STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WSAW) – The Portage County Public Library is partnering with the National Alliance on Mental Illness to host a free program focused on mental health.
The programs, titled “In Our Own Voice,” will provide a personal perspective of mental health, shared by people with experience talking openly about living with various mental health conditions.
The programs aim to help dispel stereotypes and misconceptions about mental health, provide an environment for an honest and open discussion, and offer attendees information about getting involved with mental health initiatives in the community.
James Payne, an intern social worker at the Portage County Public Library Stevens Point Branch, attended the first session.
“I attended the first one and I was really, I had expectations for it and they were blown away,” Payne said. “I was like awestruck by some of the things people talked about and how open these people were and how they kind of bared their souls during these kind of speaker events. And it’s very, it’s very moving.”
Thursday’s session is at 3:30 p.m. at the Portage County Public Library in downtown Stevens Point at 1001 Main St.
The programs are free and open to the public, though space is limited. Call the Stevens Point Branch at 715-346-1548 or contact NAMI Portage and Wood Counties at 715-544-9653 for more information.
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