April 2025: E-Newsletter
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May is here and that means it's Mental Health Awareness Month!
There's so many ways you can celebrate with us. Along with our mental health events, our director, Tray Tolbert, has created a calendar of ways you can honor mental health throughout the entire month of May.
The goal of this calendar is to challenge ourselves and form new habits that support our mental health. Tag us on Facebook or Instagram to show off how you're completing these challenges!
We hope to see you in May at the following events!
May 3, 2025 @ The Foothills Farmers Market (126 W Marion St.) 8:00 am - 12:00 pm. Find us sharing information about our organization and leading the Kids POP Club activity as we kick off Mental Health Awareness Month.
May 6, 2025 @ Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library (104 Howie Dr.) 4:30 - 6:30 pm. Join us at our usual art activity time to create buttons and other items in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.
May 20, 2025 @ Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library - Brownie Plaster Meeting Room (104 Howie Dr.) 10:00 am - 11:30 pm. We will be hosting our first CRM Training of the year with the Cleveland County Health Department. This training is open to the public.
The Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® is evidence-based and trains community members to not only help themselves but to help others. The primary focus of this skills-based, stabilization program is to re-set the natural balance of the nervous system. CRM’s goal is to help to create “trauma-informed” and “resiliency-focused” communities that share a common understanding of the impact of trauma and chronic stress on the nervous system and how resiliency can be restored or increased using this skills-based approach.
Regsiter for our May CRM Training here.
Mental Health Awareness Month
There are many ways to honor mental health awareness month this year. Along with all of the events at MHA, consider checking out Mental Health America's resources.
Here are some of our favorite resources provided by MHA National:
7 Steps to Become an Advocate - ways to become a mental health advocate.
10 Journal Prompts for Self-Reflection - journal prompts to help with self-reflection
Building Boundaries Worksheet - guide to setting and keeping boundaries
Mental Health Grocery List - foods that support brain health.
Nurturing Your Spirit - ways to support your mental health spiritually (both religiously and non-religiously).
National Resource List - resource list that covers national mental health resources.
Action Guide - guide for navigating Mental Health Awareness Month 2025.
Upcoming Events Hosted by MHA
This list contains all events that are led by or in collaboration with the Mental Health Association of Cleveland County. You can also find these listed on our calendar.
Happening Locally
Here are some things you can do locally to help get you connected to activities that can support your mental health. All activities are free (F) or low-cost (LC). If you know of any things to do in Cleveland County and think we should include it in our monthly newsletter, send an to egrimsley@clevelandcountymha.org
Events in Shelby
Broad River Market - Jefferson Park (801 Jefferson St.)
Every Monday, 4:30 pm - until out of food
100% FREE food - fresh produce and groceries
Cleveland County Mutual Aid Pop Ups
Next Pop Ups:
May 3, 1 - 4 PM at Got Books! 814 S Washington St., Shelby, NC
100% FREE items - toiletries, books, clothes, OTC medications, etc.
Facebook group open to helping people connect with resources and help
Cleveland County Libraries (various locations) (F)
Brick Builders | Middle School & High School Age (Eugenia H. Young)
Thursday, May 15, 4:30 - 5:30 pm
Line Dancing
Monday, May 19, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Manga Club (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Tuesday, May 20, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Makers Meetup - Sublimation Printed Pet Bandanas (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Thursday, May 1, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Yoga (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Monday, May 5, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Monday Night Book Club (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Monday, May 12, 5:30 - 6:00 pm
Teen Tuesday (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Tuesday, May 13, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Expanding Your Toolkit: Support Groups and Trainings
Trainings by Partners
At the time of writing this newsletter, Partners has not updated their training calendar for April. To check back later, click here.
Support Groups
MHA’s Depression and Anxiety Support Group
Every Thursday, 6:30 - 7:30 PM
205 S Washington St. (Upstairs Conference Room), Shelby, NC - please note: building does not have an elevator.
Gaston, Lincoln, and Cleveland Brain Injury Support Group
Third Tuesday of each month, 6-7 pm
ComServe, 1541 Delta Drive, Gastonia, NC 28052;
Contact: Patricia Haithcox at phaithcox@comserve.org, 704-736-5307 or Shanda Daniels at 704-772-4291
Online: Reoccurring biweekly, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM.
Access here.
Hickory Brain Injury Support Group
Last Tuesday of the month, 6-7:30 PM
First United Methodist Church, 311 3rd Ave NE, Hickory, NC
Contact: travis@crossroadscounseling.org, 828-781-0778
12-step style program for emotional health struggles
Visit site to find virtual meetings
Know of an existing support group or want assistance starting one? Contact us by emailing egrimsey@clevelandcountymha.org to get added to this list or develop one.
