Bismarck residents can spend an evening this week talking about mental health with the people who provide care in town and with neighbors who have been through it themselves. The City of Bismarck's Human Relations Committee is hosting a free Community Conversation Forum on mental health on Thursday, Oct. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dream Center Bismarck, 1805 Park Avenue, according to the city's announcement.
What the evening looks like
The City of Bismarck says the forum is built around an open panel discussion. Mental health service providers and people with lived experience will share the stage, and the panel will be followed by time for public input.
The city says the goal is to talk openly about the challenges local residents face, learn what support already exists in the community, and identify where gaps remain.
Resource tables before and after
The forum is also meant to connect people with help. According to the city, community service providers will have tables with information about local resources throughout the evening. Attendees can visit those tables before the panel, from 5 to 6 p.m., and again after it, from 8 to 8:45 p.m.
That means people who want to pick up information but can't stay for the full discussion can stop in during the hour before the panel starts.
Who is behind it
The Human Relations Committee is a City of Bismarck advisory committee. Its regular meetings are listed on the city's committee page. Dream Center Bismarck, the host site on Park Avenue, is a local nonprofit.
Before you go
The forum is free and open to the public, according to the city. The announcement does not list the panelists or say whether registration is required. Check the City of Bismarck's website or the Human Relations Committee page ahead of time for any updates.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any time.
Sources: https://www.bismarcknd.gov/m/newsflash, https://www.bismarcknd.gov/646/Human-Relations-Committee
