Shout Out Loud MN Raises Awareness for Mental Health

Shout Out Loud MN is a community festival that hopes to remove the stigma of mental illness and encourage conversations about mental health and suicide prevention. The rain and damp weather on Saturday didn’t stop a crowd from attending the event in St. Louis Park.

For organizers, this event is about mental health and suicide prevention conversations to become mainstream.

“Unfortunately, I lost my brother five years ago to suicide,” explained co-founder Laura Dizon. “So now I’ve made it my mission to honor his memory and just let people know there are people out there who support them. We have a lot of resources that can help them if they are ever in need.”

The family-friendly event included mental and physical wellness activities for all ages. Local bands and carnival games entertained attendees.

“Shout Out Loud MN is all about bringing awareness to mental health and to suicide prevention,” said Nancy Burton, from Prairie Care Child and Family Fund. “It’s really helping to have normal conversations about mental illness and suicide.”

Money raised at this year’s event went to the Prairie Care Child and Family Fund. The fund gives grants to schools across the state for mental health initiatives. One of those grants went to a program in Hopkins schools.

This year, organizers raised around $40,000 for Prairie Care Child and Family Fund.

To learn more about Shout Out Loud MN, click here.