NAMI Minnesota

09/12/2026

Sleep is often one of the first places bipolar disorder shows itself — not just as insomnia or oversleeping, but as changes in timing, energy, and how rested you feel. When those patterns shift, mood stability can become harder to maintain. Still, sleep is one of the most powerful places to begin: With support, awareness, and steady routines, better rest and a more consistent mood are possible.

Disrupted circadian rhythms can trigger bipolar mood episodes. Learn how sleep schedules, chronotypes, and daily routines support mood stability.

09/12/2026

Jogging may already sound more leisurely than running, but some social media users are easing their speed even more, inspired by a fitness trend from Japan and South Korea: slow jogging. It’s also a delightful social activity that allows you to chat while you exercise.

Slow jogging is an approachable way to get in daily steps and benefit your heart, body, and mind, experts say. Learn how to get started.

09/12/2026

Understand the journey of people with mental illness in recovery. IOOV is a unique public education program in which two trained speakers share compelling personal stories about living with a mental illness and achieving recovery, demonstrating that there is hope for recovery for people with mental illnesses. The presentation includes personal stories and video clips, as well as offering an opportunity to ask questions. The IOOV program has touched many lives and is effective in reducing the stigma surrounding mental illnesses. This 60 to 90-minute class is for any groups interested in learning more about mental illnesses and recovery.

Sunday, October 4: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
IN PERSON: The Grove United Methodist Church, 7465 Steepleview Road, Woodbury, MN 55125

09/11/2026

For some people living with bipolar disorder, faith or spirituality can provide comfort, community, hope, and a sense of meaning. Religious beliefs and spiritual practices may help with the emotional challenges of the condition, but they aren’t treatments for bipolar disorder or substitutes for professional care.

Discover how faith, spirituality, and community support bipolar disorder management alongside medication and therapy to promote stability and long-term recovery.

09/11/2026

With Labor Day behind us, students are back in classrooms nationwide. While some students are establishing their new routines, others are getting into the swing of the school year.

It’s the perfect time to continue sharing NAMI’s Back to School resources with educators, parents and caregivers, and young people. Explore the resources below so you’re ready to provide support at any opportunity.

https://www.nami.org/kids-teens-and-young-adults/school-resources/back-to-school-resources/

09/11/2026

You don’t have to have the right words to ask for support. If you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or unsure of what you’re experiencing, you can reach out.

Call or text 988, or chat 988lifeline.org to connect with the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

Your reason is reason enough.

09/10/2026

You cannot make football safe for a child’s brain. CTE (short for chronic traumatic encephalopathy) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated concussive and subconcussive blows to the head. Though most often associated with football, it has turned up in athletes across other sports where repetitive blows are common, including boxing and some martial arts, ice hockey, rugby, soccer, wrestling and bobsledding.

For young football players, what matters is fewer years of contact and fewer hits within those years.

09/10/2026

Light Up Purple for Su***de Prevention campaign—a visible reminder that our communities care about preventing su***de and supporting those who have lost loved ones. Residents and business owners are encouraged to join by changing their porch lights to purple or lighting up their workplaces in purple.

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day. The I-35 bridge will turn its lights purple to promote and support su***de prevention awareness in Minnesota. Purple symbolizes su***de awareness and prevention and helps remind us that we need to talk about mental health. Turn your lights purple to show you care about preventing su***de. ***dePreventionMonth

09/10/2026

When your mood is elevated and euphoria sets in, the urge to spend freely — or even recklessly — can be strong. It’s not uncommon to feel unstoppable, to chase grand ideas, or to make impulse purchases, rack up credit card debt, or even gamble away savings in the moment.

Risky financial behavior is often associated with manic episodes, but similar — though sometimes less intense — impulsivity can also show up during hypomania. While the consequences may not always be as extreme, the impact on your finances and well-being can still be significant.

That’s why it’s essential to put safeguards in place before your mood shifts.

Fortunately, some financial planners, including Martin M. Shenkman and Annie McQuilken, have experience with — and sound advice for — protecting against the potential fallout of a manic or hypomanic episode.

Here, they share their top tips for safeguarding your wallet from impulsivity:

1. Establish Two Separate Bank Accounts
When it comes to managing money, consider having one bank account dedicated to essential bills, like rent and utilities, and limit access to your spending accounts — for example, by leaving your debit card at home or removing payment apps from your phone. You can also set up email notifications to alert a trusted person if there’s any unusual account activity.

Establish a separate account for personal expenses, and keep just enough funds in it for one month. If you opt for a debit card, make sure it’s set up to deny any overdraft spending.

2. Keep Detailed Spending Records
Shenkman strongly recommends maintaining a detailed record of spending, regardless of mood state, so that anyone who is brought in to help with finances knows what expenditures are expected and reasonable.

Many financial institutions offer their own budgeting tools and programs, and there are a variety of reliable apps out there, from Mint to You Need a Budget (YNAB), for tracking expenses.

3. Put Limits on Your Credit Cards
To limit access to your personal credit — and protect against identity theft — consider setting up conditions for locking your account and denying credit through the three primary reporting agencies, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

With these agencies, or other companies that monitor personal credit, you can also arrange for alerts to be sent to a trusted family member any time a credit check is performed.

Overspending during elevated bipolar moods can be risky. Learn how to protect your finances with expert advice tailored for bipolar disorder.

09/10/2026

Join NAMI Minnesota for a moderated discussion with Tanya Kennedy, MA, LPCC. Peace Be Still, LLC! Tanya is a licensed professional clinical counselor with over twenty years of experience in the mental health field. She brings a strengths-based, culturally responsive, holistic approach to mental health and healing. Her work recognizes that emotional well-being cannot be separated from a person’s lived experiences, culture, identity, family, and community. Grounded in multicultural and humanistic practices, Tanya centers cultural humility, collaboration, and respect while helping individuals and communities build upon the strengths and traditions they already possess.

Drawing on her extensive clinical experience and culturally responsive perspective, Tanya will explore how su***de prevention efforts can move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches and better recognize the experiences, protective factors, and sources of resilience within African immigrant and African American communities.

Friday, September 18: 12:00 – 1:00 pm ONLINE: Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ORb7b2l-Sq2AsOlXJF6oFQ #/registration