Minnesota’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference by the numbers

For nearly three decades people focused on the mental soundness of children and teens have gathered in Duluth for the Minnesota Association for Children s Mental Fitness s MACMH annual Child and Adolescent Mental Strength Conference This year s conference the association s th will be held at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center on April - The conference draws scores of professionals and individuals concerned about the mental medical of young people Last week as the organization geared up for the big event I spoke with Brandon Jones MACMH executive director Here is specific background about the conference and the state of children s mental strength in Minnesota broken down by numbers Attendance at MACMH s annual conference continues to grow Jones declared with this year s number of participants tallying close to Our conference is open to all professionals who work with children not just mental fitness providers but also teachers physical therapists diagnostic providers social utility professionals Parents of children with mental illness also attend the three-day event For plenty of people in the field it s an annual tradition A multitude of attendees means several workshops on topics ranging from Sensory Processing Issues and Their Hidden Effects on Mental Robustness to The Unique Challenges of Eating Disorders in Young Men MACMH executive director Brandon Jones Credit Submitted photo Since we are going to have so a great number of people attend the conference this year we are offering over different workshops over three days Jones announced There are also good engagement and networking opportunities for professionals who work with people with mental fitness struggles and challenges According to the Minnesota Pupil Survey a comprehensive survey administered every three years to students in the state s community elementary and secondary schools charter schools and tribal schools in fifth eighth ninth and th grades the number of Minnesota teens reporting experiencing long-term mental illness is on an upward trajectory In of th graders who took the survey announced they d struggled with mental illness over an extended period of time compared with in and in We ve been seeing this ripple effect of anxiety and depression indicators and suicidality among young people since the pandemic Jones declared He thinks that participants see the conference as a way to respond to this dilemma A lot of people are searching for information and answers and strategies Our conference is here to serve folks as much as attainable who are seeking that connection and that help The bulk conference participants are from Minnesota but certain people also journey long distances to attend Last year we had folks from Virginia Missouri Iowa the Dakotas and Wisconsin Jones declared The number of children seeking crisis care for mental wellbeing crises has risen Since for instance Children s Minnesota released an almost increase in crisis room visits for mental strength requirements Every year MACMH sponsors two conferences Child and Adolescent Mental Strength Conference and the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Medical Conference held this year at RiverCentre in downtown St Paul Nov - This year s theme is Tell Me Your Story The theme Jones explained was inspired by the a multitude of personal stories that came out of last year s gathering April s conference will feature three MHED Talks by Amanda Amos MACMH infant early childhood assistant director Minnesota author Kao Kalia Yang and Jim Keenan executive director of POR Emotional Wellness The MHED Talks are the mental-health learning version of TED Talks Jones announced Our speakers are all going to tell their own stories of struggles with mental soundness in childhood There is a shortage of mental wellness providers in Minnesota According to A Post-Pandemic Problem Inadequate mental vitality care access a account authored by Sue Adberholden NAMI Minnesota executive director the job vacancy rate in mental fitness and substance use counseling professions in was compared to an vacancy rate in This number is the highest vacancy rate of all medical care professions according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Maturation Jones declared that the challenges of the job make attending this conference feel particularly significant to participants This work is not physically taxing but it can be emotionally taxing Often these folks are working in isolation They pick up the stress of the young people they are working with It is helpful when you can connect with other professionals Kathy Flaminio left Movemindfully s founder and CEO and Chrissy Mignogna Movemindfully s lead trainer and director of teaching Credit Submitted photo This year conference participants will have an opportunity to learn about the importance of the mind-body connections in supporting overall mental vitality when Kathy Flaminio and Chrissy Mignogna of St Paul-based Movemindfully will offer I Am Safe workshops at various times during the event The workshops will focus on simple body movements as zero-cost tools to help mental medical You can use your body to change how you feel and you have this free source available at all times to help you confront the joys and challenges of everyday life Mignogna reported There s a ton of great research that moving your body can really improve your mood It can help alleviate stress and anxiety effects It can help you feel safe when you re feeling really overwhelmed and it s an intervention you have in the moment that mental physical condition professionals can use in their work and in their life The post Minnesota s Child and Adolescent Mental Wellness Conference by the numbers appeared first on MinnPost