May 2023
mspWellness News
In case you haven’t heard, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This is an increasingly important topic for employers and workplaces, so this month is a great time to focus on employee wellness - whether you’re just getting started or adding additional elements to your current wellness program! Check out all of the resources in this month’s newsletter, and join us for our virtual webinar on May 24th featuring NAMI Minnesota (see below for details).
Free Live Webinar: “Good Mental Health in the Workplace: Five Things You Can Do”
Join mspWellness and Guest Speaker Catherine Christiansen from NAMI Minnesota on May 24th for a free live webinar to recognize and celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month 2023. Learn the five things you can do to create a workplace that values good mental health. Participants will learn how to promote good mental health (including dealing with stress), the common symptoms of a mental illness, how attitudes and language impact people with mental illnesses, and accommodations for a mental illness. This program is designed for employees, supervisors, organizational leaders, owners, board members and human resource professionals.
Announcing the 2023 mspWellness Champion Designation Program!
We’re thrilled to share that a new Champion designation application for 2023 will open on June 1st! Applications received and approved by September 30th will be featured in our annual celebration event in November.

mspWellness Champions are organizations in Minnesota that create, implement, and promote wellness programs as part of their organizational culture, and meet the criteria defined by the Minneapolis Regional Chamber and the Hennepin County and City of Minneapolis Departments of Health. The Champion designation program was created to recognize and celebrate organizations who work to positively affect the health and well-being of their employees and communities.

Join the list of 36 worksites from our first year who have been named mspWellness Champions, and be recognized for your outstanding work in 2023! Learn more and apply after June 1st at mspwellness.com/champions!
Mental Health Myth Busters
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. One in 5 people will develop a mental illness at some point in their life. Not knowing the facts about mental illnesses can lead to stigma – and stigma can lead to delaying critical mental health care. Become a mental health myth-buster!

Common Myths:

  1. Mental illnesses are rare.
  2. If you try harder, you can make your symptoms go away.
  3. Everyone who has a mental illness needs medication to manage symptoms.
  4. Keeping a job is too stressful for individuals with mental illness.
  5. Someone living with a mental illness is more likely to commit a crime or be violent. Click here to learn the facts.
Mental Health Resources From the Minneapolis Health Department
People in crisis and seeking help for mental wellness, and their loved ones, are not alone.

  • Minnesota warmline: a safe, anonymous and confidential way to connect with people. 1-877-404-3190 or text “Support” to 85511 noon to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): help finding resources for those with and without insurance. 1-888-NAMI-HELPS or 1-888-626-4435.
  • CRISIS text line: a free, 24/7 phone line for those experiencing a mental health crisis. Adult services: 612-596-1223. Child services: 612-348-2233. Mobile phone: **CRISIS (274747) or text “MN” to 741741.
  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
  • Behavioral health crisis
  • Mental health support

Visit the Minneapolis Health Department’s Mental Health page for more resources & information.
Toolkits for Employers From the Minnesota Department of Health
In case you missed it, MDH has some great toolkits and shareables readily available for employers and worksites. Check them out and be sure to share your feedback!

CWMH's May Is Mental Health Month Toolkit. This resource is workplace-focused and offers several concise ideas to implement to offer a more supportive workplace.

Suicide Prevention Mental Health Month Tool Kit. Contains ideas and resources on ideas to raise awareness around mental health and suicide prevention. It includes key messages that can be used for emails, newsletter content, social media posts, and images suitable for workplace communications.
Opportunities Available for mspWellness Partners!
As an employer focused initiative, mspWellness has a partnership network of over 8,000 individuals that spans across multiple industries and sectors. As we continue to expand our programming, resources, tools, and communications, our reach expands as well. Interested in joining the partnership or engaging on a deeper level? Contact Frances Huntley, mspWellness Initiative Lead & Strategic Partnership Program Manager for the Minneapolis Regional Chamber.
Resources & Information
Living Well by HealthPartners
HealthPartners Community Living Well solution takes a tiered approach to well-being:

  • Individual participants gain insights into their health status and lifestyle risk factors and are supported to make positive change through access to research-based activities and resources to meet them at their level of need.
  • Employers receive strategic planning consultation, robust reporting, and program customizations to drive engagement in their population – leading to a workforce that feels cared for and supported in their well-being all while lowering health risk and increasing productivity.
  • Working in collaboration among employer groups and HealthPartners broader community health and well-being themes are determined and addressed throughout the year.

We invite you to reach out to HealthPartners to learn more about the Community Living Well options!
About mspWellness
mspWellness is a program of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber designed to provide businesses with resources to create and sustain healthy work environments through wellness programs.

The Minneapolis Health Department and the Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health 
Department are partners of the chamber in this effort with support from the Minnesota Department 
of Health’s Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) and Community Wellness Grant, which provides funding as a catalyst for creating healthier communities.