Over a dozen community organizations will gather at Grand River Health on Tuesday armed with stigma-busting pamphlets, resources and presentations for the hospital’s second annual Mental Health Resource Fair.

Created in 2024, the event is the brainchild of Francisco Muneton, Grand River’s mental health coordinator. It’s a way for Grand River to fulfill the community’s need for knowledge about mental health resources, which only increased after COVID-19, according to Muneton. It’s also an opportunity for Grand River Health professionals to gather resources for their patients and themselves. 

Around 20 diverse organizations that offer well-being resources will be at the fair, which is slated for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday. 

“The mental health resource fair is important because it bridges a gap for our community. Since we are a rural community there’s not a lot of knowledge about the resources (available),” Muneton said. “We’re bringing awareness. We’re not reinventing the wheel by any means, rather, we are doing what our local organizations are doing on their own.  

“So we thought, let’s do a thing where we can get all of these organizations together under the same roof and they can provide the information, which they’re already doing within their own capacity, but bringing it to one central hub where people could come and get the information they need,” he added. 

Attendees will be able to find information about everything from mental health counseling services to local programs for those struggling with food insecurity. 

Vendors include the Aspen Hope Center, YouthZone, Discovery Café, Advocate Safehouse, Suicide Prevention Coalition of Garfield County and many more. 

Lily Larkin, clinical director of the Aspen Hope Center, and Bridget Derkash, the center’s school program director, are the fair’s keynote speakers. They’ll present “From Crisis to Connection: Reimagining Youth Mental Health” at noon. 

Sue Ross, Grand River Health mental health provider, will follow the presentation with “Positive Psychology: Creating Empathy and Resiliency in Challenging Times” at 1:15 p.m.  

Both presentations will be recorded and later uploaded online for those unable to attend in person. The fair will also offer Spanish interpretation services. 

“I think it’s important to show our community that Grand River supports mental health, but also to normalize conversations about the importance of mental health,” said Brittanie Rieke, third floor specialty clinic director at Grand River. “It was definitely Francisco’s brainchild, but one of the first things I really thought was neat about it was the normalizing (aspect).” 

The event is a judgment-free zone where community members are encouraged to do what they need to take care of themselves, no matter what that looks like. 

“We want to make sure that people know that there’s no shame in going around and maybe meeting with the Aspen Hope Center and talking about suicidality and getting those resources in case of a mental health crisis,” Muneton said. “Or maybe I have food disparities because I suffer from mental illness, so I’m more at risk of not having access to food, so I’m going to LIFT-UP and talking to that booth.” 

Around 100 people attended last year’s event, and although Muneton and Rieke are hoping for an even higher turnout, they’ll be happy if just one person is able to apply — or share — the resources offered. 

“We talk about this at Grand River sometimes with these types of events, about what the impact looks like, so what does success mean for an event like this? Does it mean we have 100 people? Does it mean we have over 100? Or does it mean that we reach one person?” Muneton said. “One of the biggest things…one of our doctors here, his name is Dr. Coleman, talks about is ‘one patient at a time.’ So if we are able to reach that one person…then do we consider that success? I think the answer is yes.” 

Muneton hopes attendees leave the fair with confidence in their new knowledge and a renewed sense of hope, no matter what their situation is. 

“Maybe they can leave with that little bit of hope that although the resources might seem like they’re far and few, there are still people willing to help and there are resources available,” Muneton said. “So having that hope of…connection. Having the hope of knowing there are capable people who are willing to be supportive in whatever aspect of their life they’re going through.”