May is Mental Health Awareness Month<https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Health-Awareness-Month> and recent research<https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/12/12/at-least-four-in-ten-u-s-adults-have-faced-high-levels-of-psychological-distress-during-covid-19-pandemic/> indicates that 41% of American adults have experienced high levels of psychological distress since 2020. As public library staff, we seek ways to serve our communities’ increased mental health needs and the resources to help support mental health are as unique as the individuals we serve. Public library staff are not immune to the current mental health crisis and many staff members report increased levels of secondary trauma and compassion fatigue. Let’s commemorate mental health awareness and wellness! Join your colleagues first thing on Monday morning, May 15, 2023 at 9:00 am for a one-hour webinar, Relax. Take a deep breath. Read a comic.<https://scls.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=7995&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2023/05/03> This webinar will provide an innovative discussion about the ways that graphic novels and comics support the mental health of our patrons, and, importantly, ourselves and each other as co-workers. Webinar registration form<https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SJnNtAoWQaej2_K3UjUi1A#/registration> This webinar will be recorded. Please contact Shawn Brommer with any questions. Shawn Brommer she/her sbrommer@scls.info<mailto:sbrommer@scls.info> Youth Services and Community Engagement Consultant South Central Library System 4610 S. Biltmore Lane, Ste. 101 Madison, WI 53718 608-246-7974 Helping our member libraries provide the best possible service to the public. Serving libraries in Adams, Columbia, Dane, Green, Portage, Sauk, and Wood Counties