Welcome to NAMI Western Minnesota
One in five people will experience a mental illness each year. These illnesses affect people of any age, race, religion, or socioeconomic status, and they affect the entire family. Mental illnesses are biological brain disorders and can disrupt a person’s thinking, feelings, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Mental illnesses are treatable medical conditions and thanks to research and medical advances, recovery is possible. Many people feel isolated by a mental illness due to the stigma and misinformation surrounding these conditions. If your life has been touched by a mental illness, you are not alone!
NAMI Western Minnesota is committed to improving the quality of life for people living with mental illnesses, erasing the stigma of mental illness, referring families and friends to existing resources, and influencing public policy. We serve the 5-county area of Western Minnesota including Kandiyohi, Swift, Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, and Big Stone counties. Come to one of our meetings, support groups, classes, or events. All of our programs are offered free of charge.
NAMI Western Minnesota is committed to improving the quality of life for people living with mental illnesses, erasing the stigma of mental illness, referring families and friends to existing resources, and influencing public policy. We serve the 5-county area of Western Minnesota including Kandiyohi, Swift, Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, and Big Stone counties. Come to one of our meetings, support groups, classes, or events. All of our programs are offered free of charge.
Date Set For 2020 NAMI State Conference: Mental Health in Challenging Times
Tickets are available now for the NAMI Minnesota 2020 State Conference: Mental Health in Challenging Times. The conference will be held on Saturday, November 14th starting at 9:00 AM. Keynote speakers include Patrice Harris, MD; Tom Insel, MD; and Susan Bartlett Foote, JD, MA.
Date: Saturday, November 14th (11/14/2020)
Time: 9:00-4:00 PM
Registration Link: https://namistateconference-2020.eventbrite.com/
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's event will be held digitally via zoom. Prior to the conference, all registrants will be sent a PDF of zoom links to join the keynotes and breakout sessions. All attendees will be able to 'choose their own adventure' throughout the day by selecting the breakout session they want and join by zoom.
This year's conference will feature 7 breakout sessions, with sessions of interest for professionals, individuals living with mental illnesses, family members, advocates, and students. The annual awards and annual meeting will take place between 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM.
The 2019 NAMI Minnesota State Conference has been approved for 4.5 CEU hours for social workers by the Minnesota Board of Social Work and is pending approval for LPCs, LPCCs, and LADCs by the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy; LMFTs by the Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy. This event has been designed to meet the Minnesota Board of Nursing's continuing education requirements as well as the DHS continuing education requirements for Certified Peer Specialists.
Registration is $40 for a CEU ticket, $20 for a non-member General Admission ticket, or $10 for a member General Admission ticket. In order to receive a CEU certificate after the conference, you must purchase the CEU ticket, but you do not need to purchase any other ticket. Limited scholarships are available - contact Patrick Chilton at publicawareness@namimn.org for more information.
Date: Saturday, November 14th (11/14/2020)
Time: 9:00-4:00 PM
Registration Link: https://namistateconference-2020.eventbrite.com/
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's event will be held digitally via zoom. Prior to the conference, all registrants will be sent a PDF of zoom links to join the keynotes and breakout sessions. All attendees will be able to 'choose their own adventure' throughout the day by selecting the breakout session they want and join by zoom.
This year's conference will feature 7 breakout sessions, with sessions of interest for professionals, individuals living with mental illnesses, family members, advocates, and students. The annual awards and annual meeting will take place between 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM.
The 2019 NAMI Minnesota State Conference has been approved for 4.5 CEU hours for social workers by the Minnesota Board of Social Work and is pending approval for LPCs, LPCCs, and LADCs by the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy; LMFTs by the Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy. This event has been designed to meet the Minnesota Board of Nursing's continuing education requirements as well as the DHS continuing education requirements for Certified Peer Specialists.
Registration is $40 for a CEU ticket, $20 for a non-member General Admission ticket, or $10 for a member General Admission ticket. In order to receive a CEU certificate after the conference, you must purchase the CEU ticket, but you do not need to purchase any other ticket. Limited scholarships are available - contact Patrick Chilton at publicawareness@namimn.org for more information.
Online Support Provides Hope & Help During COVID 19
During this stressful time, NAMI Minnesota is here to help in partnership with its affiliates across Minnesota to continue providing support.
Join us online for a variety of FREE classes via Zoom that cover helpful and meaningful topics. Classes include self-care, dealing with stress caused by COVID-19, children’s mental health, and more. Classes are for people living with a mental illness, people who have a loved one living with a mental illness, professionals, parents, guardians, and the general public.
Visit https://namimn.org/education-public-awareness/classes/scheduled/ for a detailed schedule. We are regularly adding to the schedule, so be sure to check out the site often for new opportunities to connect.
In addition, we are offering FREE online support groups for individuals managing mental illnesses, family members of people who have mental illnesses, and parents of children with mental illnesses. Please join us. Details and links to these support groups, also via Zoom, are located here: https://namimn.org/support/nami-minnesota-support-groups/.
If you need help navigating the mental health system, you can call the NAMI Minnesota Helpline at (651) 645-2948, ext. 117 or email namihelps@namimn.org. This is a peer-support service providing information, resource referrals, and support to people impacted by mental illnesses. Helpline staff and volunteers are experienced, well-trained and, able to provide guidance. Note: This is not a crisis line.
Find more information from NAMI Minnesota on Mental Health Support and COVID-19, here. Also find important information from the Minnesota Department of Health covering a number of areas that you may have questions about here: COVID Resources.
The MN Department of Education has also issued guidance for special education students. Their website now includes answers to frequently asked questions, suggestions for distance learning, and other relevant resources for families of special education students. MDE has also issued guidance for school-district obligations for special education services during the COVID-19 outbreak.
NAMI Minnesota is also offering a list of culturally responsive resources to help address the impacts of trauma and racism on African Americans and people of color. Additional resources are meant to evoke thoughtful discussion on confronting bias and helping initiate conversations on addressing racism. Below these resources are organizations that support and address topics on mental health within the black community and communities of color. In addition, we have included an online directory of local Twin Cities mental health agencies. Addressing racism requires ongoing, often difficult work that may be uncomfortable. Racism and discrimination are a public health issue that impacts people’s health and mental health.
Join us online for a variety of FREE classes via Zoom that cover helpful and meaningful topics. Classes include self-care, dealing with stress caused by COVID-19, children’s mental health, and more. Classes are for people living with a mental illness, people who have a loved one living with a mental illness, professionals, parents, guardians, and the general public.
Visit https://namimn.org/education-public-awareness/classes/scheduled/ for a detailed schedule. We are regularly adding to the schedule, so be sure to check out the site often for new opportunities to connect.
In addition, we are offering FREE online support groups for individuals managing mental illnesses, family members of people who have mental illnesses, and parents of children with mental illnesses. Please join us. Details and links to these support groups, also via Zoom, are located here: https://namimn.org/support/nami-minnesota-support-groups/.
If you need help navigating the mental health system, you can call the NAMI Minnesota Helpline at (651) 645-2948, ext. 117 or email namihelps@namimn.org. This is a peer-support service providing information, resource referrals, and support to people impacted by mental illnesses. Helpline staff and volunteers are experienced, well-trained and, able to provide guidance. Note: This is not a crisis line.
Find more information from NAMI Minnesota on Mental Health Support and COVID-19, here. Also find important information from the Minnesota Department of Health covering a number of areas that you may have questions about here: COVID Resources.
The MN Department of Education has also issued guidance for special education students. Their website now includes answers to frequently asked questions, suggestions for distance learning, and other relevant resources for families of special education students. MDE has also issued guidance for school-district obligations for special education services during the COVID-19 outbreak.
NAMI Minnesota is also offering a list of culturally responsive resources to help address the impacts of trauma and racism on African Americans and people of color. Additional resources are meant to evoke thoughtful discussion on confronting bias and helping initiate conversations on addressing racism. Below these resources are organizations that support and address topics on mental health within the black community and communities of color. In addition, we have included an online directory of local Twin Cities mental health agencies. Addressing racism requires ongoing, often difficult work that may be uncomfortable. Racism and discrimination are a public health issue that impacts people’s health and mental health.
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NAMIWesternMN
NAMI Western Minnesota is a proud affiliate of NAMI Minnesota.
