I would like to bring attention to the Science Museum of MN’s exhibit Mental Health: Mind Matters designed to raise awareness of mental health and help increase understanding that mental illnesses are real, common, and treatable.
From their website: “This groundbreaking exhibition aims to build a greater understanding of the importance of mental health and create a safe space for important conversations about mental illness. Hands-on experiences throughout the Mental Health: Mind Matters exhibit bring you closer to the facts, feelings, and issues surrounding this topic that touches so many of our lives.
Peer into mini-dioramas of important moments in mental health history. Play a quiz show to test your knowledge of common misconceptions about mental illnesses. Hear what it’s like to experience psychosis, and feel what it’s like to be unable to ignore your surroundings. Watch heartfelt videos of diverse individuals talking about their personal experiences living with mental illnesses. Write down your own worries and destroy them in the Worry Shredder. Gather additional information in a resource center to share with someone you know or better your own mental health.
It’s time to quiet the fear and amplify our voices. It’s time for healthy conversation about mental health. Start by purchasing your tickets today.”
There is a special education and holiday service event December 15th at 10:30 allowing tickets $10 below normal admission rates. Call Eunice Neubauer 651-402-4186 or eunice@choice-mn.com to register.
The exhibit will be open until January 6th. No need to register in advance if going on other dates and/on your own. Please help spread the word about this exhibit.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON FOR SOMEONE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES:
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota chapter will again be gathering gifts for children and adults who are in hospitals or residential treatment, including crisis homes, during the holiday season.
Gifts can be dropped off from Dec. 1 to Dec. 21, between 9:00-5:00 M-F, at NAMI, 1919 University Ave., Suite 400, in St. Paul. Volunteers will be needed to help deliver gifts on Dec. 22.
The most popular gifts are: journals (no spirals notebooks), colorful markers, word find books, simple crossword puzzle books, warm clothing for adults (hats, gloves, large shirts, sweaters, socks, long under ware), games (cards, board games), small stuffed animals, toiletries (shampoo, lotion, soap).
To learn more about NAMI’s ongoing in kind and financial needs go to : https://namimn.org/get-involved/donate_now/
Also from the Science Museum website:
Recent studies capture the impact of misunderstanding, discrimination, silence, and the resulting lack of treatment of mental illnesses:
1 in 5 — U.S. adults aged 18 or older experience mental illness in a given year (43.8 million, or 18.1% of all adults) (1)
10 years — the average delay between onset of symptoms and seeking treatment (2)
14 years old — Age by which 50% of all chronic mental illness begins (3)
24 years old — Age by which 75% of all chronic mental illness begins (4)
$193.2 billion — Annual lost earnings in the U.S. due to serious mental illness (5)
(1, 2) National Institute of Mental Health
(3, 4) JAMA Psychiatry
(5) The American Journal of Psychiatry
