Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Initiative

09/08/2026

Today is . 💚

A reminder that your reason is reason enough. You don't have to be in crisis to reach out. Whatever you're facing, support is available.

Know the number. Share the number. And remind someone you care about that they don't have to go through it alone.

Call, text or live chat 988. 💙

It's ! 💜

This year's theme, "988 Reasons: Your reason is reason enough," reminds us that you don't have to be in crisis to reach out to the 988 Lifeline. Whatever you're facing, support is available.

Today, share what 988 means to you - whether it's reaching out for support, checking in on someone you care about, finding someone to talk to, or simply knowing that help is available when you need it.

Share your reason and help remind others that there's no wrong time to reach out to 988.

09/08/2026

Register today - and join us in making a difference!

The 2026 Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Provider Summit is coming up on Friday, November 6, and we’re excited to bring mental health and healthcare professionals from across the region together for a day of learning, connection, and collaboration.

This year’s theme, From Awareness to Action: Advancing Mental Health Across Systems, will focus on evidence-based practices, practical tools, and the partnerships needed to strengthen mental health care across our region.

📅 Friday, November 6, 2026
📍 Saginaw Valley State University | Gilbertson Hall
🔗 https://givebutter.com/2026-glbr-mental-health-provider-summit
🗒️CE and SCECH credits are pending

💚 Interested in supporting this important work? We are currently seeking sponsors to help make this event possible! Your support helps bring providers together, strengthen connections across systems, and invest in the people who are working every day to improve mental health in our communities. Please reach out to [email protected] for more information.

Together, we can move from awareness to action. 💙💚

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day! 💙💚

Today, we celebrate and recognize the hard work, dedication, and contributions of those who help make our communities stronger every day.

Wishing everyone a safe, restful, and well-deserved holiday!

09/05/2026

Thank you to the Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club for inviting our director to speak and share more about our work across the region. We’re grateful for the opportunity to have important conversations about mental health and offer some practical insight on how we can recognize when someone may be struggling and know how to support them. 💚

This week, the Rotary Club of Mt. Pleasant welcomed Dallas Rau of the Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Initiative – CMU Health for a thoughtful and impactful presentation on mental health in our community.

Dallas shared the Initiative's work to reduce stigma surrounding mental health, educate workplaces and youth, expand access to care, and connect individuals with the resources they need. She also talked about Mental Health First Aid, an evidence-based training that teaches participants how to recognize the signs of a mental health or substance use challenge, provide initial support, and help connect someone with appropriate care.

One statistic that resonated with our members was that 1 in 5 people report they or a family member did not receive the mental health care they needed. It served as a powerful reminder that increasing awareness, improving access, and fostering open conversations can make a meaningful difference.

Thank you, Dallas, for sharing your expertise and for the important work you and the Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Initiative are doing to build healthier, more connected communities.

09/05/2026

Let’s take the conversation about mental health out of the shadows.

We’re honored to bring MY SISTER LIV to Saginaw for a powerful evening of film, conversation, and connection.

This moving documentary opens the door to important conversations about youth mental health, stigma, and su***de - and reminds us why creating spaces to talk openly, listen, and support one another matters.

Following the film, join us for a panel discussion with regional partners and mental health professionals.

📅 October 21, 2026
🕕 6:00–8:00 p.m.
📍 Temple Theatre – Saginaw
🎟️ FREE to attend | Registration required
🔗 Register here: https://givebutter.com/10-21-26-my-sister-liv

Appropriate for ages 14+.

We hope you'll join us. These conversations matter. And together, we can help ensure that no one feels alone in the shadows. 💜

09/04/2026

You never know when someone may need you. 💙💚

Join us on September 15 for Adult Mental Health First Aid and learn how to recognize the signs of a mental health or substance use challenge, offer support, and help connect someone to the appropriate care.

Together, we can be better prepared to .

📍 Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine – Saginaw (1632 Stone Street - Saginaw)
🕙 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
🔗 https://givebutter.com/91526-adult-mental-health-first-aid-training

Register today using the link above or QR code below!

09/03/2026

🍦A SWEET WAY TO CHECK IN 💚

We’re excited to introduce...Check-In & Chill!

Life gets busy. People get quiet. Sometimes, the best way to check in is to simply show up.

We’ve partnered with Michigan Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Company to make it easy: Purchase a ‘Check-In & Chill’ digital gift certificate, receive a 5% bonus! Use it as…

🍦 …a perfect excuse to catch up with a friend
💙 …a thoughtful gift for employees or coworkers

Even sweeter? Every digital gift certificate purchased provides a donation to the Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Initiative, supporting local mental health programming.

Scan the QR code below to grab a cone and check on your people. It matters more than you think.

09/02/2026

September is National Su***de Prevention Awareness Month - a reminder that talking about su***de can save lives.

This month and every month, let’s make space for honest conversations, connection, and hope. 🩵💜

08/26/2026

Another incredible day of learning, connection, and growth! 💚

Today, 26 more people in our region completed Adult Mental Health First Aid training, building the skills and confidence to recognize when someone may be struggling, offer support, and help connect them to appropriate resources and care.

Thanks to generous support from the Bay Area Community Foundation, we were able to make this training possible - and the response today was incredibly encouraging. Participants shared that they want to bring this training to even more of their staff and see more opportunities like this throughout our community.

One of the most meaningful parts of the day was hearing participants reflect on how these skills can also help them recognize when they need support and feel more comfortable reaching out for help themselves.

That’s what this work is about: building a community where we feel more confident supporting others and giving ourselves permission to ask for support when we need it, too.

26 more people trained. More conversations started. More people equipped to . 💙

08/24/2026

An amazing reminder about having 988 as a resource - and that call, text or live chat can be the first step to the support you are seeking. 💙💚

More people are reaching out for support — and 988 is answering. 💚

In 2025, 988 state contact centers saw a 12% increase in calls compared to 2024. Even better: 89% were answered in-state, which connected callers directly to local care when it mattered most.

Growth like this means two things: awareness is spreading, and people are taking that first step to find help.

If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988, or text TALK to 741741. You don't have to be alone. 💙