The Connection

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Appleton, WI
The Connection

We are connecting stakeholders and resources to improve the mental health of our community!

The NEW Mental Health Connection was born out of the findings from the LIFE Study, a ThedaCare Plunge, and a Mental Health Summit in 2011. The community was further motivated by a cluster of teen suicides that shook the Fox Valley. We have been working collaboratively since then to ‘move the needle’ on large-scale, systemic and complex issues of mental health. As a backbone agency, the Connection’s mission is to lead the collaboration of community stakeholders to create and continuously improve an exceptional mental health system of care for Outagamie, Winnebago and Calumet Counties. The Connection’s core functions are to: Guide vision and strategy by building a common understanding of the problem, support aligned activities by facilitating communication and collaboration, build public will to create as sense of urgency and articulate the call to action, establish shared measurement practices, advance and advocate for an aligned policy agenda, and mobilize funding to support our goals. The Connection is a membership organization, and has expanded to over 50 members across the tri-county region, with new members joining every month. Member agencies include, not only the large health systems, ThedaCare, Affinity and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, but community-based agencies like NAMI Fox Valley, the Sexual Assault Crisis Center, and Homeless Connections. Other members include school districts, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, clergy/faith communities, individual community members and mental health providers (large and small).

08/26/2025

Final Call – Share Your Voice!
Haven’t taken the Mind Your Wellness Survey yet? This is your last chance!
If you’re an adult living in Calumet, Outagamie, or Winnebago counties, we want to hear from you. Your anonymous feedback helps us:
- Improve mental health in our communities
- Reduce su***de risk
- Build a stronger, more connected Northeast Wisconsin
BONUS: Complete the 10-minute survey and you’ll be entered to win a Fleet Farm gift card.
Take the survey now:
https://mcwisc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_81WbtSR57dS1ndc
Please share to help us reach more voices!

08/07/2025

We Need Your Voice!
Have you taken the Mind Your Wellness Survey yet?
This anonymous, 10-minute survey gives us powerful local data about the mental health needs of adults in Northeast Wisconsin.
Your input helps shape strategies to:
✔️ Improve mental health
✔️ Reduce su***de risk
✔️ Strengthen community well-being
Take the Survey Now:
https://mcwisc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_81WbtSR57dS1ndc
Know someone who should take it? Please share this post!

06/19/2025

Please join us in welcoming Lindsey DeVries, our new Community Su***de Prevention Coordinator at The Connection!
Lindsey is a longtime Fox Valley resident with a strong background in leadership and a passion for building a healthier community. In her new role, she’ll lead Project Zero - our initiative focused on preventing adult su***de through systems-level change focused on data, workplace wellness, and community-wide strategies.
When she’s not working to make a difference, Lindsey loves reading, gardening, camping, and family time.
She’d also love to know - have you taken the Mind Your Wellness Survey yet? Your voice matters!
Take the survey here: https://wchd.pub/3LZi62u

05/31/2025

You don’t have to “tough it out” alone.
For too long, men have been told to stay silent — but real strength looks like knowing when to speak up, and where to turn.
Although 1 in 4 men experience a mental health challenge, they're far less likely than women to seek help — often due to stigma, fear, or the pressure to stay “strong.”
This Mental Health Month, we’re spotlighting Strong Minds 4 Men — a resource built for men in Northeast Wisconsin to find real support, on their terms.
Learn more: https://www.strongminds4men.com/

05/29/2025

New parenthood changes everything — for both parents.
If you’re a dad or parenting partner feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or unsure how to support your family and take care of yourself, you're not alone. Your mental health matters, too.
Our New Parent Support page includes local resources in Northeast Wisconsin designed for all caregivers — including dads and partners — with tools for navigating stress, supporting your partner, and finding balance in this new chapter.
Start here: https://bit.ly/MyConnectionNewParentResources

05/29/2025

Being a teen can be tough. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or just not yourself, you’re not alone.
In fact, about 1 in 5 teens experiences a mental health challenge each year — and many are reaching out for help and finding support that works.
Healthy Teen Minds is a local guide built for YOU — with tools, hotlines, and real support that makes sense for your life.
Whether you need someone to talk to or ways to cope with stress, there’s help — and hope — right here in Northeast Wisconsin.
Explore resources: https://bit.ly/HealthyTeenMinds

05/28/2025

Mental health is part of our well-being — and you deserve support that respects your language, culture, and experience.
Hispanic individuals are 50% less likely to receive mental health care than non-Hispanic whites, often due to language barriers, stigma, and lack of culturally competent providers.
This Mental Health Month, we’re lifting up resources made for and with the Latinx community in Northeast Wisconsin.
Whether you prefer services in Spanish or want a provider who understands your cultural background, the BIPOC Resource Page on MyConnectionNew.org can help you find care that feels right.
Tu salud mental importa. You’re not alone.
Explore resources: https://bit.ly/MyConnectionBIPOCResources

05/21/2025

You are not alone — and you don’t have to navigate your mental health journey without support that truly sees you.
Did you know that nearly 60% of Black adults experiencing mental illness don’t receive treatment, often due to barriers like stigma, access, and cultural misunderstanding?
This Mental Health Month, we’re uplifting mental health resources by and for the Black community in Northeast Wisconsin.
From culturally responsive therapy options to safe spaces for healing and connection, these local tools were built with your lived experiences in mind — because your wellness deserves to be understood.
Start here: https://bit.ly/MyConnectionBIPOCResources

05/20/2025

Finding support that affirms your identity shouldn’t be a struggle. Yet according to The Trevor Project, 50% of LGBTQ+ young people who wanted mental health care in the past year couldn’t get it.
This Mental Health Month, we’re proud to share a dedicated space for LGBTQ+ mental health resources in the Fox Valley.
From affirming providers to peer groups, find services that are informed, inclusive, and empowering.
Explore resources:
https://bit.ly/MyConnectionLGBTQResources

05/16/2025

Let’s build a stronger, more connected Northeast Wisconsin – together.
Whether you're reaching out for support, sharing a resource, or checking in on a friend, every action counts.
Visit: https://mentalhealth.networkofcare.org/foxcities-wi
Find resources by population, need, or topic.
Share this with someone who needs to know.

05/15/2025

Mental health care should reflect who you are and what you need.
Our new BIPOC Mental Health Resource Page is here to help you connect with culturally responsive support, right here in Northeast Wisconsin.
Whether you're looking for a therapist who gets your lived experience, peer support, or community healing spaces – find support that sees you.
Explore resources: https://bit.ly/MyConnectionBIPOCResources

05/14/2025

Your mental health matters. Your experiences matter. Your healing matters.
Yet, barriers still exist. Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than white adults to report persistent emotional distress — and less likely to receive the care they need. In fact, only 1 in 3 Black adults with mental illness receives treatment.
This Mental Health Month, we’re spotlighting local mental health resources created for and with the Black community in Northeast Wisconsin. From culturally responsive therapists to spaces rooted in empowerment, healing is possible - and it starts with connection.
Explore resources: https://bit.ly/MyConnectionBIPOCResources

Address

P. O. Box 374
Appleton, WI
54912

Telephone

+19207203770

Website

http://www.newmentalhealthconnection.org/

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