A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the launch of an innovative mental health awareness sign project was held Saturday in Rochester.
(ABC 6 News) – A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Saturday in Rochester to celebrate the launch of an innovative mental health awareness sign project.
It was a partnership between Olmsted County Public Health Services and one of the Leadership Greater Rochester Program’s two 2024 cohorts, according to a press release.
The ceremony was held at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota’s Rochester campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a ribbon cutting at noon.
A key component of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Greater Rochester Program is community impact projects. This project challenges participants to turn ideas into sustainable actions that address community needs. This year’s cohort has chosen to focus on mental health awareness in Olmsted County, which has been identified as a top priority for health improvement.
On Saturday, the group celebrated the installation of the first sign at the St. Mary’s University of Minnesota Rochester campus and plans to install five more signs in parks across Bryon, Stewartville, Oronoco and Rochester.
Each sign highlights the important benefits of spending time outdoors to promote mental health and well-being, and is thoughtfully designed to reflect Olmsted County’s diverse population and content is available in English, Spanish, and Somali.
In addition to messages about mental health, each sign includes a QR code that directs users to the next page. trustworthy heart Website. Launched in December 2023 by the Olmsted County Public Health Department, this resource provides rich mental health content, self-assessments, and local community resources to further support individuals seeking health and mental health support and guidance. Masu.
“We believe increasing awareness about mental health is important to building healthier communities,” said Shailene Baumbach, health promotion manager for the Olmsted County Public Health Department. . “Through this collaboration with Leadership Greater Rochester, we want to encourage residents to embrace the outdoors and recognize the positive impact it has on their mental health.”
