September 2025: E-Newsletter
To get this newsletter sent to your email, join our mailing list here.Organization Updates
September was Suicide Prevention Month. To honor it, we shared a guide on our website that goes over statistics, stigma, warning signs, and what to do if you or someone you care about is considering suicide. You can find our posts here:
See You in October!
We have a few tabling events going on in October. If you're attending any of these events, you can stop by our table and grab some of our mental health and community resources. We can't wait to connect with you at these upcoming events:
Cleveland County Employee Health Fair: October 7 & 8 at the LeGrand Center
Be Well, Bulldogs, Fest!: October 9 at Gardner Webb University
Livermush Festival: October 18 in Uptown Shelby
October: A Month of Mental Health Advocacy
October has quite a few national mental health advocacy dates we plan to share information on next month. Keep up with us on our website and on our social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) for tools, resources, and guides on topics in theme with October's advocacy themes. Here are some nationally recognized dates and how to honor them:
October is National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month.
Share avenues to accessible screening tools that can help people make steps toward understanding and treating their mental health.
Normalize conversations around mental health and mental health treatment.
Know about screening tools available both locally and nationally.
Free and anonymous screening tools are available from Mental Health National at screening.mhanational.org/.
Let us know if your agency or if you know of an agency that offers accessible screening options for people struggling with understanding their mental health.
Mental Illness Awareness Week: October 5 - 11.
Share community resources, such as the ones here.
Address your own biases around the term "mental illness," including recognizing that mental illness encompasses a wide range of conditions and experiences.
Work toward or in community-focused mental health efforts. Too much responsibility for mental wellness is placed on individuals when there are many ways we can offer support as a community.
Take a training that expands your knowledge and skill set on topics around mental health. Partners Behavioral Health Community Trainings are a good resource for this.
Listen to (or help create opportunities for) people to candidly speak on their mental health. This can be through webinars, community talks, poetry nights, and more.
World Mental Health Day: October 10.
Work on understanding how mental health impacts everyone, regardless if they have or need a diagnosis. Mental health is nuanced and can have an impact on your life, especially if it is a part of your health you haven't tended to. Start here at Mental Health America's Educational Resource Center, which has articles on a wide range of topics.
Have resources readily available in work place, not just on World Mental Health Day but every day of the year.
If you can, evaluate and address how your work or agency can improve mental health in the work place. Check out Mental Health America National's Workplace Wellness Resource Center.
If you are in an agency or workplace that is looking to honor mental health this month, familiarize yourself with key messaging put out by organizations like NAMI and SAMHSA.
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
Every Monday, 4:30 pm - until out of food at Jefferson Park (801 Jefferson St.)
Wednesday 1, 15, & 29, 4:30 pm - until out at Grover Town Hall (207 Mulberry Road)
100% FREE food - fresh produce and groceries
Cleveland County Mutual Aid Pop Ups
Next Pop Up:
October 26, 1 - 4 PM at 212 W Warren St., Shelby, NC
October 27, 4 - out with Broad River Market at Jefferson Park
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)
Makers Meetup - Fall Broom (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Thursday, October 2, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Yoga (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Monday, October 6, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Tween/Teen Tuesday (Spangler Branch Library)
Tuesday, October 7, 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Crafternoon for Grades K-5 (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Wednesday, October 8, 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Learn & Grow Garden Group (Spangler Branch Library)
Saturday, October 11, 10:00 - 11:00 am
Paint and Swap (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Thursday, October 16, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Line Dancing (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Monday, October 20 10, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Manga Club (Teen) (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Tuesday, October 21, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Chess Club (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Monday, October 27, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Teen Tuesday (Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library)
Tuesday, October 28, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
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
Divorce Care Group
Starting Thursday, September 4 and meeting every Thursday through December 4, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. Meetings will take place at Calvary Baptist Church (320 Old Boiling Springs Rd, Shelby, NC 28152).
Meetings are free, in person, and have child care available on site. To learn more click here.
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
Postpartum Support International Support Groups
PSI offers 50+ FREE and virtual support groups for perinatal parents. Click here to begin your search.
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.
