Photo caption: The Mental Health Fair augments the Kalamazoo Valley Museum’s mental health exhibit currently on display. The museum prides itself on hosting topical community events, like the one pictured here and the upcoming fair.

A one-of-a-kind Mental Health Fair approaching mind wellness from multiple angles comes to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum on Saturday, May 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. It includes services offered by a therapy dog clinic, the area’s leading suicide prevention agency, and the disability, racial healing, and LGBTQ+ communities, and four other organizations. Admission is free to this drop-in event, the museum, and all exhibits. Advance registration is not required.

Hear guest speakers and visit the informational tables of Gryphon Place; Be SMART; Western Michigan University Therapy Dog Clinic; Disability Network Southwest Michigan; OutFront Kalamazoo; Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Counseling Office; the Kalamazoo Public Library; Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Kalamazoo; and the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative.

“What we’re hoping is that visitors to the Mental Health Fair may discover new services and become reacquainted with others, while also gaining a deeper understanding of the topic of mental health through speakers and the traveling mental health exhibit currently at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum,” said Lexie Kobb, assistant director of the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.

“This topic is timely to discuss, and learning more about mental health needs and services can enrich your relationships and understanding of others, your family and friends, as well as yourself.”

From 1 to 1:30 p.m., Sue Ellen Christian from the SWMI Journalism Collaborative will share the research the group has done on mental health in Kalamazoo during a presentation in the museum’s Mary Jane Stryker Theater. In the next session, from 1:45 to 2:15 p.m., representatives from the WMU Therapy Dog Clinic will be bringing a dog, and will talk about how its program helps children and adults. Hear about the suicide prevention programs of Gryphon Place in the final session planned from 2:30 to 3 p.m.

Also, the museum’s “Mental Health: Mind Matters” exhibit will be open on the third floor for visitors to learn more. Through a series of interactive activity stations, the exhibit explores misconceptions about mental illness and has guests participate in empathy-building exercises and find out how to be kind to their minds. The exhibit runs until June 18.

Additional details are at kalamazoomuseum.org. The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its Board of Trustees.

ABOUT THE VENDORS

• WMU Therapy Dog Clinic was established in August 2022. It is focused on facilitating high-quality animal-assisted interventions throughout WMU and the community.

• The Be SMART campaign was launched to raise awareness that secure gun storage can save children’s lives, recommending storing guns locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition.

• Gryphon Place is the leading agency for suicide prevention in the area. It offers 9-8-8, The Gatekeeper Program, and Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group (SOS), among other services. Gryphon Place is part of the statewide 2-1-1 information and referral system, which connects people to a variety of resources, including housing or utility payment assistance.

• Disability Network Southwest Michigan educates and connects people with disabilities to resources while advocating social change.

• Truth, Racial, Healing & Transformation Kalamazoo is a community-based movement to bring about transformational and sustainable change to address the historic and contemporary effects of racism.

• The Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative is made up of 12 partners representing media, educational and community organizations to strengthen local journalism. It has a Mental Wellness Project underway, a solutions-oriented journalism initiative covering mental health issues in Southwest Michigan.

• OutFront Kalamazoo is a not-for-profit, charitable organization serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and allied community in Southwest Michigan. It will share support services for the LGBTQ+ community and allies.

• Kalamazoo Public Library will showcase the books and other resources it has about mental health, as well conduct onsite library-card registrations.

• Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Counseling Office employs a number of licensed professional counselors who provide short-term personal counseling and referrals to external counseling offices to Kalamazoo Valley students.

ABOUT KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Established in 1966, Kalamazoo Valley Community College offers certificate programs in more than 50 areas of study and associate degrees in 60 others. These include business, healthcare, human and public service, and technical occupations, culinary arts, and brewing training. The college has four Kalamazoo, Michigan locations, including the Texas Township Campus, the Groves Campus, the Arcadia Commons Campus, and the Bronson Healthy Living Campus. Classes are available during the day, evening, online, and weekends.