Winona, Minn. – Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center (HVMHC) has announced there will be a free, extended hours bus route for their 4th Annual Bringing Light into Darkness community event this Thursday, September 19, from 5-9 p.m. at their 420 East Sarnia St clinic.
The city transit bus normally ends services at 6:15pm on Thursday evenings, but HVMHC worked with the city to extend a special route until 9:30pm this Thursday, September 19. The special, free route will run from 6:15pm to 9:30pm and will make a continuous loop around: Maplewood Townhomes Shelter, Hy-Vee Shelter, 252 West 7th St, Winhaven Court, Valley View Tower, Bluff View Flats, and the HVMHC clinic.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. There were 815 deaths by suicide and 1,338 deaths by overdose in Minnesota in 2023. The September 19 event is to celebrate mental health and bring awareness of the darkness that mental illness and addiction can evoke, but through darkness there is a light of hope that can build resiliency and recovery.
The event will feature free music, five food trucks, a community resource fair, and interactive Learning Sessions.
Inertia, a local cover band playing the best hits of the 90’s and 2000’s will be the main feature of the night playing under a large tent in the parking lot from 5:15-9:00 p.m. with an intermission from 7:15-8:00 p.m. Senator Jeremy Miller, and Winona Mayor Scott Sherman highlight the speakers on the main stage from 7:15-8:00 p.m.
Backwater Barbeque, The Taco Lab, El Samuria Teppanyaki Japanese Cuisine, Affagato Lane Coffee and Sweet Clouds and Cones will all be on hand from 5:00pm-9:00pm.
A mental health resource fair featuring 30 vendors will be held inside the HVMHC clinic. Community members will have a chance to visit with non-profits and see the resources available to them in the community. There are interactive Learning Sessions scheduled inside of the HVMHC clinic throughout the night that guests can choose to attend.
Check out the Bringing Light into Darkness web page at: https://hvmhc.org/bringing-light-into-darkness/ for the full schedule of events including the Learning Sessions scheduled from 5:00pm-9:00pm.
Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center (HVMHC) has been a trusted provider of mental health and substance use services in Southeastern Minnesota since 1965. HVMHC is a regional leader in providing exceptional, responsive, consumer focused behavioral health services. Today, HVMHC provides a diverse array of services and support designed to meet people where they are at in their recovery journey.
HVMHC’s combination of housing programming for adults, clinic-based services including therapy, psychiatry, counseling, as well as community-based services including case management, skills services, and school based mental health services are uniquely provided by HVMHC across the region. HVMHC serves Goodhue, Wabasha, Winona, Houston, and Fillmore Counties in Southeast Minnesota.
If you would like additional information on HVMHC and the services they provide, please go to www.hvmhc.org or call 1-800-657-6777. If you or someone you care for is struggling with their mental health and/or experiencing thoughts of suicide, help is available 24/7 through the 988 National Crisis Line or by dialing 1-844-274-7427.
Learning Sessions Schedule – Located within HVMHC Clinic’s Garden Room
5:00-5:25pm: Destressing & Relaxation with HVMHC’s Crisis Response Team
5:30-5:55pm: An Introduction to Reiki with Kimberly Jass Mahoney of The Reiki Room
6:00-6:40pm: Naloxone Overdose Training with Meghan Walsh of the Steve Rummler Hope Network.
6:45-7:15pm: An introduction to Yoga with Randi Campbell of Muddy Waters Yoga Studio.
7:15-7:55pm: No Learning Sessions scheduled in the Garden Room. Please join us under the main tent for our Nights Speakers.
8:00-8:25pm: An Introduction to Sound Bowls with Emily Thompson of Sacred Healing
8:30-9:00pm: The Blake Apley Story. Join Jen and Bill Apley as Jen shares their family story about losing their son Blake to suicide.
