Mental Health America of Putnam County

Candid Conversation: Living with Depression
2024-02-27 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | Putnam County Public Library, 103 E Poplar St., Greencastle, IN, 46135, United States
Three local experts invite you to join this discussion about the impact of depression on everyday life. Our panel includes local professionals:
Lauren Necesario Smith, Psychologist
Scott Hamilton, Counselor DePauw University
Kathleen Asbell, Educator and Greencastle City Council member
Find a deeper understanding of this most common mental health condition, listen to how these experts see our community responding, and discover mechanisms that work for those living with depression. Discover how you can help advocate for those with this condition. Discussion between the audience and the professional guests is encouraged and a main component of this gathering.

Helping Children/Co-Parenting Class
2024-04-16 17:45 - 20:30, 2024-05-21 17:45 - 20:30, 2024-07-16 17:45 - 20:30, 2024-08-20 17:45 - 20:30, 2024-09-17 17:45 - 20:30, 2024-10-15 17:45 - 20:30, 2024-11-19 17:45 - 20:30, 2025-01-21 17:45 - 20:30 and 10 more dates
We provide Putnam County Court-ordered classes for families with children living in separate households through divorce or separation of parents. Our Helping Children/Co-Parenting course offerings (abbreviated HCCP) is designed to help the parents and the children going through this change in family dynamics.

MHAoPC provides three services to the families involved in these situations: One course for parents, one for school-aged children, and one-on-one counseling for teens. This time block is for the co-occurring Parent and School-aged Children classes only.
****** PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!!! ******
The parents attend a co-parenting class which emphasizes cooperative, positive parenting and presents concrete tools and resources. The class covers techniques for keeping calm and minimizing stress as well as tips on how to communicate with your co-parent and your children. It also covers children’s developmental stages, and participants share, learn and interact with other participants to widen their parental skills.
Children aged 7 to 12 are supported through facilitator-led discussion and activities, plus materials for them to take home to help them with the transition. In this session the children view age-appropriate media involving family’s separation and divorce.

2024 Don't Dodge the Issues Dodgeball Tournament
2024-04-27 10:30 - 15:00 | DePauw University’s Lilly Center, 728 S. Indiana Street, Greencastle, IN, 46135, United States
So, what is this event?
For four years, we’ve had over 200 people on average attending and participating in our incredibly fun, multifaceted event ! It’s a Dodgeball Tournament, a Mental Health Fair with Service Providers and Resources, and a Silent Auction, all in a festive atmosphere!!
10:30 a.m. – Doors open
12:00 p.m. Noon – Teams need to be present and ready
12:30 p.m. – Tournament play begins
Don’t Dodge the Issues is not only a Dodgeball Tournament! Come and watch the fun (spectators are free) and enjoy:

Mental Health Fair
An awesome Silent Auction
A festive atmosphere celebrating Mental Health!

Form a Team and Register!!

Online: www.GetMeRegistered.com/DDIDodgeballTournament
or
Fill out a team Registration Form: Dodgeball Team Entry Form and Rules 2024 and return it to our office (email to info@mhaopc.org, text 765-246-1003 or USPost)

Cost: $120 per team. (averages $20 per person for a 6 person team or $15 per person for an eight person team!)

MHAoPC’s 2024 Annual Meeting/Celebration
2024-05-13 18:00 - 19:00 | Music on the Square, 21 North Indiana St., Greencastle, IN, 46135, United States
Join us in learning about the wonderful work MHAoPC’s done this past year, plus get a pulse on the myriad efforts across the county and region in the mental health sphere. Our keynote speaker is DePauw University President, Dr. Lori White. We’ll also be sharing wonderful information from MHA National’s 2024 Mental Health Awareness Month campaign, “Where to Start”.

Helping Children/Co-Parenting Class
2024-06-20 17:45 - 20:30
****** Please Note! Originally scheduled for June 18th, our June class is now being conducted on Thursday, June 20th. ******
We provide Putnam County Court-ordered classes for families with children living in separate households through divorce or separation of parents. Our Helping Children/Co-Parenting course offerings (abbreviated HCCP) is designed to help the parents and the children going through this change in family dynamics.

MHAoPC provides three services to the families involved in these situations: One course for parents, one for school-aged children, and one-on-one counseling for teens. This time block is for the co-occurring Parent and School-aged Children classes only.
****** PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!!! ******
The parents attend a co-parenting class which emphasizes cooperative, positive parenting and presents concrete tools and resources. The class covers techniques for keeping calm and minimizing stress as well as tips on how to communicate with your co-parent and your children. It also covers children’s developmental stages, and participants share, learn and interact with other participants to widen their parental skills.
Children aged 7 to 12 are supported through facilitator-led discussion and activities, plus materials for them to take home to help them with the transition. In this session the children view age-appropriate media involving family’s separation and divorce.

Candid Conversation: Perspective on Caregiving
2024-11-25 18:00 - 19:30 | Putnam County Public Library, 103 E Poplar St., Greencastle, IN, 46135, United States
November is National Family Caregivers Month, and whether you are a caregiver yourself or supporting someone in that role, this event will explore the emotional, physical, and mental challenges of caregiving. More than 43.5 Million people are unpaid caregivers for someone who is ill, disabled, or aged. While giving care can be a rewarding experience, those in this role can face compassion fatigue and burnout.

Come join us for a free box dinner while discussing this timely subject with our panel of experts. Panelists will be Health Coach Tammy Hunter, Grief Coach and Educator Jai Miranda, and Registered Nurse and Long Term Care expert Audrey Beaman.
Discover practical strategies for balancing care with self-care, fostering healthy communication, and navigating the complex emotions that come with caregiving. Gain new perspectives and tools from experienced professionals to support yourself and others on this journey.
This candid conversation will include helpful strategies, invite participant stories, and remind us all that we are not alone.
All are welcome to attend!!
Please RSVP to reserve your box dinner; otherwise no RSVP is required. There is no cost to attend or for the box dinner. Food order must be received by November 23.
RSVP by filling out the form below, calling our office (765-653-3310), texting (765-246-1003), or emailing (info@mhaopc.org).

Click here to RSVP on our Google Form

DON'T GIVE UP HOPE: A BENEFIT CONCERT
2025-03-11 19:00
While this event has passed, you can still enjoy seeing this amazing evening on YouTube from Gobin Church’s YouTube channel. Many, many thanks to Dr. Bryon Black, mastermind, head coordinator, adamant cheerleader, and impactful speaker behind this concert and Pastor Bryan Langdoc for creating the video, allowing us to share the impactful, wonderful experience with the world.
This evening was a musical celebration of resilience, hope, and mental well-being. Through uplifting performances, this event encouraged perseverance, finding light in darkness, and embracing the strength of community. Let music be a reminder that you are enough!
Free-will donations at the door were accepted and we are pleased to share more than $350 was raised at this event!!
Featuring Performances By:

DePauw University Chamber Singers
Putnam County Festival Choir
Greencastle High School Choir

The evening’s focus is on primarily promoting stronger mental health to endure our world, and secondarily social justice. The event Title, “Don’t Give Up Hope – A Benefit Concert”, is a lyric from one Festival Choir’s short call-and-response social justice songs. Themes of some pieces encourages the listener (especially young people) to:

keep persevering
not to lose sight of the light during the darkness
stay resilient when the surrounding world is difficult or oppressive
lean into positive relationships
remember that they are enough

Help us spread the word… download and/or share the Don’t Give Up Hope – Poster!!

Candid Conversation: Movement and Mental Health
2025-03-31 18:00 - 19:30 | Putnam County Public Library, 103 E Poplar St., Greencastle, IN, 46135, United States
Join us!
April is widely recognized as “Move More Month” by the American Heart Association, encouraging people to increase their physical activity during this time, and our next Candid Conversations event will have panelists including local yoga instructor Marla Helton, Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program Advisor Krystle Pipes, and medical professional and avid marathoner Lisa Miller discussing the importance of movement as part of mental health.
Join us on Monday, March 31 from 6-7:30 pm at the Putnam County Public Library Kiwanis Room for what we hope is an enlightening discussion and information session on this vital connection between our physical and mental health!
Let us know you’re coming; Free Food (with sign-up)
>>> Advance registration is requested, and a free box meal will be provided if you sign up here: <<<
Movement and Mental Health Box Dinner Sign-up
Get to know our Panelists:
Purdue’s Cooperative Extension’s Mission is to help limited resource communities and agencies in five areas Nutrition • Physical Activity • Food Safety • Food Security (hunger) • Food Resource Management (Stretching food dollars). And since we are grant-funded all services are free! We have three programs of education 1) Eat Smart Live Strong– this program is typically for older adults – 5 weeks of class. 2) Eat Smart and move more– this program is directed toward Families- 6 weeks of class. 3) Teen Cuisine– this program is for the teenagers grades 9 thru 12 – 6 weeks of class.

Lisa Miller: With 22 years of nursing experience, I have navigated a fulfilling career while pursuing higher education and maintaining an active lifestyle. In 2016, I initiated a bucket list goal to complete a half marathon in each of the 50 states, which I am scheduled to complete in Hawaii next month. Through regular physical activity, I’ve cultivated the mental clarity and resilience needed to tackle my goals head-on, leading to a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life.

After 25 years as a nationally recognized artist and teacher, Marla found a growing passion for healthy living through yoga. This passion grew stronger when she lost her husband to cancer in 2003. Marla felt the mind, body, and breath connection in yoga brought her the balance and healing she had been searching for.
So began her journey towards opening her own studio in 2012. Located in rural Indiana, Serendipity Yoga Studio provides a space to share the enriched awareness of self and the potency of that connection to nourish and heal the mind and body.

Awards and Celebration: MHAoPC's Annual Meeting
2025-05-19 18:00 - 19:00 | Music on the Square, 21 North Indiana St., Greencastle, IN, 46135, United States
Join us in learning about the wonderful work MHAoPC’s done this past year, get a pulse on the myriad efforts across the county and region in the mental health sphere, and celebrate the mental health Person of the Year! Our keynote speakers are Neysa Meyer and Sarah Stone from the Putnam County Community Foundation, speaking on the marvelous PCCF efforts towards mental health in our community!
We’ll be sharing wonderful information from MHA National’s 2025 Mental Health Awareness Month campaign, “Turning Awareness into Action”, and provide light refreshments as well.
Hope to see you there!

**** POSTPONED **** Candid Conversations: Managing the Holidays
2025-12-08 | Putnam County Public Library, 103 E Poplar St., Greencastle, IN, 46135, United States
Unfortunately, circumstances warrant postponing this Candid Conversation until the new year. We apologize for any inconvenience and will keep this placeholder updated as new information becomes available, including a new date for the postponed event.
Managing the new year
Having multiple special days this time of year, most of us find additional stressors and an increase in situations pressing upon us. Come join us for an insightful conversation on the good, the challenging, and the unexpected after this holiday season. Whether you have life anniversaries this season, experience more stress than usual, are a caregiver, and/or grapple with relationship challenges that this season and new year brings, this event will explore the emotional, physical, and mental challenges unique to this ten of year. Discover practical strategies for balancing care with self-care, fostering healthy communication, and navigating the complex emotions. Gain new perspectives and tools from experienced professionals to support yourself and others.
Join us in 2026 for what we hope is an enlightening discussion and information session on keeping ourselves and those around us healthy after this recent holiday season!

************* This Saturday!! ************* The "Don't Dodge the Issues" Event is Back!!
2026-03-07 12:00 - 15:30
For six years, we’ve had hundreds of people attending and participating in our incredibly fun, multifaceted event, and we’re set for a fabulous event this weekend!
It’s a Dodgeball Tournament, a Mental Health Fair with Service Providers and Resources, and a Silent Auction, all in a festive atmosphere! This year’s gathering is March 7th at the new YMCA of Putnam County as our venue!! Since we were the first event last year just as they opened, they’re also celebrating and have an Open House from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., so there will be overlapping events (yay!)!
DATE: March 7th, 2026
Once again, we’re at the brand new YMCA in Greencastle!!

Join us for Don’t Dodge the Issue, dodgeball tournament, 2025 at the NEW YMCA of Putnam County (1111 Calbert Way, Greencastle)!
Date: Saturday, March 7th�
Time: Doors open to the public at 12pm!

So, what is this event?
Dodgeball Tournament – Compete for prizes & bragging rights!�
Silent Auction – Bid on exciting items!�
Mental Health Fair – Learn tips, resources, & local and regional services and programs!�
Spectators welcome – FREE admission!

A festive atmosphere celebrating Mental Health!

Bring/Form a Team!
Talk to your friends about forming a team! Prizes for the first three places, and an afternoon full of fun!! Check out the Rules and fill out a Sign-up Sheet and pay at the event, or Register and pay online through GetMeRegistered.com/DDIDodgeball. Playing on an eight person team is only $15 per person and all proceeds go towards programs specifically for Putnam County!
Sponsor the Event!
If you’re interested in how you can help our efforts within Putnam County, joining our sponsor/donor list is the ticket for you or your business!! Check out our letter with specific information to bring awareness and resources to the public for this event!
