May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and as such we wanted to highlight organizations, events, and companies who are doing great work tackling the critical issue of mental health in the Minnesota tech community. There are several resources for both those affected by mental health illness, and for those who are looking to help, so be sure to check them out:

Organizations:

Open Sourcing Mental Illness (OSMI): a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to raising awareness, educating, and providing resources to support mental wellness in the tech and open source communities.

Mental Health First Aid: an 8-hour course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.

IMAlive: an Online Crisis Network. The first online network with 100% of its volunteers trained and certified in crisis intervention.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota: a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families through education, support and advocacy. Provides resources, support groups, education, and several events on a variety of topics throughout the year.

BlueHackers: “The objective of this initiative is to make visible that there are many fellow geeks among us who are intimately familiar with depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. It helps to know you’re not alone. And it’s not because we’re geeks, but because we’re human.”

Healthcare.mn: Minnesota’s home for healthcare innovation and startups, hosts several events, including many events around mental health in tech and entrepreneurship.

American Public Media (APM) Mental Health Initiative: Call to Mind: Coinciding with National Mental Health Month, American Public Media will launch the APM Mental Health Initiative – Call to Mind – in May. Call to Mind is a new five-year initiative created with the intent to inform and mobilize new conversations about mental health.

Burnout.io: “Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It manifests itself in ways including anxiety, loss of motivation and confidence, and even degradation of physical health. The site was originally built with IT professionals in mind, but the concepts here can apply to many other fields as well.”

Anxiety in Teens: Founded in Minneapolis in 2006, it’s mission is to equip young adults with tools and community to advance emotional wellness. Anxiety in Teens is youth-driven, providing resources, storytelling and events throughout the year.

LGBTQ+ Youth: LGBTQ+ youth often face discrimination at school or in their communities. During their critical adolescent years, they feel isolated and misunderstood, lacking the resources they need to maintain their mental health. With pandemic-related social distancing measures in place across the country, LGBTQ+ youth are at an even greater risk of social isolation and depression. But online resources, including supportive and educational materials, can help youth maintain their mental and emotional health. This link provides a list of several community resources focused on supporting LGBTQ+ youth.

Companies:

HabitAware: wearable device that brings awareness to Trichotillomania, Dermatillomania and other Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors, or BFRBs. The “habit-tracker” helps people stop hair pulling, nail biting, and skin picking with a gentle vibration when a user is performing their undesirable behavior. HabitAware was a Minnedemo23 presenter.

Marbles Mental Support App: free app providing mental health and social support by means of anonymous chat with supportive peers, and an ability to track your progress. Marbles was a Minnedemo24 presenter.

Vitals: real time service designed to empower individuals with special needs. Vitals improves communications, safety, and interactions with police and emergency responders by helping individuals communicate their specialized needs.

Learn to Live: offering online therapy programs for Stress, Depression and Social Anxiety based on the proven principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Online Counseling Programs: In addition to information on becoming a licensed counselor, the website contains several comprehensive resources, including The Ultimate Guide to Mental Health Resources for Kids and Teens.

What did we miss? Let us know at support@minnestar.org.