“Breaking Silence, Building Strength” conference on May 7, 2026
On May 7, 2026, the community is invited to attend the Southeast Minnesota Community Mental Health and Wellness conference "Breaking Silence, Building Strength." The goal of the conference, hosted by the Southeast Minnesota Adult Mental Health Initiative, is to emphasize the collective effort to raise awareness around mental health, provide education, and reduce stigma.
Event details
- What: "Breaking Silence, Building Strength” conference
- Date: May 7, 2026 (begins at 8:30 a.m.)
- Where: International Event Center at 7333 Airport View Dr. SW. in Rochester
- Cost: Free! Lunch is included.
- Registration for the event is required online or by calling 507-328-7770.
Community members attending the event will gather to gain insights, connect with local resources, and build support for overall well-being.
Keynote speaker Chris Hawkey will start the conference at 9 a.m. Hawkey, a Minnesota radio host, singer, and speaker, will talk about how going public with his depression helped him with his own mental health struggles. He will also share how every person can help themselves and their community by sharing about their mental health.
Throughout the conference, there will be various sessions to help improve mental health and well-being. Attendees can learn about affirming care for the LGBTQ+ community and tools for stress management and building support systems. Other sessions will focus on properly using NARCAN and the experience of living with panic disorder.
The conference will also feature a panel discussion about how to respond to and manage co-occurring mental health conditions.
Sierra Grandy will close the conference. Grandy is a neurodiversity educator, disability rights advocate, mental health speaker, attorney, and founder of Questify Your Life, LLC. She will share her mental health recovery journey. Grandy will talk about the roles of both formal and informal support systems, illustrating how they can be used to create effective individualized recovery plans.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the Southeast Minnesota Community Mental Health and Wellness conference, please contact events4mentalhealth@olmstedcounty.gov.