— Breaking the silence around mental health starts with conversation. On Thursday, March 5, Astera Health is inviting the community to do just that with its free Bite-Size Conversation event, Your Mental Health: The Elephant on the Couch. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Depot, 100 Aldrich Ave. SW.
Kim Beiswenger, foundation director for Astera Health, speaks during a past Bite-Size Conversation event. Established in January 2020, Astera Health’s Bite-Size Conversations aim to address a wide range of health needs and questions.
Contributed photo / Astera Health
Part of Astera Health’s ongoing monthly Bite-Size Conversation series, which covers topics ranging from everyday wellness to colon health, the program held monthly aims to provide information on a wide range of subjects and spark future discussions, said Kim Beiswenger, Astera Health foundation director.
Kim Beiswenger, foundation director for Astera Health said the new Bite-Size Conversation series on mental health aims to address a wide range of topics — from common misconceptions to practical ways to combat stress and anxiety.
Contributed / Astera Health
The new mental health series will be held quarterly at the Depot to provide a more intimate setting, Beiswenger said. The topics for this four-part series were selected based on the
2025 community health assessment
, which highlighted mental health as a common concern among residents in Wadena, Todd and Otter Tail counties.
“When we looked at the community health needs assessment, we prioritized behavioral health, hosting two other events related to mental health at the end of 2025,” Beiswenger said. “We discovered there was a real need for more conversations around mental health.”
Led by psychiatrist Dr. Alicia Elliott and Astera Health’s behavioral health team, the March 5 event will cover mental health basics, including what care involves and how to find the right provider.
Dr. Alicia Elliott will host the Bite-Size Conversation series, The Elephant on the Couch, beginning with the March 5 event at 5:30 p.m. at the Depot. The ongoing series will be held quarterly.
Contributed photo / Astera Health
“The first event is kind of going back to the basics,” Elliott said. “There are a lot of misconceptions — like what is a psychologist, what is a psychiatrist, and what does it mean to have a psychiatric provider. We’ll talk about the different categories of mental health providers.”
Elliott said the session will also help attendees understand what their first appointment might look like and what recommendations they may receive from primary care providers. She explained that most patients first encounter mental health care through primary care providers, including physicians, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners, rather than directly seeing a psychiatrist.
A common misconception, Elliott noted, is that patients must “spill their guts” at their first appointment. “That’s not the case,” she said. “Trained health care professionals can provide a path for patients to find the right care through the right channels.”
Future Bite-Size Conversations in the Elephant on the Couch series will explore topics such as the impact of negative self-talk, the aspects of mental health that people often avoid discussing, and strategies to manage stress, anxiety and more.
To register for the free March 5 event and future Bite-Size Conversations, contact Beiswenger at 218-631-7499 or register online at
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/bitesizeconversations/
.
Nicole Stracek is an award-winning journalist known for her insightful and impactful storytelling across the region. As the community editor for the Wadena Pioneer Journal, she covers everything from local government to breaking news to human-interest features that highlight the heartbeat of Wadena. Nicole can be reached at 218-631-2561 or nstracek@wadenapj.com.