Lost&Found

03/10/2026

🧠 Mind Matters Virtual Webinar

Taking Care of You: It IS Ok to Say No

It’s easy to say yes to every request, responsibility, and opportunity. But over time, constant “yes” can lead to overcommitment, stress, and burnout.

In this Mind Matters session, participants will reflect on how time demands align with their values, recognize signs of overcommitment and burnout, and explore strategies to restore balance by setting healthy boundaries.

Join us for this practical and reflective conversation about protecting your time and energy.

📅 March 11, 2026
⏰ 3:30 PM CT
💻 Virtual Webinar

Register here:
bit.ly/lf-mind-matters

03/08/2026

Happy International Women’s Day!

Today we celebrate women everywhere and the incredible women on our staff and board who help carry forward the mission of Lost&Found every day. 💜

03/02/2026

Today is Self-Injury Awareness Day.

Nonsuicidal self-injury is one of the most misunderstood responses to emotional distress. It is often hidden behind silence, stigma, and assumptions. Understanding it is an important step toward creating communities where people feel safe asking for help.

What is NSSI really?
Why do people engage in it?
How can we respond with compassion instead of judgment?

To mark Self-Injury Awareness Day, our Executive Director, Carrie Jorgensen, shares more insight on NSSI and the importance of community understanding. Read her thoughts on our blog at:

Written by: Carrie Jorgensen, Executive Director In recognition of Self-Injury Awareness Day — Sunday, March 1, 2026 Emotional distress is something many people experience, yet ...

03/01/2026

🌟 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 🌟
Senior Education & Policy Specialist

Born and raised in South Dakota and now living just 15 miles from where her dad grew up, Lana brings deep roots and decades of experience to Lost&Found. A certified athletic trainer since 1997 and former college professor and co-director of an athletic training education program for 23 years, she joined Lost&Found in August 2024 with a lifelong commitment to supporting student wellbeing.

Lana’s “why” is both personal and professional.

With family and personal history connected to mental health struggles and su***de, she understands firsthand why this work matters. While working with high school and college students, she saw the daily stressors they faced and the stigma that often prevented them from seeking help. Determined to help change that culture, Lana pursued two graduate certificates and extensive continuing education in mental health and su***de prevention to better serve students and communities.

At Lost&Found, Lana develops and delivers evidence-based training and educational programming across South Dakota. She builds relationships with community and campus partners, supports the development of resiliency-focused content, and equips people with the skills needed to strengthen the mental health landscape in their communities.

Her wish is simple and powerful: that we treat mental health the same way we treat physical health.

Outside of work, Lana enjoys exercising, spending time with family, baking, watching Hallmark movies, and cheering as a proud hockey mom, even if she dislikes the cold.

We are grateful for Lana’s leadership and dedication to prevention and education. Join us in celebrating Lana and the work she does every day to advance the Lost&Found mission.

03/01/2026

📊 STATurday Spotlight

Today’s data highlights why Mental Health First Aid training is so critical.

• 2 in 5 adults say they don’t know how to respond to a loved one’s mental health crisis.
• 51% of Americans don’t know when a mental health situation is serious enough to call 988.
• 136 Americans died by su***de per day in 2022, on average.

These statistics underscore a critical gap — people care, but many don’t feel prepared to act.

Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based, nationally recognized training that equips everyday people with the skills to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges. Participants learn a practical action plan to assess risk, listen nonjudgmentally, provide reassurance, and connect someone to professional support.

MHFA doesn’t turn you into a clinician. It prepares you to show up confidently in moments that matter.

Upcoming Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
📅 April 1 & 2, 2026
⏰ 5:30–8:30pm CT (both evenings)
🖥 Virtual format
📚 Approximately 2 hours of self-paced prework completed in advance
💲 Free to attend
🔗 Register: https://bit.ly/4sc7eBo

If you have questions or would like to bring MHFA to your organization or team, contact Lana Loken at lloken@resilienttoday.org.

When more people are prepared, our communities are stronger.

Source: mentalhealthfirstaid.org

02/24/2026

📊 Data or Drama?

“Nearly Half of NFL Players Disapprove of Bad Bunny Playing Super Bowl Halftime: ‘It Should Be an American.’”

It’s a bold headline. But what does it actually mean?

In this episode, Cody Ingle, Senior Research and Evaluation Specialist, takes a closer look at the survey behind the claim and breaks down whether this is strong data… or dramatic framing.

Watch to see what the numbers really say.

What headline should we unpack next? Have you learned something about how data is presented? Drop your thoughts or questions below. 💬

02/23/2026

🎓 Campus Spotlight: Southwest Minnesota State University

SMSU continues to show strong dedication to student well-being through our partnership.

✔️ 26 QPR Gatekeepers trained
✔️ 15 students engaged in Peer2Peer Mentorship

This is what meaningful investment in mental health looks like. We are grateful to work alongside campuses like SMSU, leading this work.

02/17/2026

🏀 Game Night. Real Impact. 💛

Looking for Friday night plans?

On February 20, the Sioux Falls Skyforce takes on the Valley Suns at 7:00 PM. When you grab your tickets through our link, $5 from every ticket supports Lost&Found’s mental health and su***de prevention work across our region.

It’s simple.
You go to the game.
You cheer.
You give back.

Fun night out ✔️
Support local impact ✔️
Easy way to make a difference ✔️

Join us at the Sanford Pentagon and turn your ticket into something bigger than basketball.

🎟️ Get yours here:
www.gofevo.com/event/Lostandfound25

02/12/2026

📢 Mental Health First Aid Training Update

We’re excited for our upcoming Mental Health First Aid training on February 16 and 17.

If you have registered but have not yet received instructions for accessing the course, please reach out to Lana at lloken@resilienttoday.org.

Our registration platform is currently experiencing a technical issue, and some confirmation emails were not sent as expected. We’re working to ensure everyone receives the information they need.

Thank you for your patience. We look forward to having you join us.

You don’t have to be a mental health professional to make a difference.

There’s still time to register for Lost&Found’s free, two-part virtual Adult Mental Health First Aid training and gain practical tools to help you recognize, understand, and respond when an adult may be experiencing a mental health challenge.

This training is open to educators, caregivers, professionals, and anyone who wants to feel more confident supporting others with care.

🗓 Feb 16 & 17 | 5:30–8:30 PM CT
💻 Virtual
📝 Registration required: https://zfrmz.com/yt1Po2KEeOfV8yXtW6QH

Please note: Participants must attend both sessions to receive certification.

02/11/2026

🧠 Mind Matters is happening TODAY at 3:30 PM CT

This month’s session, Building Resilience: Personal Development, focuses on understanding what resilience truly is and the traits that help people navigate challenges in healthy, sustainable ways.

During this virtual training, participants will:
✨ Reflect on their own resilience
✨ Explore how emotional intelligence and emotional regulation strengthen it
✨ Create a personal plan to continue building resilience beyond the session

Content is geared toward young adults, but anyone is welcome to attend.

If you’ve been meaning to prioritize your mental well-being, this is a great place to start.

🔗 Register here: bit.ly/lf-mind-matters

02/10/2026

📊 Data or Drama

We’re launching Data or Drama, a new series presented by Cody Ingle, Senior Research and Evaluation Specialist at Lost&Found.

In this series, Cody will break down research articles, news stories, data points, and statistics to help distinguish what’s grounded in evidence from what’s driven by reaction or headlines. Topics will vary, but the focus remains the same: slowing down the conversation and adding context where it’s often missing.

Because understanding starts with data, not drama.