The Moorhead chapter of Minnesota’s National Alliance on Mental Health is hosting an afternoon of activities designed to enhance awareness of mental wellness on Saturday, May 11 … a first-time highlight of National Mental Health Awareness Month here in the city.
All ages are invited to share in the free creative sessions, according to NAMI Moorhead board member Whitney McClain. The local chapter’s inaugural Mental Health Day is scheduled for Woodlawn Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We’re welcoming everyone who is interested in learning about the resources here in Moorhead for people experiencing mental illness and those who care for them,” she says. “We’ve put together a program of art-related activities that focus on mindfulness.
“Art is a way to explore yourself and discover more about your feelings,” she adds.
The day’s agenda starts at 10:15 with a session on poetry and the spoken word, presented by individuals from the Red Raven Coffee Shop.
Story Time in the Park starts at 11:30 a.m. The presenter is Whitney herself, Bemidji’s current Miss Red Pine, who is also currently conducting a Story Time tour of towns in the Lake Agassiz Regional Library system.
The final presentation, at 1 p.m., is a dance and movement workshop for ages 14 and older. Other activities will also be available in the park throughout the event.
NAMI Minnesota is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families. For more than 40 years, the alliance 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.