may mental health awareness month

Join the community during Mental Health Awareness Month to create a Stigma Free Fishers through events, community stories, educational opportunities, and the newly revamped Stigma Free Fishers site featuring the CredibleMind online mental health resource free to residents. Follow along and share how you are bringing awareness to mental health and creating a #StigmaFreeFishers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

The Stigma Free Fishers campaign encourages residents to reject stigmatizing attitudes toward mental health, and instead pledge to be stigma-free. Stigmatizing attitudes create social barriers for those dealing with mental health challenges, often keeping them struggling in silence and preventing them from proactively seeking treatment before mental health crises occur. 

If you or a loved one is in distress call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 9-8-8 for free and confidential support. The line is open 24/7.  

Free CredibleMind Online Wellbeing Service

The City of Fishers and Fishers Health Department are proud to offer CredibleMind, a new, free online service for residents and employees to access mental health education, resources, and assessments. The platform brings together over 16,000 expert-rated and vetted videos, podcasts, apps, online programs, books, and articles, all in one easy-to-use place.

Confidential and available 24/7, with CredibleMind you can learn new skills, understand your own mental health, take a mental health assessment, and browse the library of thousands of mental well-being resources. 

Create an account and take the Mental Health Check-in Assessment by May 15 for a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card! 

make your mental health a priority. check in on your mental health now. Fishers Health Department, Stigma Free Fishers, CredibleMind

Community Events

The Forgiving Sea Project

Exhibit open Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.| Hamilton County Community Foundation Collaboration Hub (11810 Technology Drive) | Free 

The Forgiving Sea Project, a nonprofit multi-media collaboration from Indianapolis artist Carolyn Springer and composer Joseph Lamm and funded by the Fishers Arts & Culture Commission, will provide an interactive art installation at Hamilton County Community Foundation Collaboration Hub and public events throughout the month. The Forgiving Sea Project project provides an innovative approach to healing the self by engaging the viewers in interacting with paintings and pre-recorded music soundtracks which are part of Movable Sanctuaries. All events are hosted at the Hamilton County Community Foundation Collaboration Hub (11810 Technology Drive).

  • Family Day & Spiritual Healing Event
    Saturday, May 6, 11 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
    Paula Lord with Gym Roots and the Pranic Healing Community which includes Neil McGuffog – At The Core and Becky Laurenzana – Healing Yoga. Please join us in playful partnership as we build our relationship with forgiveness through movement and meditation.
  • Fishers Arts Council Second Friday Artist Reception
    Friday, May 12, 6 – 8 p.m.
    Enjoy an evening of live music, art and healing the mind and soul. Joseph Lamm + Music Hypnotica and Elliott Harrison will perform music through the evening. Light hors d’oeuvres provided. Learn more.
  • Lunch Talk with Licensed Art Psychotherapist Katy Wagner, MA, ATR-P, LMHCA
    Tuesday, May 16, 12:15 – 1 p.m.
    Learn about the fascinating world of art therapy and the power of the creative process as a way of healing through a hands-on creative wellness experiential with licensed art psychotherapist Katy Wagner, MA, ATR-P, LMHCA. No skills required, user-friendly for all abilities.
  • Lunch Talk with Artist Carolyn Springer
    Thursday, May 25, 12:15 – 1 p.m.
    Artist and founder of The Forgiving Sea Project, Carolyn Springer will share the journey of The Forgiving Sea Project from an art painting and installation to a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a Q&A session to follow.

Learn more at theforgivingseaproject.org.

the forgiving sea project moveable sanctuaries

Hope for Happiness 

Saturday, May 13 | 8 a.m. – noon | NPD AMP

The City of Fishers and Fishers Health Department host the annual Hope for Happiness event at the Fishers Farmers Market in partnership with Fishers High School and Hamilton Southeastern High Schools’ Bring Change to Mind student clubs. Stop by the free, family-friendly event to help raise awareness about mental health and the city’s Stigma Free Fishers initiative, participate in mental health activities, find resources from local mental healthcare providers and more.

girls at hope for happiness

Building a Refuge

Building a Refuge hosts a fundraising event supporting mental health in the community on Saturday, May 13 at Harley Davidson of Indianapolis (12400 Reynolds Drive, Fishers).

Fishers Parks’ Free Yoga Classes

  • Wednesdays in May | 9 – 10 a.m. | Billericay Park  (May 31 class is at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater) 
  • Saturdays, May – September | 8 – 9 a.m. | Nickel Plate District Amphitheater 
  • Third Thursday of the month, May – September | 5 – 6 p.m. | Fishers AgriPark 

Fishers Parks is expanding its free yoga program with opportunities throughout the week at Billericay Park, during the Fishers Farmers Market, and at Yoga on the Farm at the Fishers AgriPark. No registration is required for any session. Learn more at playfishers.com.

Fishers Parks’ Wednesday Walk

Wednesday, May 17 | 9 – 10 a.m. | Holland Park 

Enjoy ecotherapy in nature with a casual walk with the Fishers Parks team to learn more about the department. Wednesday Walks will be offered monthly at rotating parks around Fishers. Learn more at playfishers.com. 

    holland park

    Fishers Parks’ Storywalk

    The self-guided Storywalk hike features The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld during May Mental Health Awareness Month. Visit playfishers.com/Storywalk to learn more.

    the rabbit listened book

    Mental Health Resources

    If you or a loved one is in distress, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 9-8-8 for free and confidential support. The line is open 24/7. 

     

    Hamilton East Public Library’s Mental Health Awareness Month Blog

    Explore everything going on at Hamilton East Public Library during Mental Health Awareness Month! Download the newly updated mental health resource guide for 2023, featuring links to resources for mental health, well-being, and substance abuse, check out events and workshops happening throughout the month, and find a book list with suggested reading for the month. 

    mental health resource guide

    Spending Time in Nature for Mental Health Awareness Month by Conner Prairie

    Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month with Conner Prairie. Carol Noel, Conner Prairie’s Recruitment and Volunteer Manager, dives into her life and how nature has impacted her mental health journey. Read the blog

    animals at conner prairie

    Stigma Free Fishers Pledge & Digital Toolkit

    We need your help to spread the message so we can make true and sustainable changes around mental health in our community.

    Learn how you can show your support by taking the Stigma Free Fishers pledge, downloading social media graphics and more.  

    Community Stories

    Find Your Running Community

    Find Your Running Community

    Looking to grow your running community, connect with others who share your passion, and build a support system for your upcoming race training? Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just starting your running journey, there are many local running clubs around Fishers...

    read more
    Tips for Tackling Cold Weather Runs

    Tips for Tackling Cold Weather Runs

    Negative wind chills got you down? As temperatures drop, you may be tempted to hibernate indoors. However, with the right preparation and mindset, cold weather running can be frosty fun. Check out our top tips from our Geist Half Series Ambassadors to help you hit the...

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    Winter Ecotherapy Bucket List

    Winter Ecotherapy Bucket List

    Winter can be a tough time to really embrace spending time outdoors and focus on mental health. For a bunch of nature lovers over here at Fishers Parks, we all definitely take time to appreciate a sunny day, but still understand and see value in the snowy, sometimes...

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    Running for My Mental Health

    Running for My Mental Health

    If you would have told me years ago that I would run for fun, and for a reason other than fitness, I would have laughed. I didn’t think I could ever be a “runner”—runners enjoy every minute of the run (false), they’re fast (false), and they always prefer to run...

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    6 Ways CredibleMind Can Change Your Life

    6 Ways CredibleMind Can Change Your Life

    In today’s complex world, many of us are struggling with our own mental health and wellbeing. From managing the day-to-day stress of balancing work and family to feelings of uncertainty about the future, there is a growing mental health crisis in this country. 1 in 5...

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    7 Tips for Mental Wellness This Winter

    7 Tips for Mental Wellness This Winter

    Anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues have been on the rise and in Fishers, the work of the Mental Health Initiative (link to stigmafreefishers.com) exists to break down the stigma associated with mental illness while providing education and support to...

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    5 Ways to Fight the Mental Health Stigma

    5 Ways to Fight the Mental Health Stigma

    In honor of May Mental Health Month, the City of Fishers would like to highlight the Stigma Free Fishers mental health initiative. Stigma Free Fishers was created by the city in 2019 to promote mental health and wellbeing to all Fishers residents and prevent crisis...

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    How & When to Access Mental Health Care

    How & When to Access Mental Health Care

      The past two years reinforced the importance of our mental health. The following are resources about how and when to access mental health care.  When to Access Mental Health Care If you are wondering if you should seek mental health care, talk with your primary...

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