The North Shore Mental Health Group will host a potluck and community conversation around mental health in our region. Residents of Lake County and neighbors are invited to United Protestant Church in Silver Bay on September 16, 2025 at 5pm.
According to Nancy Christenson, mental health advocate and lifelong Silver Bay resident, the time is right to talk about mental health. “Stigma can be particularly challenging in a small town. When everyone knows each other, it takes commitment and dedication in our communities! Let’s just start asking the questions, ‘How are you doing today? Can we help?’ Together let us unite and agree to begin. Please join us!”
There are big steps being taken in Lake County. According to Zomi Bloom of Wilderness Health, a collaborative of hospitals in Northeast MN with a focus on rural health, “Connection is a protective factor for promoting mental health and wellbeing. Events like potlucks and community conversations provide an opportunity to strengthen the fabric of the community. These events provide support (whether that’s to prevent stressors from leading to anxiety or depression, or to lift up a community member who is struggling and needs that next level of care). At Wilderness we focus on expanding access to healthcare, like mental healthcare, through collaborations with community groups and member hospitals, and initiatives like telemental health.”
For more information, visit the North Shore Mental Health Group on Facebook.
The North Shore Mental Health Group (NSMHG) is an advocacy group committed to mental wellness through community activities and events, programs, and training. They “strive to create safe and welcoming spaces.” The NSMHG covers the area of northeast Lake County – Isabella, Finland, Little Marais, Silver Bay, Beaver Bay, and the townships and unorganized territory in the area.
If you or someone you know needs immediate mental health help, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also talk to your doctor for more resources.
