(Atlantic, Iowa) – May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Healthy Cass County is celebrating by promoting mental health events scheduled for May 2022. All events below are free and open to the public. Following the list of events is information on the partner organizations that make these events possible, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwest Iowa (NAMI Southwest Iowa), Southwest Iowa Mental Health and Disability Services Region, Senior Life Solutions, and Angels Care Home Health.

May 2022 Cass County Mental Health Events (Free and Open to All)

All month: NAMI’s “Meet Little Monster” a mental health activity and coloring book will be available as take-home packets for youth at all Cass County libraries. Provided by NAMI Southwest Iowa.

• May 3: 6:30 PM -NAMI Southwest Iowa Virtual Family Support Group (Register at www.namisouthwestiowa.com/calendar)
• May 5: 2 PM – Connection Recovery Support Group hosted by NAMI Southwest Iowa (Location: United Church of Christ, 1607 Hazel St., Atlantic, IA 50022)
• May 6: 5-6 PM – “Ending the Silence” mental health training for teens and those who support them presented by NAMI Southwest Iowa. (Location: Nishna Valley Family YMCA, 1100 Maple St. Atlantic, IA 50022 – open to non-Y members)
• May 9: 3 PM – Anxiety and Depression in Older Adults presented by Angels Care Home Health (Location: Nishna Valley Family YMCA, 1100 Maple St. Atlantic, IA 50022 – open to non-Y members)
• May 10: 10:30 AM – Physical Signs of Depression and Anxiety presented by Senior Life Solutions (Location: Atlantic Public Library, 507 Poplar Street, Atlantic, IA 50022)
• May 12: 6 PM – Virtual 8-Week Family to Family Class Kickoff hosted by NAMI Southwest Iowa (Register at www.namisouthwestiowa.com/calendar)
• May 14: 11 AM – 2 PM – NAMI Southwest Iowa Annual Meeting and Family Fun Day Free food, bingo, games! (Location: Narrows River Park, 2500 North 25th Street, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501)
• May 17: 10:30 AM – Caregiver Stress presented by Angels Care Home Health (Location: Atlantic Public Library, 507 Poplar Street, Atlantic, IA 50022)
• May 19: 2 PM – Connection Recovery Support Group hosted by NAMI Southwest Iowa (Location: United Church of Christ, 1607 Hazel St., Atlantic, IA 50022)
• May 20: Wear green to show your support for Mental Health Awareness Month!
• May 24: 8 AM- 1:30 PM “Mental Health First Aid” In-depth training to help you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge or crisis. Presented by the Southwest Iowa Mental Health and Disability Services Region. Pre-registration required at www.swiamhds.com/events (Location: Iowa Western Community College,
  705 Walnut Street, Atlantic, IA 50022)
• May 31: 10:30 AM – “What is NAMI?” presented by NAMI Southwest Iowa (Location: Atlantic Public Library, 507 Poplar Street, Atlantic, IA 50022)

These programs are made possible by Health Cass County partners:

• Southwest Iowa Mental Health and Disability Services Region services a nine-county area.Its mission is “to provide a responsive and welcoming system of support for overall mental
  wellness.” www.swiamhds.com 712-328-5645.
• NAMI Southwest Iowa is an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), which is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Contact: www.namisouthwestiowa.com 712-542-7904.
• Senior Life Solutions is Cass Health’s intensive outpatient group counseling program designed to meet the unique needs of older adults over the age of 65 struggling with depression and anxiety often related to aging Contact: 712-250-8100 www.casshealth.org/patients/ourservices/ senior-life-solutions/
• Angels Care Home Health www.angelscarehealth.com Contact Jessica Duncan for more information at 712-318-3080

Healthy Cass County is sharing a series of press releases for Mental Health Awareness Month. The next update will highlight free mental health programs and training available to businesses
and organizations in Cass County on request. To see that information and access additional mental health resources now, visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/ or call the Cass
County ISU Extension Office at 712-243-1132.