NAMI Minnesota

11/27/2025

So if you find yourself feeling anxious for the holidays, you are certainly not alone. Here are a few steps you can take to prioritize your mental health during this hectic season:

1. Accept Your Feelings
The holidays can bring up a range of emotions for people. Sometimes you can even experience seemingly contradictory emotions all at once. Try your best to acknowledge and accept your emotions rather than place judgment on them. It’s OK to feel happy; it’s OK to feel sad; it’s even OK to feel both happy and sad. Give yourself compassion and allow yourself to sit with whatever you’re feeling.

2. Maintain Healthy Habits
For many people, the holidays lead to a significant disruption of their day-to-day routine. But maintaining healthy habits like going to therapy, getting enough sleep, and exercising are critical to keeping your mental health on track.

3. Set Boundaries
People like to be generous during the holidays, but that generosity doesn’t have to come at the expense of having healthy boundaries. If hosting an event or buying an expensive gift is too stressful, it’s OK to say no. It’s also OK to limit the time you spend with family with whom you may have a complicated dynamic.

4. Make Time to Connect
Connection and meaning are critical to our mental health. Make time for your meaningful relationships and connect with yourself through self-care. You can even connect with loved ones who are no longer with you through a family tradition or a personal remembrance ritual.

Learn about why the holidays can be so stressful, and what you can do before, during, and after the holidays to navigate that stress. Join us on Thursday, December 18, from 12:00 to 12:30 pm to talk about this. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/GQXB94OsQ2i8ii53ywji0g #/

11/26/2025

Holiday anxiety is back in force this year, according to the latest APA Healthy Minds Poll . Overall, 41% of adults said they anticipate more or much more stress related to the holidays this year than last year, a significant increase over 2024’s survey .

At the same time, more people (44%) said the holidays have a positive impact on their mental health compared to the past couple of years. Only one in five (21%) said the holidays have a negative impact on mental health.

https://www.psychiatry.org/News-room/News-Releases/Americans-More-Anxious-About-the-Holidays

The holidays are meant to be a time of joy and coming together, but a lot of times they end up being full of stress. Learn about why the holidays can be so stressful, and what you can do before, during, and after the holidays to navigate that stress. Join us on Thursday, December 18, from 12:00 to 12:30 pm to talk about this. Register on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/GQXB94OsQ2i8ii53ywji0g #/

11/26/2025

Residents of South Central Minnesota — including Steele, Dodge, and Waseca counties — are invited to join us for a free QPR Su***de Prevention Training.

Learn the three simple, effective steps anyone can take to help prevent su***de. Like CPR, QPR is an emergency response that can save a life when someone is in crisis. It is the most widely taught gatekeeper training program in the United States, with more than one million people trained nationwide.

This 1.5-hour class is designed for community members ages 16 and older who want to learn best practices in su***de prevention. It has been approved by the Minnesota Board of Social Work for 1.5 CEUs, and it also meets continuing education requirements for teachers.

Date: Monday, December 15, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Registration (Zoom):

Learn the three steps anyone can take to help prevent su***de. Just like CPR, QPR is an emergency response to someone in crisis, and it can save lives. QPR is the most widely taught gatekeeper training program in the United States, and more than one million adults have been trained in classroom sett...

11/26/2025

The holidays are meant to be a time of joy and coming together, but a lot of times they end up being full of stress. Learn about why the holidays can be so stressful, and what you can do before, during, and after the holidays to navigate that stress. Join us on Thursday, December 18, from 12:00 to 12:30 pm to talk about this. Register on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/GQXB94OsQ2i8ii53ywji0g #/

11/25/2025

Guidance on policy and strategic actions for mental health and the education sector provides policy directives and strategic actions to create safe and inclusive learning environments, integrate mental health into curricula, reduce academic pressures, and offer psychosocial support for students and staff.

Protecting and promoting mental health requires coordinated action across all sectors. This new Guidance supports governments in assessing how sector mandates, policies, and plans affect mental health, and provides practical steps to integrate mental health and well-being into the development, imple...

11/25/2025

Gratitude, though simple, has the power to transform your perspective and enrich daily life. When navigating the challenges of bipolar disorder — particularly depression and anxiety — practicing thankfulness can be a grounding force.

Learn how practicing gratitude can support both mental and physical health, offering stability as you manage bipolar disorder. Getty Images Gratitude,

11/25/2025

We continue to learn the hard lessons of technology advancing without the policy and regulation needed to protect vulnerable people, particularly our children. We intend to focus more of our attention on this challenge moving forward.
https://www.startribune.com/burcum-when-a-chatbot-becomes-a-friend/601530330

11/24/2025

Every day, 1 in 5 Minnesotans experience mental illnesses, isolation, and trauma. NAMI Minnesota is committed to providing programs that bring hope, connection, and recovery for individuals and their families. This is only possible because of the generosity of friends like you.

Right now, many people across the state are facing the realities of growing economic uncertainty. Job losses, financial strain, and fears about the future are taking a serious toll on mental health—causing anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and other challenges that can worsen existing conditions or create new ones. At the same time, critical mental health programs are at risk just when they’re needed most.

That’s why NAMI Minnesota offers free classes and support groups—both online and in person—to help people cope with stress and anxiety and address trauma. No one has to face this alone—help and support are available to everyone.

As we respond to a growing mental health crisis, our programs must grow too—and we need your help.

And today, you can help ensure individuals and their families can access the care they desperately need: https://namimn.org/get-involved/donate_now/

You can also find out if your employer matches donations by contacting your human resources department—every dollar makes a difference.

11/24/2025

The jump in anxiety: linked to gun violence and the economy, with more than 60% reporting they were worried about paying their bills and keeping themselves and their family safe. For some of us, such anxiety can escalate into full-blown panic attacks, which can usher in a sudden episode of intense, terrifying fear.

As national anxiety reaches new heights, two new novels with one-word titles, Pan and Cannon, capture the feeling of paralyzing fear, reflecting the widespread struggle with anxiety and panic attacks in the current zeitgeist.

11/24/2025

Feeling overwhelmed? You are not alone. We got this! The NAMI Teen & Young Adult HelpLine connects you with a young person who can help with resources and support. nami.org/talktous

11/23/2025

NAMI Minnesota is holding its annual holiday gift drive for children and adults with mental illnesses who will be hospitalized or in residential treatment over the holiday season. Join us: https://namimn.org/namimn-events/nami-holiday-gift-drive/

11/23/2025

Impulsive and compulsive spending are well-known — and often costly — challenges of bipolar disorder. During mania or hypomania, surges in energy, confidence, and impulsivity can lead to reckless spending or risky investments. Even in depression, spending may become a brief escape from emotional pain. These tendencies can intensify during the holiday shopping season, when emotions run high and temptations abound — making awareness and support essential to protect both your finances and peace of mind.

Impulsive spending during a bipolar mood episode can drain savings and strain relationships. Learn real strategies to protect your finances.