Reducing the Stigma of Mental Health and Improving Access to Treatment
The Brown County Mental Health and Wellness Action Team (MHWAT) works throughout Brown County to reduce the stigma of mental health, improve resiliency and improve access to mental health treatment and services.
This team also works to identify policies, systems and environments that can reduce the effect of poor mental health outcomes throughout the county. Providing education to the community on the various risk factors associated with mental health is a key strategy.
Our new brief videos, "Your Mental Wellness: Where to Start" and "Ways to Support Your Mental Wellness," offer guidance on steps to take to better support your mental health.
MHWAT Priorities and Recent Accomplishments
South-Central Minnesota Mental Health and Wellness Conference
Since 2024, in partnership with Brown County Public Health and a variety of local sponsors, the team has hosted three sold-out South-Central Minnesota Mental Health and Wellness Conferences. By providing resources, raising awareness, and bringing people together, the annual conference aims to help break down the stigma of mental health and create lasting conversations that will help our communities grow in wellness.
At the 2026 conference, the first day 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.
The South Central Minnesota Mental Health 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.
Mental Health Resources Distribution During Corn Drive
In October 2025, the team worked with FFA students from New Ulm and Springfield to distribute local mental health resources during their Corn Drive. Central United Cooperative generously provided the lunch bags that helped make this outreach even more impactful. Together, the effort helped plant seeds of support and resilience across our communities.
Move This Way Wellness Activity
In September 2024, the team supported the HONU Leadership team as it launched the Move This Way activity at North Park. The popular activity provided a creative opportunity for people of all ages to be active, talk, think and learn about topics related to their physical, mental and social well-being. At eight stations, people were encouraged to follow the posted prompts to engage in an activity and use the questions on the sign to spark discussion. The walk aimed to educate the community about mental health topics such as trauma and anxiety and guide them to local tools and resources available on the Heart of New Ulm’s website.
In July 2025, the team hosted a special Move This Way event with New Ulm’s “Chalk Lady” Kara Carlson, held in conjunction with New Ulm Park & Recreation’s Rec on the Go program.
Suicide Prevention Training for Faith-based Professionals
In the fall of 2023, in partnership with the New Ulm Ministerial
Association, the team offered a free safeTALK training to 28 faith-based professionals on how to help prevent suicide. SafeTALK is a
half-day training program that teaches participants to recognize and engage people who might be having thoughts of suicide and connect them with community resources trained in suicide intervention. SafeTALK stresses safety while challenging taboos
that inhibit open talk about suicide.
Kindness in Chalk
During Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2023, the team promoted a Kindness in Chalk activity in the communities of New Ulm, Springfield, Sleepy Eye and Comfrey. The goal was for people to cover the sidewalks with messages and images of love, peace, hope and acceptance with the intention of bringing smiles to the faces of those who need it the most. Local school students and area businesses also participated.
MLC Health Chats to Connect with Local Mental Health Professionals
In the spring of 2025, the Mental Health and Wellness Action Team sponsored a series of free monthly lunchtime health chats outside the Martin Luther College cafeteria where students could learn from local mental health professionals, gain valuable insights and practical tips and improve their well-being. Each month focused on a different topic, including Boundaries, Gratitude and Stress & Anxiety.
Anxious Generation Presentation
In May 2025, the team invited parents and community members to a presentation to help them better understand how the “Internet Age” has profoundly reshaped childhood and adolescent experiences. Drawing on a book, “The Anxious Generation,” Dr. Amanda Black discussed how the prevalence of devices and unregulated Internet use affects mental health and overall wellbeing — especially in children and teens — and shared practical strategies to mitigate negative outcomes.
VA S.A.V.E. Training
In partnership with the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, the team hosted a VA S.A.V.E. Training in July 2024, where 17 attendees, including veterans, their families and community members, learned how to act with care and compassion if they encounter a Veteran who is in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts.
The acronym S.A.V.E. helps people remember the important steps involved in suicide prevention: S: Signs of suicidal thinking should be recognized; A: Ask the most important question of all — “Are you thinking of killing yourself?”; V: Validate the Veteran’s experience; and E: Encourage treatment and Expedite getting help.
Mental Health First Aid Training
In October 2024, the team partnered with 2B CONTINUED and New Ulm Medical Center to host a National Council for Mental Wellbeing Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training for community members. The training welcomed a dedicated group of new MHFA First Aiders, including staff from Martin Luther College, New Ulm Medical Center, other local agencies, and engaged community members.
Brown County Lunch Table Initiative
In the fall of 2023, the team began the Brown County Lunch Table Initiative at Springfield High School, with plans to bring it to all of the county’s middle and high schools. The initiative brings public health nurses and health educators into the schools to talk to students and staff about various health topics, ranging from physical health to mental health and anything in between. The goal is to lower the rates of mental illness, self-harm and suicide attempts of Brown County students by providing them access to additional supportive adults to whom they can turn.
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Resiliency
Since 2022, in partnership with the Families First Collaborative of Brown County, the team has offered multiple presentations about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Resiliency as a first step in assuring a trauma-informed foundation for schools, communities, organizations and systems.
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Trainings
Since 2019, the team has offered free QPR trainings to community participants to help people learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to use three simple steps — Question, Persuade and Refer — to help save a life.
Resiliency Program for Local Worksites
In partnership with the Worksite Wellness Action Team, the team has offered the Embrace Wellness program (formerly called The People Project) annually since 2020, reaching nearly 1,800 employees at local worksites to help them build resiliency through fun, evidence-based mental well-being strategies that result in better-connected, happier people.
“Where to Start" Resource Guide
In 2022, the team developed a flow chart/resource guide in both English and Spanish to make it easier for community members to figure out where to start when they are struggling with mental health issues. In the spring of 2023, the team distributed the guide in the Scoop to almost 10,000 homes. The resource guide makes it easier for community members to figure out where to start when they are struggling with mental health issues.
Change to Chill
Since 2019, five local schools — New Ulm High School, Sleepy Eye Public School, Springfield Public School, Red Rock Central and New Ulm Middle School — have participated in the Change to Chill School Partnership (CTCSP). Change to Chill is a free, online mental well-being program offered by Allina Health that aims to help teens identify what stress is, what causes it, and, most importantly, how to manage it.
Other Priorities
- Partner with NAMI, NUMC Occupational Health, schools, ECFE, CAST, day cares, food shelf and others to offer educational programs aimed at improving mental health and reducing stigma, especially during awareness months of May and October
- Participate in the Minnesota Department of Health’s new Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Strategic Planning Cohort; HONU was selected as one of 23 groups
Additional Resources and Information
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