North Country Community Mental Health (NCCMH) is announcing May is Mental Health Month. “Turn Awareness into Action” is this year’s theme for Mental Health America and North Country’s May is Mental Health Month activities to remind us that taking proactive steps to understand and care for your mental well-being isn’t just self-care, it’s an investment in your future.

“Mental Health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and mental illnesses are common and treatable,” said Brian Babbitt, NCCMH Chief Executive Officer. “Mental health is personal, and what works for someone else may not work for you. Explore different practices and treatments to find what best fits your unique needs.”

“Throughout May, we will host various events and initiatives to raise awareness, encourage self-care, and connect people with resources,” said Babbitt.

NCCMH has planned the following activities during the month of May:

Saturday, May 31, 2025 – 25^th Annual Splash of Color Fun Run & Visibility Walk for Mental Health Awareness beginning at the Festival Place Shelter (200 Wachtel) in Petoskey. The Fun Run and Visibility Walk will have colorful paint throw checkpoints. The run will begin at 10:00 a.m. and the walk at 10:30 a.m. All proceeds from the event are donated to the North Country CMH Client Special Needs Fund, helping clients achieve their treatment goals. There will be door prizes, giveaways, and fun “Splash of Color” paint throws! Cost is $15 per person. Everyone who registers will receive a prize drawing ticket. Register at tinyurl.com/nccmhsplash2025. You can also register the morning of the event from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. at the Petoskey Festival Place Shelter. T-Shirts available while supplies last.

May 1-31 – Art Display in Charlevoix – At Charlevoix Public Library (220 West Clinton Street), view artwork created by members of New Horizons Clubhouse and Petoskey Clubhouse.

Mental Health First Aid Free Virtual Trainings for the Community – The public is invited to register for free Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) classes this month and at various dates throughout the year. These classes come with a valuable manual and are provided at no cost to the community. The Adult MHFA class will be offered virtually on May 14 from 9 AM to 5 PM. Mental Health First Aid for Adults teaches people how to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges in adults ages 18 and older, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to guide a person toward appropriate care if necessary. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions. The Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) dates will be announced. Visit norcocmh.org/mental-health-first-aid/ for more information.

#Tools4Resilience Virtual Education Series – During the lunch hour (12-1 PM) every Tuesday and Wednesday in May, NCCMH will team up with Northern Lakes CMH to provide a free virtual education program on a variety of mental health/well-being topics. Register for one or all of the talks using this link: https://forms.office.com/r/6fYkHuQMdU.  The Tools4Resilience topics are as follows: May 6 Attachment: An in-depth look at attachment from pregnancy to the teenage years, including attachment styles; May 7 Autism: Dr. Christine Dillon will discuss autism research trends from the past two years highlighting neuroaffirming care and the movement toward autism acceptance led by the autism community; May 13 A Brief History of Mental Health: Looking at humanity, mistakes, mishaps, and occasional breakthroughs; May 14 Stomp Out Stigma: Examining the barriers created in language, actions and media that prevent people from seeking help with mental health challenges; May 20 The Friendly Approach: Improving communication in the workplace by examining how we greet people, boundaries, answering the phone, maintaining calm for calls or face-to-face encounters; May 21 Creating and Keeping Positivity: how to create, maintain and foster that engaging atmosphere at work and home; May 27 What Every Child Needs for Good Mental Health; May 28 How to Keep Your Devices Safe: IT Specialists share advice and tips on how to keep your electronic devices safe. From scam text messages to phishing sites, this talk will go over the basics of staying safe in our online world.

Free Community Movies – At 1 PM both on Friday, May 9 at the Petoskey Friendship Center (1322 Anderson Rd, Petoskey), and Wednesday, May 21 at the Brutus Friendship Center (6436 E Brutus Rd, Brutus), there will be a free viewing of the movie, The Lady In The Van, starring Maggie Smith. This is a “mostly true” story about an irritable, unsanitary, religious, and homeless elderly woman who lived in a dilapidated van in a writer’s driveway in north London for 15 years. During that time the woman and the man learn more about each other and gain a greater understanding of themselves. At both locations there will also be a short presentation by NCCMH’s OBRA/Older Adult Services program staff on mental health and aging after the movie.

Creative Minds, Changing Minds Art Show – NCCMH is hosting this statewide traveling art show sponsored by the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan during May Mental Health Month. The show contains two pieces of art from residents of northern Michigan. Proceeds from sales go to anti-stigma efforts in Michigan. The show travels around the state for two years; in northern Michigan, it will be shown May 1-8 at the Antrim County Building, May 8-15 at Petoskey District Library, May 15-22 at Cheboygan Area Public Library, and May 22-29 at the Otsego County Library.