As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” We’ve always held tightly to this springtime promise, maybe at no time more than this year. The hope of consistent warm and sunny days ahead goes a long way to lift our spirits. It helps us feel optimistic and take baby steps toward our pre-COVID way of living. For us here at Minding Your Mind it means that every day we move closer and closer to live, in-person programming — we cannot wait! As we reflect on the events of the past year, we see clearly that many directly highlight what we teach: we are healthiest when we take care of our ourselves physically and emotionally, and stronger and much more resilient when we take care of one another. It appears that we are rounding the corner and approaching a new sense of “normal.” We hope that the mental health and emotional support programming provided by Minding Your Mind to your school, your families, and your entire community has helped carry you through in some way. We continue to be here for you as we embark on this journey of return, together.

Happy Spring!

Each May, individuals and organizations around the U.S. come together to initiate conversations that raise awareness around mental health. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has adopted a "You Are Not Alone" theme, focusing on the healing value of connection in striving to create a society where no one feels alone in their struggle. Mental Health America honors Mental Health Awareness Month with "Tools 2 Thrive", a campaign providing practical tools to improve mental health and increase resiliency.

Minding Your Mind has multiple programs available that speak directly to both of these themes, and beyond. Please check out the offerings listed below and join us for a virtual or pre-recorded presentation, participate in a fundraiser, or bring one of our offerings to your school, community, or workplace to raise awareness in your own way.

Minding Your Mind is thrilled to announce that Jordan Burnham has been named director of training. In this new role, Jordan will be responsible for recruiting, developing, and nurturing Minding Your Mind's young adult speakers. "Jordan is uniquely positioned to take on this role and I can think of no better person to serve our speakers," says Trish Larsen, executive director. "In 2008 he joined Minding Your Mind as one of our first speakers. He's spent 12 years sharing his story and can bring that first-hand experience into our speaker training and development. His commitment to advocacy combined with the care and compassion he shows for everyone he encounters will be an inspiring guidepost for both new and existing Minding Your Mind speakers."

As we continue to provide virtual programs and anticipate returning to in-person presentations during the 2021-2022 school year, we are actively recruiting new speakers. If you are, or know or know someone who is, a young adult who has come through a mental health crisis, are in a productive recovery process, and are interested in sharing your story to inspire others, please contact us.

With the loss of seasons, practice, the gym, connection, comradery, and structure due to academic and league shutdowns during the pandemic, student-athletes have been struggling with a loss of identity that often comes in a team experience. In response, Minding Your Mind created a program that promotes conversations around resilience and specifically addresses coping with these changes.

Led by director of corporate programs and young adult speaker Andrew Onimus, "This is Hard: Finding Your Way" is a conversation about finding hope and building resiliency during a time of individual and collective struggle. A former Division III student-athlete himself, Andrew is able to share his story through this common experience. This program has been in high demand for college athletic departments as well as middle school, high school, and club teams. To date, Andrew has presented more than fifty programs to athletic departments and teams, and spoken to student-athletes and staff at nearly 30 colleges and universities. "It is not a weakness to need help," emphasizes Onimus. "Sharing relatable stories to encourage others is a powerful way to start the conversation. Participation in these workshops is typically voluntary, yet I've seen huge turnouts and amazing interaction. That reaction is extremely validating to what Minding Your Mind is trying to accomplish in filling this need."