NAMI Minnesota & mspWellness:
Mental Health & Wellbeing in the Workplace event
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The world of work is changing, and having the opportunity to connect and learn from one another makes a difference!
On Tuesday, June 11th we hosted our second annual Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace Panel for employers at the McKnight Foundation. We gathered to network and to hear from four amazing panelists from a variety of industries about the work they are doing to better support and normalize mental health conversations and wellbeing culture in the workplace. Topics discussed included the importance of cultivating a sense of belonging, along with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, challenges and successes in shifting your culture, and ways organizations and individuals can show their commitment to mental health in the workplace. Panelists agreed that the art of listening is a powerful tool in building trusting, safe, and supportive work cultures. Thank you to our panelists Rebecca Slaby with AmazeWorks, Autumn Amadou-Blegen with Guthrie Theater, Michelle Auld with Brooklyn Center Community Schools, and Karen Oberle with Securian. We all walked away with new ideas on how to champion and foster mentally healthy workplaces.
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NAMI Minnesota is committed to respecting and honoring the LGBTQI+ community. We strive daily to ensure equitable access to high-quality care for all, regardless of their background or identity.
Volunteering at the Twin Cities PRIDE Festival on June 29th and 30th at Loring Park in Minneapolis is a unique opportunity to support NAMI Minnesota and the LGBTQ+ community. We are looking for dedicated individuals to help us staff the booth and share information Saturday and Sunday. Sign up for a shift!
Also, check:
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The new SAMHSA report to support and affirm LGBTQI+ Youth. This document provides behavioral health professionals, researchers, policymakers, and other audiences with a comprehensive research overview and accurate information about effective and ineffective therapeutic practices related to youth of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.
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NAMI Minnesota's last article about Rainbow Health's new initiative for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC youth mental wellness "Free to Be".
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Employer Spotlight: Securian Financial normalizes mental health conversations |
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In this month's Employer Spotlight, we highlight Securian Financial. Thank you for sharing your organization's story and for your dedication to supporting mental health in the workplace.
In 2019, a group of Securian Financial employees decided they wanted to play a role in normalizing conversations about mental health and disability in the workplace. Working with the company’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, they planted roots as the Mental Wellness & Disability (MW&D) associate resource group (ARG) and today, it is one of six official ARGs funded by Securian and driven by associate commitment.
Today, MW&D has more than 260 members and offers a full slate of educational and volunteer programming open to all employees. From the beginning, they received a great deal of interest and support for their mission.
“Right away we found there was a lot of passion and personal experience around these topics,” said Terri Yira, one of the group’s original members. “Several senior leaders have publicly shared their mental health stories, which we hope makes it easier for anyone here to feel comfortable being authentic about their lives, as well.”
MW&D is enthusiastic about partnering with other ARG groups, underscoring the prevalence of mental health concerns, how those may be unique to different employee populations, and the desire to build community internally.
Efforts to bring conversations about mental wellness to the forefront have been successful. NAMI recently named Securian a “NAMI Employer of the Year,” and the group continues to extend its reach.
“The ‘sandwich generation’ is a very real experience for many of our colleagues,” said Jeni Demeranville, an MW&D co-chair. “With lessons learned and experiences from other ARGs, we are building a satellite community within MW&D for support and education focused on caregiving topics. It is one of the most-mentioned areas of concern for our membership and another way we are excited to provide a safe, accepting place for all employees working with issues impacting mental wellness and disability.”
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Join us as a Sponsor - NAMIWalks |
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Looking to showcase your commitment to mental health in the workplace? As a sponsor of our upcoming NAMI Walks, you'll show our participants, donors, and the community that mental health is important to you.
NAMI Walks will be hosted on September 28th at Minnehaha Park.
NAMI Walks promotes public awareness of mental health, raises funds for NAMI’s free, top-rated mental health programs, and builds community.
Please reach out to LaRohnda Latimer at events@namimn.org to learn more about the different sponsorship levels and benefits.
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NAMI Minnesota - Community Education |
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In addition to providing training and resources for employers and staff, NAMI Minnesota also offers opportunities for our community to learn and connect with others. Here are a few upcoming opportunities we'd like to share, and forward along to others who could be interested.
Lunchbox Talks: 30-Minute Online Conversations on Wednesdays from 12-12:30pm for Parents and Caregivers:
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR): Learn the three steps anyone can take to help prevent suicide. 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 settings in 48 states. This 1.5 hour class is for members of the community over the age of 16 who want to learn best practices in suicide prevention. This class is also available in Spanish. This class has been approved by the Board of Social Work to provide 1.5 CEUs upon completion. This class meets the continuing education requirement for teachers. Register here
- Tuesday, June 25 from 11-12:30pm
- Wednesday, July 10 from 3-4:30pm
- Thursday, July 25 from 12-1:30pm
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Download this infographic from SHRM, Society for Human Resource Management, titled "SHRM Understands How Workplaces Impact Mental Health."
Post this visual in the office, use it as a conversation starter or to keep the conversation going to further support mental health in the workplace.
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Additional Ways to Support NAMI |
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Donations fund our peer led support groups, family education classes, helpline, public policy work, suicide prevention classes, public awareness, outreach to the community, and so much more.
Your support is instrumental in moving our mission forward!
Now, folks can donate via Text! Text NAMIMN to 707070 to give.
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Employer Workplace Classes |
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We all have mental health. Host an employer workshop to show your commitment to mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.
INTRODUCTION TO TRAUMA AND A TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH *(NEW)*
A one-hour overview of trauma, its impacts on the brain, and the guiding principles of a trauma-informed approach. Trauma has long been described as a unique and personal outcome of adverse events or experiences, but exposure is more widespread in our communities than ever before. For those living with a mental illness or substance use disorder, exposure is even more common. Communities and employers can build awareness and take action to create trauma-informed and responsive spaces where people feel safe and valued.
BELONGING, WHY IT MATTERS *(NEW)*
Understand why belonging matters, and how it impacts both our physical and mental health. Learn your role in fostering the culture of belonging. Understand the warning signs and resources for poor mental health. This class is for employees, supervisors, organizational leaders, owners, board members, and human resource professionals.
SELF-CARE AND MINDFULNESS
So often, self-care and mindfulness take a back seat in life. Join us to discuss this important health topic and how it is connected to mental health. Share your successes and challenges with finding balance in your personal and work life. Learn some new techniques to help improve your self-care, and receive some new resources to try out.
DEALING WITH DIFFICULT INTERACTIONS
We’ve all had to deal with a challenging situation, whether it’s dealing with a personal problem with a large company, or communicating for your job. But have you thought about the person on the other side of the interaction? People may be difficult due to symptoms of a mental illness, stress, physical illness or disability, past experience, or they think it’s the only way to get help. In this class learn the signs and symptoms of mental illnesses, along with tips and strategies that can be used in dealing with difficult interactions, to manage the situation, and yourself.
GOOD MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE: FIVE THINGS YOU CAN DO
Learn the five things you can do to create a workplace that values good mental health. Participants will learn how to promote good mental health (including dealing with stress), the common symptoms of a mental illness, how attitudes and language impact people with mental illnesses, and accommodations for a mental illness. This class is for employees, supervisors, organizational leaders, owners, board members and human resource professionals.
QUESTION, PERSUADE, REFER (QPR)
Learn the three steps anyone can take to help prevent suicide. Just like CPR, QPR is an emergency response to someone in crisis and 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 settings in 48 states. This 1.5 hour class is for members of the community over the age of 16 who want to learn best practices in suicide prevention. This class is also available in Spanish.
MINDING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE, 2023 AND BEYOND
Understand how and why current events have impacted people’s mental health, learn how to manage expectations and stress as we navigate changes to the workplace, learn the common symptoms of mental illness, and learn steps employees can take to promote good mental health.
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Positive Psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living. With an approach focused on strengths instead of weaknesses, Positive Psychology will teach you new exercises to help you lead a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
We are currently hosting conversations in person and virtually, and would enjoy partnering with your organization as you think about best supporting your staff (and yourself)!
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June
Pride Month is honored June 1 - June 30. Come together to celebrate history, achievements and work together towards acceptance and stand in solidarity together. Twin Cities Pride Festival will be June 29-June 30.
National Salad Week is June 1 - June 7. Be creative with your salad toppings and fuel your body with some healthy crunch.
Volunteers Week is June 3 - June 9. Volunteers truly make a difference. We are grateful for our volunteers who continue to support NAMI Minnesota's mission. Thank you!
July
In July, we honor Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Read more about Bebe Moore Campbell, her impacts and legacy. “Once my loved ones accepted the diagnosis, healing began for the entire family, but it took too long. It took years. Can’t we, as a nation, begin to speed up that process? We need a national campaign to destigmatize mental illness, especially one targeted toward African Americans…It’s not shameful to have a mental illness. Get treatment. Recovery is possible.”
– Bebe Moore Campbell, 2005
Disability Pride Month - learn more about the disability rights movement, the Americans with Disabilities Act and hear from artists who share their experiences through a collection of videos courtesty of PBS.
August
National Wellness Month This month focuses on self-care, stress management, and creating healthy routines. If you are looking for an excuse to make a change, start this month in support of National Wellness Month.
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Is Your Workplace Mentally Healthy? |
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Check out our resources that help you support your employees:
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Find workplace strategies for mental health here.
Check out our Facebook page for interesting articles and posts.
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NAMI Minnesota champions justice, dignity, and respect for all people affected by mental illnesses. Through education, support, and advocacy we strive to effect positive changes in the mental health system and increase the public and professional understanding of mental illnesses. |
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NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families. For over 40 years, NAMI Minnesota has worked to promote the development of community mental health programs and services, change public attitudes about mental illnesses, improve access to services and increase opportunities for recovery. |
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To serve our mission, NAMI Minnesota works with individuals with mental illness, their families, professionals and the community at large by providing education, support and advocacy.
Learn more by following the links below:
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Deborah S (she/her)
Employer Education Coordinator
employereducator@namimn.org
NAMI Minnesota | 1919 University Ave. W., Ste. 400 | St. Paul, MN 55104
651-645-2948 | 1-888-NAMI-HELPS
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Copyright © 2021. All Rights Reserved. |
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