2016 was an exciting year in a lot of ways for Mental Health America of Northeast Indiana. Between expanding programs, successful events, and greater community awareness of our cause, MHANI had a lot to celebrate in 2016. Let’s break it down.

January

January is always a time of new beginnings. It’s both a time of reflection and a time of forward-thinking, as we all consider the previous year and build hopes for the coming year.

MHANI unveiled a new name, and new branding to go along with it. This “new” MHANI reflected our organization’s growth in programs, services, and reach.

March

All MHANI staff (both at the Lake Avenue office and at Cedars Hope) were able to take part in a professional photo shoot for our new website.

April

An advertisement for MHANI and our Legacy Breakfast coming up in May appeared in Business People magazine alongside a profile about our organization.

We also launched our new and updated website.

May

As Mental Health Month, May tends to be a busy month for our organization! May 2016 did not disappoint in this department.

Not only did we receive our latest marketing materials that had been in the works for months, we also had a video produced by Media 401 that featured community members, staff, and a resident of Cedars Hope as they spoke about what we do and how we serve the community.

We also enjoyed a successful Legacy Breakfast with keynote speaker Paul Gionfriddo, President and CEO of National Mental Health America. Paul is an amazing advocate for mental health reform, and we were pleased to have him speak at our event.

September

September is Suicide Prevention Month, so STOP Suicide held their second annual Candlelight Ceremony on Wells Street Bridge. The ceremony is intended for survivors of suicide loss who want to commemorate their loved ones. Last year’s ceremony went very well, and touched a lot of local individuals and families who have faced a suicide.

October

The Annual Gala 2016 took place in October at Parkview’s Mirro Center. The gala was our most successful gala to date! We raised over $56,000 with the help of sponsors, attendees, and donors.

Also, at the end of October, Robin Morrow started working at our organization as a VASIA Guardianship Coordinator.

November

In an election year, November can be an overwhelming month. After hearing about what candidates stand for, both local and national, it is up to the citizens of America to decide who should rule the country.

Amidst the anxiety and decision-making of November, STOP Suicide hosted their toolkit & Speaker’s Bureau launch event. The event was wildly successful, attracting 120 attendees for a free presentation about suicide prevention, presented by members of the Speaker’s Bureau.

Lacey Holt, our Peer Support Specialist and WRAP Coordinator, also joined the team in November.

December

Carmen Bergman, our Clinical Peer Support Specialist and Community Advocate and Educator, joined the team at the beginning of December.

 

2016 saw in a lot of changes for MHANI. Of course change isn’t always good, but it is definitely necessary. These changes mean that we are now able to serve more community members in Northeast Indiana who need support as they face a mental health challenge. We hope that we continue to improve and grow in 2017.

Here’s to a new year with a lot of amazing possibilities!