May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the first week in May (5/2-5/6) is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. We’ve pulled together a list of activities and events happening in the Madison area during May that support and promote mental health awareness and wellness. How will you support mental health awareness?
- Sunday, May 1st, Chrysalis Moving for Mental Health 5K Run/Walk & 1 Mile Walk
- 10:30 AM Registration. 11 AM Race Start
- Join other supporters of mental health and wellness on a scenic route through Tenney Park and Madison’s near-east side to raise funds for Chrysalis, Inc. Chrysalis is a non-profit organization that provides individualized vocational and work-related services to persons in our community who have mental illness.
- Visit Chrysalis’ website for details and registration.
- Tuesday, May 3rd, “Healing Voices” movie screening
- 6 PM- 9 PM, Goodman Community Center (149 Waubesa St., 53704)
- Sponsored by Solstice House Peer Run Respite. “Healing Voices” is a social action documentary that explores the experience of commonly labeled “psychosis” through the stories of individuals with lived experience. The film follows three individuals over a five year time period and offers interviews with mental health experts in the field. After the screening there will be a community discussion and Q&A session.
- Visit Solstice House’s Facebook event page for more information.
- Thursday, May 5th, Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day of Action & Celebration
- 10 AM- 11:30 AM, Day of Action, Overture Center- Wisconsin Studio. The Day of Action event will highlight the recent Kids in Crisis series by USA TODAY NETWORK featuring Wisconsin youth, families, and community members impacted by mental illness. Day of Action will provide an opportunity to ask lawmakers to better support children and teens with mental health challenges.
- 11:30 AM-12:30 PM, Celebration, Overture Center- Rotunda Stage. Hosted by the Children’s Mental Health Matters Coalition. Join community members, professionals, youth and families in recognizing and celebrating youth and community leaders raising awareness for children’s mental health in Wisconsin. Young artist award winners from the “My Feelings Matter” poster contest will be recognized and local youth groups will perform.
- Visit the Children’s Mental Health Matters website for details.
- Thursday, May 5th, “Paper Tigers” movie screening
- 6:30 PM-9:00 PM, Memorial High School (201 S. Gammon Rd., 53717)
- Sponsored by the Dane County Trauma Informed Advisory Council. “Paper Tigers” is a documentary that follows a year in the life of Lincoln High Alternative School in Walla Walla, Washington and explores the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACES) and toxic stress on struggling teens. Lincoln High Alternative School became a promising model of how to break the cycle of poverty, violence, and disease that affect families by radically changing their approach to disciplining students and implementing trauma-informed practice and strategies.
- RSVP is required. Contact papertigersmemorial@gmail.com