NCCMH plans family-friendly events for Mental Health Awareness Month
NORTHERN MICHIGAN — North Country Community Mental Health is promoting Mental Health Awareness Month with activities each week in May.
“Look Around, Look Within” is this year’s theme for North Country’s Mental Health Awareness Month activities to recognize the effects of both natural and built-in environments on mental health and to learn ways to protect and strengthen your well-being.
“From your neighborhood to your genetics, many factors come into play when it comes to your mental health. We encourage everyone to consider how the world around you affects your mental health,” said Amy Christie, chief clinical officer at North Country Community Mental Health. “Your surroundings can impact if, how, and when your needs are met, which in turn affects your mental health.
“This Mental Health Month, we are offering an array of activities with the aim to increase the community conversation about the connections between our physical and mental health and environment, how to build our resilience, and how to access help when needed,” Christie added. “You can take steps to change your space and protect your mental health.”
North Country (NCCMH) has planned the following activities during the month of May:
23rd Annual Splash of Color Fun Run & Walk for Mental Health Awareness
At 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 20 at the festival pavilion behind the fire station in downtown Petoskey, this event celebrates mental health and increases awareness of mental health issues. Participants may pre-register at www.eventbrite.com. Cost is $25 per person, which includes the run/walk, T-shirt, swag bag, paint packet and a chance to win door prizes. People may participate for free if they do not want a T-shirt and may receive a swag bag, with advance registration. Group rates are available for groups of five or more.
Race day registration and packet pick-up will be available at Festival Park in Petoskey beginning at 9 a.m. on the day of the event. The color run begins at 10 a.m. The colorful 5K course starts at the pavilion and goes through the Bear River Recreation Area. The walk begins at 10:30 a.m. The course will begin at the pavilion shelter, cross the Bear River at the Bayfront, follow Lake Street to M-31, and through Memorial Park towards Wachtel Avenue, returning to the pavilion shelter.
Proceeds benefit the NCCMH Client Special Needs Fund.
PhotoVoice Inclusion and statewide traveling art show
Libraries and public offices are partnering with NCCMH to present the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan’s “Creative Minds Changing Minds” exhibit featuring 15 winning pieces selected from consumer art contests across Michigan, featuring a painting from Petoskey resident Will Sanderson and East Jordan resident Tamara Wilson.
Additionally, the exhibit will include images created by NCCMH clients who attended a PhotoVoice class at New Horizons Clubhouse in Rapid City and Petoskey Club in Petoskey.
PhotoVoice is a process used to highlight people whose voices and perspectives may often go unheard and overlooked and is comprised of photos and words used to highlight the experience of the person with mental illness. Their exhibit is entitled, “I Am Right Here: See Me for Who I am, Not What I Have.” A Youth PhotoVoice exhibit, “Through Our Eyes,” created by students across the region through the Northwest Community Health Innovation Region, is also included in some of the displays.
According to Deb Freed, NCCMH event organizer and PhotoVoice instructor, the exhibit has two goals. One is to help de-stigmatize mental illness, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders by showcasing the talents of people who use community mental health services. Secondly, the exhibit aims to highlight the recovery potential of the arts.
“Art helps change attitudes while enriching people’s lives," she said. "For hundreds of years, great artists, musicians, and writers with mental health issues have created beautiful masterpieces to share with the world. We are pleased to present this show of Michigan and local artists who have used art to further their recovery and build life skills. The local PhotoVoice artists aim to give hope to those whose recovery journeys will come after theirs and encourage people struggling with their mental health to reach out for help. They selected 'I Am Right Here' as the theme of the show and want people to know that they are much more than their diagnosis.”
The exhibit schedule is:
May 1-31 – Charlevoix Public Library
May 1-8 – Antrim County Building
May 9-14 – Petoskey District Library
May 15-21 – Cheboygan Area Public Library
May 22-31 – Otsego County Library
Free virtual mental health first aid training for the community
During May, the Youth Mental Health First Aid class is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m on May 4 and 5. The adult class is from 1-5 p.m. on May 11 and 12.
The courses are split into two half days and offered virtually to increase the number of people who may be able to receive this training and increase the capacity of the community to respond appropriately to people who may be experiencing a mental health issue.
Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based training program for community members interested in learning to recognize and diffuse mental health crises. Participants learn how to help an individual until professional treatment is obtained or the crisis resolves. Organizers said the youth-specific Mental Health First Aid class is especially valuable for educators, school administrators, school counselors, members of faith communities, homeless shelter staff and volunteers, health care workers, police and other first responders, social workers, policymakers and family members of people with mental health challenges.
NCCMH will offer Mental Health First Aid trainings quarterly. If you work at an organization in NCCMH’s six counties and are interested in organizing a special Mental Health First Aid Training for your staff, inquire by emailing NCCMHTraining@norcocmh.org.
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Tools4Resilience virtual education series
Leading mental health agencies Northern Lakes Community Mental Health and NCCMH are collaborating to offer a free virtual education series in May focused on the theme #Tools4Resilience.
The series provides 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 from 12-1 p.m. every Thursday and most Tuesdays throughout May.
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.
Free showing of the movie "Driving Miss Daisy" at the Petoskey Friendship Center
At 1 p.m. on Friday, May 19, there will be a showing of the movie "Driving Miss Daisy" at the Petoskey Friendship Center Library.
This 1989 story starring Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy depicts Daisy, a 72-year-old retired schoolteacher who is determined to maintain her independence. When she is unable to drive her car following an accident, her son Boolie arranges for her to have a chauffeur named Hoke Colburn. Despite a rocky start, Daisy and Hoke’s relationship builds into a close friendship over the years. This film was a commercial success, receiving four awards at the 62nd Academy Awards.
Community-based events
In addition, staff from each NCCMH office are planning special community-based events:
Bellaire – Bridge Walk to Wellness begins at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17. The walk begins at the trailhead by the health department and ends by the village police department.
Charlevoix – Mental Health Rocks!, a day of family-friendly activities, will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 18 at the NCCMH Charlevoix office. Attendees will plant community veggie and sensory gardens, paint the Mental Health Community Boulder, experience a mindfulness nature walk, put together sensory boxes, paint rocks with positive messages and enjoy snacks.
Gaylord – Work in the Otsego County Community Garden from 3-6 p.m. on Thursday, May 18. Participants are invited to help clean and beautify the outdoor surroundings, including helping the conservation office to clean up the pathways. There will be a station for kids to decorate pots and plant seedlings. At 4 p.m., Jack Chambers will give a presentation on the Four Sacred Medicines (plants) in the garden’s amphitheater. Chambers is a Tribal Elder, combat Marine veteran, and traditional healer from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
Kalkaska – Enjoy a Sensory Stroll from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, May 21. Along the Stroll, participants will learn how using their senses in the environment to calm their mind and body. Information will be provided on coping/calming skills along with an activity to create your own tool kit. This will be a walk around the fairgrounds path, near the Kaliseum, in Kalkaska. Participants will be able to create a sensory tool kit on their walk by stopping at each check station to learn about coping and calming skills related to their senses.
Cheboygan – Take part in May Day Play from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 27 at the North Central State Trailhead on South Western Avenue. Family-friendly activities, including a mindfulness scavenger hunt, writing inspiration letters to yourself, mental health education, and a gardening kit give-away will be available. There will be door prizes, and snacks and drinks available.
Petoskey – Join in for rock painting from 1-4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30 during Rock Your Mental Health at Festival Square, 200 Watchel St. This rock painting event is designed to promote a positive mental health environment. “Pick it, Paint it, Place it (or take it home). Rocks and all painting supplies and snacks will be provided.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: NCCMH plans family-friendly events for Mental Health Awareness Month
