Mental health is always an important topic to discuss and learn about. In this workshop participants learned about how mental illness is a biological, medical condition that is surrounded by misinformation, stigma, and loneliness. But, also how to bust those stigmas and be equipped in supporting individuals who may need it.

The workshop explored the:

• prevalence of mental illness (including substance misuse conditions),

• basic signs & symptoms of mental health conditions,

• NAMI stages of emotional reaction & lived experience,

• impact of mental health on communication, problem-solving & relationships,• effective communication in times of distress & the power of language, and

• free resources & APPS made available by NAMI SD

This workshop was led by Suzette Southfox, Director of Education – NAMI, and Rogena Abdelraman, Tech/Community Development Specialist – NAMI. Recording available upon request. Thank you to CSH for sponsoring the SHLN workshop series.