Community Mental Health Resource Fair

When:  Saturday, October 29, 2022

Time:  8:30 am to 3:00 pm

Where:  First Lutheran Church; 424 So 8^th St; Brainerd, MN

Cost:  Free but registration is required

Lunch will be served

Registration link:

Attendees can attend up to three of the following presentations:

• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Lowell Johnson and Wendy Gammello -Introduction to Neuroscience – the effect of trauma on brain development, Epigenetics – o the intersection of nature and nurture; Adversity, the ACE study; and Resilience – the answer to trauma.
• Changing the Narrative: Destiny Brown – Changing the Narrative on Mental Health and Suicide: Participants will leave with an understanding about the importance of language, be able to identify risk and protective factors, and be empowered to respond to people in distress. Discuss the different feelings, beliefs, and attitudes talking about mental health and suicide.
• Lethal Means: Laura Stumvoll – Objectives: ▪ General level and scope of suicide in the United States ▪ Definition and Importance of Lethal Means Safety ▪ When and how to provide Lethal Means Counseling ▪ Examples of Lethal Means Safety tips
• Make It Ok: Julie Christensen – Make It OK is a community campaign to reduce stigma by increasing understanding and creating caring conversations about mental health illnesses..
• More Resilient Minnesota: Becky Dale & Jenna Schmidt – We will learn more about working together to recruit a  local Community Resilience Planning Team that can complete the Community Resilience Plan. This plan should reflect priorities of Collaborative representatives, partners, and community members, including those who provided input at Community Resilience Conversations and/or one-on-one interviews using the 100 Cups of Coffee Interview Tool.
• Naloxone training: Jessica Schwartz – With the increase in fentanyl in communities across the country, including Crow Wing County, each month record number of Americans are dying of drug overdoses. There is an opportunity for businesses, organizations, and individuals to be prepared to save the life of someone experiencing an overdose. This training includes information about the opioid crisis, how to recognize and  treat an overdose with naloxone. We will also discuss the laws related to naloxone in the state of Minnesota. Attendees can receive three free doses of naloxone after completing training.
• Postvention: – Holley Mathieu Connect Suicide Postvention Training is a half day training that focuses on engaging and building capacity for key service providers who will be involved responding to a suicide or other sudden death in a community. Postvention training is a proactive planning tool to promote healing and reduce risk in the event of a suicide or sudden death.
• Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR): Destiny Brown – QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention is a 1-hour educational, evidence-based program designed to teach lay and professional “gatekeepers” the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. Gatekeepers can include anyone who is strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide. The process follows three steps: o Question the individual’s desire or intent regarding suicide, o Persuade the person to stay alive, seek and accept help, and o Refer the person to appropriate resources
• SAVE: Laura Stumvoll – A.V.E. is a one-hour suicide prevention gatekeeper training program that includes the following: 1) Brief overview of suicide in the Veteran population 2) Suicide myths and misinformation 3) Risk factors for suicide 4) Components of the S.A.V.E. model (Signs of suicide, Asking about suicide, Validating feelings, Encouraging help and Expediting treatment)