Mental health advocate to speak Sept. 28

Mental health advocate Sue Abderholden, executive director of the NAMI Minnesota, will present a program about building Minnesota's mental health system called "40 Years of Change."

The free, public program will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, in room 151 at Ridgewater College, 2 Century Ave. S.E., Hutchinson.

Abderholden, who has been recognized with numerous local, state and national awards for her work in advocating for children and adults with mental illnesses and their families, will talk about the impact of mental health advocacy past and present. Families, professionals, people living with mental illness and the public are invited to help create a vision for the future by sharing what their community needs to better support the needs of children and adults living with a mental illness and their families.

The program is part of a 40-city tour celebrating NAMI Minnesota's 40th anniversary and its advocacy work to improve mental health services.

NAMI Minnesota, which is part of the National Alliance for Mental Health, is a nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families through its programs of education, support and advocacy.

For more information, go to namihelps.org, or call 888-626-4435.