The community is invited to a family event called “Nature’s Impact on Mental Health,” which will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Exchange at Wall Street Cattle Company in Lebanon, Missouri. This event is co-sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Health Lebanon (NAMI), Missouri State Parks, the Missouri Department of Mental Health and Lane Change of Lebanon. The program is free and explores the many ways nature can support mental health. Many outdoor activities, interpretive demonstrations and mental health resources will be present. The event will begin with several expert speakers on mental health, followed by barbecue cash concessions and free snacks, followed by fun in the outdoors.
Speakers include:
-Rachel Jones, manager of Trauma Informed Treatment for the Division of Behavioral Health, Department of Mental Health, presenting on how to help your brain make healthy connections; the eight dimensions of wellness; and how being in nature can boost emotional, physical and spiritual health.
-Patricia Chambers, senior naturalist resource interpreter for Missouri State Parks and previous Social Services, Division of Youth Services, group leader; current facilitator of NAMI group meetings. Personal stories of how nature has helped improve behavioral and mental health.
-Representative of Lane Change, a community organization that provides help to individuals seeking recovery support for substance abuse disorders.
The Missouri State Parks team will have a variety of outdoor activities, demonstrations and resources. Bennett Spring State Park concessionaire Jim Rogers will have fishing information and a fly fishing demonstration. Registration for kayaking and fly fishing instruction can be done ahead of time through the Bennett Spring State Park nature center at 417-532-3925.