May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and throughout the month, the Heart of New Ulm’s Brown County Mental Health and Wellness Action Team (MHWAT) has been undertaking a variety of activities.
In early May, the team hosted the third annual South Central Minnesota Mental Health and Wellness Conference at the Sleepy Eye Event Center. According to the conference materials, the annual conference aims to create a safe and inclusive environment where individuals from all walks of life can come together to share experiences, gain knowledge and build a supportive community. The first day of the conference was dedicated to learning for 250 professionals, while for the first time, a second day was added to educate more than 300 local eighth graders.
This year’s speakers focused on a range of topics, including how movement can be medicine, using food to support mental health, how laughter is medicine, how marijuana impacts brain development and having a confidence mindset. Prevention was a big focus, as it’s an important part of the mental health conversation.