Countywide actions during mental awareness month

The Heart of New Ulm’s Brown County Mental Health and Wellness Action Team (MHWAT) organized activities throughout May for Mental Health Awareness Month. In early May, they hosted the third annual South Central Minnesota Mental Health and Wellness Conference at the Sleepy Eye Event Center, drawing 250 professionals on the first day and adding a second day to educate over 300 local eighth graders. Topics covered included movement as medicine, nutrition, laughter, marijuana’s impact on brain development, and confidence-building strategies, with a focus on prevention and reducing stigma. The conference aimed to create a supportive environment for sharing experiences and learning. Kaitlin Gawrisch, the coordinator for the Heart of New Ulm, highlighted the team’s strategy of providing education to improve mental health resilience and access to treatment. Erin Schwab, an educator with Brown County Public Health, noted that simple, accessible practices like movement, nutrition, nature, and social connection significantly impact mental well-being and complement traditional treatments. Beyond the conference, the team arranged for New Ulm’s Hermann Monument to be lit green to raise awareness. They also released a series of mental health videos featuring Dr. Emily Bastyr, a family medicine physician at New Ulm Medical Center, to guide individuals on supporting their mental health. Schwab emphasized that mental health is a critical part of overall health and encouraged people to seek help, starting with primary care providers for resource guidance. The Brown County MHWAT collaborates with local mental health providers, schools, human services, and public health organizations to strengthen countywide mental health support. The team invites community members to join or learn more about their work through the Heart of New Ulm’s website. Their efforts underscore the importance of accessible mental health education and community-based resources.