mental Health and Well-Being Ministry Coalition is honored to present Lindsey Young, writer and editor for the Minnesota Vikings, and Erik Westrum, former NHL player and leadership coach, for Getting Open--a heartfelt and timely conversation on mental health and personal growth.
Register at: https://shorturl.at/JRlQf

10/01/2025

We're excited to welcome Trinity Episcopal Church in Excelsior, Minnesota, to the Mental Health Connect Collaborative! We're grateful for your partnership. https://www.trinityexcelsior.org/

09/29/2025

Please share with your friends and faith communities!
safeTALK Su***de Prevention Class

Saturday, October 11, 2025
9:00 -1:00 pm
Bethlehem Lutheran, 4100 Lyndale Ave S., Minneapolis

Learn how to support someone’s desire for safety by recognizing the warning signs of su***de, identifying people who are at risk, and applying the TALK steps (Tell, Ask, Listen and KeepSafe) to connect a person to su***de first aid resources. Listed on the national best practice registry, safeTALK allows time for both practice and discussion. safeTALK is based on research that shows people experiencing thoughts of su***de often send out subtle invitations to help them stay safe. This four-hour class is for members of the community over the age of 16 who want to learn and practice the basic best practices in su***de prevention.

Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/safetalk-registration-1542493312019
This class has been approved by the Board of Social Work to provide 4 CEU’s upon completion.

OPTIONAL BONUS: Post-workshop discussion led by author Reverend Rachael Keefe on Theology & Su***de Prevention. She's an expert and author of The Lifesaving Church: Faith Communities and Su***de Prevention, and we are so lucky to have her. If you plan on staying, email hannah@mhconnect.org who will be placing an order for lunch.

Mental Health Connect is grateful to offer this event free of charge thanks to a generous grant from the Bethlehem Foundation.

09/29/2025

We're excited to welcome St. Clement's Episcopal Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, to the Mental Health Connect Collaborative! We're grateful for your partnership. https://www.stcstp.org/

09/26/2025

Last call for registration! Don't miss out on our FREE family event featuring dinner and a screening of Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition on Tuesday, 9/30!

This film edition is geared toward young people ages Kindergarten through 7th Grade and their parents, caring adults, and supporting community.

This is your chance to dive into the impact of screen time on kids, with insights on managing
digital use and building healthy habits. Stick around after the film for a panel discussion with
local experts to share questions and gain even more personalized strategies for your family.

Free childcare for kids 5 and under.

Register on our website (mhconnect.org/find-mhc) or https://shorturl.at/8lP6H. We look forward to seeing you there!

09/26/2025

Some good news for your Friday... 💚

"Mark Sander, Hennepin County director of school mental health, has been involved in the effort since the beginning. “If we go back to 2005,” he said, “we had therapists in five schools. Now, just in Hennepin County alone, we have 22 different agencies doing this work. There are over 230 therapists in over 220 schools just in Hennepin County serving about 7,000 students a year.”

"Sander has witnessed this expansion — and the impact it has had on kids — first hand. He said he’s proud of Minnesota’s support for children’s mental health and grateful for the many advocates who’ve made it possible. Easy access to free- and reduced-cost mental health care is not a given in public schools nationwide, but today it is available in 82% of Minnesota’s public school districts and in 61% of the state’s 2,661 public schools, a reality he does not take lightly."

“I’ll be honest,” Sander said. “Minnesota has crushed it.”
Read more at https://shorturl.at/RaCsU.

While mental health care is not a given in public schools nationwide, Minnesota has made it a priority and increased access for kids.