Whether you are mourning the death of a loved one, severed relationships, the loss of dreams, or more, this retreat will provide an opportunity for you to heal and grow through experiential opportunities like art and music, movement, prayer and meditation, and time in nature. Learn practices that you can continue at times when your hearts are heavy.
Taking on Eco-Anxiety: Congregation-Wide Approaches
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 – 7:00 – 8:30 am
Bethlehem Lutheran Church-Twin Cities, Minneapolis Campus
The American Psychological Association and ecoAmerica have defined eco-anxiety (aka climate anxiety) as “a chronic fear of environmental doom.” This fear can stem from direct experience of extreme weather events and environmental change (e.g., floods, forest fires, hurricanes, drought) or exposure to climate change information through news media and other sources. This timely program will explore how multiple generations and faith community leaders can together take on and mitigate the effects of the eco-anxiety many of their members feel through information, education, resources and action.
Presenter: Rev. Emily Meyer, Ministry Lab Executive Director, MN Conference United Church of Christ, Minnesota Church Center, Minneapolis
PART 1 – Tuesday, April 22, 6 – 7:30 pm
PART 2 – Tuesday, April 29, 6 – 7:30 pm
Both sessions will be located at Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin Cities - Minneapolis campus
The first line of defense in trying to prevent someone’s suicide is caring and alert friends and family members. The better armed they are with knowledge, skills, information and resources the greater the likelihood this tragic loss can be avoided. This program is designed to explore basic interventions at the family/friend level to help someone stay safe, receive care and how to continue to support once someone is receiving care.
Mental Health: A Family Affair
Rev. Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund will address mental health in the family and marriage and how we can be the change for resilient mental health in our families and nation. Rev. Dr. Lund is an ordained minister, author, mental health advocate and national speaker. She will enrich us with information, stories, and ideas to strengthen us to be proactive about our own mental health and support those struggling around us.
Join us for lunch with Sarah Griffith Lund, author of Blessed Minds; Breaking the Silence About Neurodiversity. Sarah will discuss how she unpacks the concepts of neurodiversity, mental health and disability, challenging the stigma surrounding neurodivergent individuals and offering practical steps for creating inclusive and supportive faith communities. Enjoy networking and conversation about how faith communities can embrace and honor neurodiversity.
REGISTER HERE for lunch and discussion.
Join us for the uplifting Stories of Hope breakfast, a heartwarming event hosted by Mental Health Connect. This year, our fundraiser shines a spotlight on youth mental health, showcasing real stories from young individuals and families facing mental health struggles.
May 8, 8:00-9:00 am (Doors open at 7:15 am.) at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church
NAMI Minnesota recognizes that a person’s faith and spirituality are part of the overall treatment and recovery process for mental illness. Discrimination, secrecy and shame are among the great obstacles that cause people to wait to receive help for their mental health and for the health of their loved ones. Faith communities play an important role in reducing these obstacles. Learn about mental illnesses, the impact of negative attitudes and five things each of us can do to make Minnesota a better place for people who experience a mental illness. This one-hour class is for faith communities interested in learning about mental illnesses and helping to change attitudes towards mental illnesses.
Please Note: This is a class series, Thursdays 3/27-4/24. Hearts+Minds is a wellness program designed to educate and empower individuals to better manage their health, mentally and physically. It provides current research and information on how mental and physical health intersect, with a focus on how nutrition and physical activity can be used to effectively address symptoms and conditions.
With their focus on care for and the dignity of all persons, faith communities can and do play an important role in supporting Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, gender expansive, intersex, asexual, aromantic, and questioning individuals. In this session, we’ll explore how to build a faith community that is more supportive of 2SLGBTQIA+ people and their well-being. We’ll also identify the ways we can advocate for change for a more equitable healthcare system. Finally, we will explore faith-filled ways in which we can be in allyship with 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
Hosted by collaborating congregations Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin Cities and St. Joan of Arc Catholic Community, Take Time for Mental Health is a monthly series that aims to increase awareness and reduce the stigma of mental illness.
Certain beliefs and theologies within religious traditions can lead to mental and spiritual harm. This program is designed to develop an understanding of religious trauma and its causes. Learn to recognize the symptoms of religious trauma in yourself and others. Understand why religious trauma is underdiagnosed/misunderstood. The program will also explore the various avenues faith communities and leaders have for establishing safe and nurturing environments so that they can promote and encourage healing and growth within their own settings.
The Mental Health Task Force invites you to join us as we partner with the Mount Olivet Counseling Center to discuss the topic “Supporting Loved Ones and Yourself While Navigating Mental Health Challenges.”
Do you ever feel at a loss in terms of knowing how to best support loved ones who may be struggling? This event will provide tools and information to build confidence in helping others, while also covering how to best take care of yourself during these times.
In this presentation you will learn about a number of church-based initiatives which have been effective in addressing substance use challenges in communities including: Celebrate Recovery; Access To Recovery (a federally funded faith-based initiative); faith-based drug ministries; certified recovery support congregations; church outreach programs in communities and prisons; church-based reentry support; recovery revivals. Through the use of examples and discussions, the purpose of this presentation is to help participants expand their vision to the multiple ways churches can support recovery for individuals, families and entire communities impacted by addiction.
Loneliness and isolation are a threat to our overall health of mind, body and spirit. Join us as we review the Surgeon General’s Advisory on Loneliness. The current impact of loneliness will be discussed along with the identified strategies and steps that we can each take to strengthen our relationships and connection to others. Meetings begin at 6:00 pm with a light supper provided. 6:30 pm program begins and ends at 8:00 pm. This event is free to attend, a free-will offering will be accepted for supper.
Please register in advance at this link.
RESCHEDULED FROM FEBRUARY 8TH
Learn how to support someone’s desire for safety by recognizing the warning signs of suicide, identifying people who are at risk, and applying the TALK steps (Tell, Ask, Listen and KeepSafe) to connect a person to suicide first aid resources. Listed on the national best practice registry, safeTALK allows time for both practice and discussion. It is based on research that shows people experiencing thoughts of suicide 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 suicide prevention.
This class has been approved by the Board of Social Work to provide 4 CEUs upon completion.
Register today. Registration is free, thanks to a grant from the Bethlehem Lutheran Church-TC Foundation.
www.eventbrite.com/e/safetalk-registration-1115930260449
ADDITIONAL BONUS: Immediately after, for those who are interested, Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe will be speaking and leading conversation addressing the ways theology can interfere with healthy suicide prevention. She's an expert and author of "The Lifesaving Church: Faith Communities and Suicide 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.
The Wellbeing Series
Since 2012, the University of Minnesota's Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing has hosted wellbeing thought-leaders to inspire and educate the community, organizations, and life-long learners through the Wellbeing Lecture Series. This event will be on zoom.
Hosted by collaborating congregations Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin Cities and St. Joan of Arc Catholic Community, Take Time for Mental Health is a monthly series that aims to increase awareness and reduce the stigma of mental illness.
Tuesday, Jan. 21, 6:00-8:00 pm
at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Community
Meetings begin at 6:00 pm with a light supper provided. 6:30 pm program begins and ends at 8:00 pm. This event is free to attend, a free-will offering will be accepted for supper. Please register in advance here.
Healing Through Art: The topic is Restorative Art and the speaker is Jesse Fraser. Restorative Art is one tool used to help us develop our creative skills to heal ourselves mentally, physically and emotionally.
Sound Mind Project is a choir dedicated to supporting the mental health of youth in our community— see a fuller description below. Join them the afternoon of December 8th, at Nativity Lutheran Church in St. Anthony, for a wonderful concert. There is a suggested donation of $25, and a portion of the proceeds will support Northeast Youth and Family Services.
Next in the Inspired Life Speaker Series…
Erinn Frees, MA, MT-BC, is a board-certified music therapist at Children’s Minnesota who brings years of experience and insights into the power of music to bring healing and hope to all ages. Leave with insights into the power of music and how you can draw upon it in your own life to find renewal and healing.
On Monday, November 25th, head to the Lowbrow for your evening meal and support Mental Health Connect while you eat!
The Lowbrow has chosen Mental Health Connect as one of their partner orgs for a “Dine Out, Give Back” Monday. The Lowbrow will donate 10% of your bill from the evening to help us do our important work.
Next in the Inspired Life Speaker Series….
Andante (on-DON-tay) is a musical term that means “at a moderate walking speed." Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Wagner and Bach are just a few of the classical composers who walked at the speed of andante to capture their muse and compose some of the most enduring music ever written. What they discovered intuitively was that walking is not separate from creativity – it’s largely responsible for creativity. This came as welcome news to Alison Young who lives a dual life as a professional musician and long distance backpacker. She shares her enthusiasm for the intersection of classical music and walking as well as ways to tap into your own creativity for a more balanced life.
A former professional flutist and American Public Media radio host, Alison Young is the “solo, female, middle-aged, titanium-reinforced, neurological-movement-disorder manager, cancer-thriver and long-distance backpacker” Blissful Hiker. She’s hiked over 12,000 miles on six continents and in one year, walked New Zealand’s “long pathway” Te Araroa and the Pacific Crest Trail. She shares stories about her life as a musician and thru-hiker through image, found sound, poetic and metaphor-rich word, bringing alive lessons that inspire, energize and ultimately heal the body, mind and spirit.
Lumen Christi Catholic Community’s Mental Health & Well-Being Ministry invites you to come hear Karen Lilla RN, MSN, PHN, CDDM and Director of Training for Health Counseling Services.
Objectives for the Session
The participant will…
• Learn the prevalence of different types of mental illness, including anxiety and depression.
• Understand signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
• Identify four actions that could be taken to support someone experiencing a panic attack.
• Discuss communication strategies for active and supportive listening.
• Practice noticing and communication skills for signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
You’re cordially invited to an all-Mental Health Connect (MHC) meeting of clergy, ambassadors, navigators, staff, and teams designed to provide you with the information, education, insights, resources—and yes, connections—to help improve the mental well-being of members of your faith community. You’ll have an opportunity to learn how to better communicate with MHC so that you can take full advantage of all the organization has to offer.
Register today
No fees to attend.
The Mount Olivet Mental Health Task Force invites you to join us for coffee & conversation, with a presentation on the topic, “How to Transform Loneliness into Connection.” Licensed clinical psychotherapist, spiritual coach and loneliness expert, Sherri M. Herman, MA LPCC, will share on transforming loneliness into connection by using expert strategies which blend science and ancient wisdom. Learn to avoid common pitfalls, nurture your spirit, and forge deep connections for a brighter future.
There is no charge to attend this event. Questions to Rachel Sufficool, rsufficool@mtolivet.org, or 612.767.2235.
Registration Link
Coffee & Conversation: How to Transform Loneliness into Connection - Mount Olivet (mtolivet.org)
This year marks the 24th year of the Twin Cities Jewish Community Annual Mental Health Education Conference. The conference is produced by Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis (JFCS) and Jewish Family Services of St. Paul (JFS) partners in improving mental health access, understanding, and education in the community.
With generous support from community donors and partners, the conference as always continues to be free and open to everyone.
The visible and invisible impacts on mental health are vast and require profound attention, support, and advocacy. In planning for this conference, we think of a kaleidoscope representing the emotions, perspectives, ideas, challenges, and hopefully a sign of unity. The kaleidoscope as an art form that speaks to the eyes and minds of the beholder.
Music Heals will be a spiritual experience in many ways. We’ll talk about grief, postpartum depression, addiction, anxiety, cancer, relationships, love, and how music heals . We’ll listen to musicians and sing together—reminding everyone we’re not alone in life’s stumbles. In closing, we asked the attendees…what will you do with what you learned from this symposium?
Join us!
There will be a freewill offering for Mental Health Connect at this event.
Through his personal experience as a caregiver to his wife Elaine, Marty will share his experience and provide honest insight regarding Alzheimer’s disease. Marty will offer practical advice to equip caregivers with information to advocate for their loved one, and ask the right questions of their medical team. Marty’s book will be available for purchase, as his goal is to get his book, My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver, into the hands of people who need it most. Net proceeds from Marty’s book go to caregiver support programs.
There is no charge to attend this event at collaborating congregation Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, but please register here. If you have questions, please contact Nancy Nelson at 612.767.2288 or nnelson@mtolivet.org.
Join the Most Vibrant Mental Health Movement in the Country! NAMIWalks participants like you don't just walk the walk. You are the walk. Help us fuel mental health awareness, raise funds for NAMI's mission, and let people know they are not alone.
Join our caring Mental Health Community!
Let’s walk together.
Connect with Merri, Outreach Coordinator, for walk details.
https://www.namiwalks.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=67497
Schedule of events
11:00 am
Registration/Check-In & Resource Fair Begin: Kids’ Tent, Tree of Hope, Food Trucks
12:30 pm
Opening Ceremony Begins
1:00 pm
Ribbon Cutting & Walk Begins
3:00 pm
Festivities come to a close for another year!
Mental Health Connect will receive 20% of fundraiser sales* during this fundraiser. Participate on Aug 22, 2024 during the scheduled fundraiser time by explaining at the register that you are supporting the fundraiser, or by ordering online at gcfb.olo.com using this digital coupon.
*Gift card sales, alcoholic beverage sales, catering sales and delivery fees excluded.
Unmapped Brewery will give $1.00 to Mental Health Connect for every pull of beers and NA drinks. It’s the perfect spot to have some casual beers with friends and family. Dogs are welcome. Join us in the taproom!
The Culver's in St. Anthony will highlight Mental Health Connect for their "Concretes for a Cause" and give us $1.00 from every concrete mixer sold. Culver’s specializes in frozen custard and signature burgers made with Midwest beef and dairy. Stop in to support Mental Health Connect!
11:00 am
First Thursday of the month
Mayflower Congregational Church, UCC
106 E Diamond Lake Rd, Mpls
Mayflower hosts this support group, which is open to the public. It is a safe and confidential environment to share concerns and challenges and to receive support from others caregiving a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, stroke or other debilitating diseases.
Support groups tend to focus on listening, education, or problem solving. In this group, while we do some of all three, the primary focus is listening. Spread the word to family and friends.
Co-facilitators
Dale Stuepfert & Brian Buxton
If interested, contact Dale Stuepfert.
612-374-4049.
Kelsey Erickson, MA, LAMFT, will speak on Mattering: Be Valued and Valuing Others. She will explore the need for deep connection with others, and for helping each individual feel valued for who they are deep inside. This is a Lay Ministry training lecture that is open to the public. Lay Ministers will have a gathering time prior to the presentation. For more information, contact Susan Path, parish nurse, at spath@spdlc.org. This event will be livestreamed.
SPD is partnering with Mental Health Connect to bring helpful resources to our faith community and our neighbors. They are co-sponsoring our Restore 2024 events this spring.
Also a part of the Restore series, on Tuesday, May 14 at 1 p.m., The Conversation will host Merri Guggisberg, a life coach who will speak on fostering positive and powerful intergenerational communications.
Relax and Restore with one hour of self-care, In-person or virtual.
Join Nativity Mental Health Connect and Jessi Fraser, artist and motivational leader. Jesse is certified in art therapy and has a certification from Yale University in the Science of Well Being. She uses creative techniques with mindful expression to release life stresses. Jessi will share her personal story and
the use of art for healing.
Attendees will have the opportunity to participate. Supplies will be provided.
You DO NOT need to be an artist to participate and benefit.
In-person at Nativity Lutheran Church – Room 218
Online via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81561485425?pwd=a3Y1ZXFwY1JWWXUyZVo5ZklKTUdLQT09
For those who join us online, we suggest you have something you can use for art (paints, markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc.) available..
You're invited to the 5th Annual
Stories of Hope Breakfast
Feel support in the room. Meet someone new. Learn about the Collaborative work. Support the mission. Speak to a Navigator. Gain knowledge, resources, and support.
Would you like to be a Sponsor?
In order to continue this important mission and build hope, we’re asking for Mental Health Connect Sponsors. Can we count on your support to help us continue our work? Four levels of sponsorship are available for your consideration.
Can’t attend?
The Bible teaches us to “love thy neighbor as thyself”. But if we don’t show love to ourselves, how can we show love to our neighbor(s) and feel that life-sustaining connectedness that thwarts loneliness? This program is designed to help cultivate a warm, loving and compassionate relationship with yourself so that you can have the same with others. It incorporates research-based practices that go way beyond self-care. Understand the role of spirituality in cultivating self-compassion. Recognize the benefits of clarifying your own aspirations and values and how they shape your relationship with others and the life you want to live. Explore the relationship between body, mind, and emotions so that you can reduce stress and self-regulate. Discuss practical strategies that can lead to self-compassion, self-love and self-acceptance. Know the importance of cultivating trust in oneself which promotes feelings of peace and self-confidence. Those are essential elements of positive relationships with others and building connectedness while decreasing feelings of loneliness. Hosted by the Bethlehem Mental Health & Addiction Ministry.
PRESENTER
Sherri M. Herman, MA, Licensed Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Psychotherapist, and Spiritual Coach/Principal, Sherri M. Herman, LLC, Minneapolis
A choir dedicated to supporting the mental health of youth in our community. They’re supporting Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health (MACHM) this session. Their mission is to promote positive mental health for all infants, children, adolescents, and their families.
$25, suggested donation
A portion of proceeds collected during this concert will benefit MACHM.
St. Joan of Arc will be hosting a Mental Health Cabaret called “Guts and Gratitude”. Join for good music and a powerful message.
