Museum Hosts Major Mental Health Fair on May 20

Event Augments its Exhibit on Mind Wellness, Shares Resources

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. The drop-in event 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 the fair, the museum and to 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.