Make It OK Series Offers Mental Health Awareness to DSM Community

When one in five people will be affected by mental illness in a given year, learning to talk through feelings and share stories and resources becomes a vital part of successfully navigating mental health within the Greater Des Moines (DSM) community.

Make It OK is a community campaign that seeks to increase understanding and reduce the stigma of mental illness by encouraging community members and business leaders to start healthy conversations surrounding mental health struggles. The Healthiest State Initiative provides resources and education to assist in this effort.

For those who wish to learn more and show their support, you can read stories or register your organization in order to show that your workplace values reducing the mental health stigma, a first step in creating an inclusive environment for those suffering.

If you’re looking for resources on how to help someone in crisis or want to learn how to talk about mental illness, you’ll find the information you need here.

Make It Ok Series

Over the course of six weeks, the Make It OK campaign, led by the Healthiest State Initiative in tandem with the Greater Des Moines Partnership and Capital Crossroads, also recently hosted a six-week virtual mental health series to offer even more resources to the DSM community. The series focused on navigating emotions surrounding going back to school during the pandemic, mental health in the workplace and within the Black community and more.

The following online Make It Ok presentations are available for viewing here:

• Week 1: Make It OK & Back to School
• Week 2: To Be Human in a Pandemic: Understanding, Honoring, and Navigating Emotions
• Week 3: Make It OK at Work
• Week 4: Make It OK with One Economy
• Week 5: The Arts & Make It OK
• Week 6: Make It OK During COVID

You can read the latest Make It OK blog posts here or find other workplace wellness resources here.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 24 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,500 Regional Business Members and more than 365 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.