SLEEPY EYE — A waiting list remains open for the South-Central Minnesota Mental Health Conference set for Wednesday, May 1 at the Sleepy Eye Event Center.

The free, inaugural conference coordinated by the Brown County Mental Health and Wellness Action Team (MHWAT), is set for 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It includes keynote talks at 9 a.m. by Garrett Ebling, Emily Krekelberg at 10:40 a.m. and Chris DT Gordon at 2:30 p.m.

Ebeling of New Ulm and author of “Collapsed: A Survivor’s Climb from the Wreckage of the 35W Bridge,” will talk about reclaiming purpose after trauma. He will share the mental health struggles he faced, insights he found trying to put his life back together and describe how he’s using what he learned to help others rediscover their purpose and experience joy in living.

Kreckelberg, a University of Minnesota Extension Educator for farm safety and health will share what support is available for unique stress in rural agricultural communities.

Gordon, a New Ulm author and online teacher, will talk about how important it is to have a strong sense of gratitude, positivity and resilience that he used to overcome a flesh-eating bacteria disease.

Breakout sessions beginnings at 12:50 p.m. feature social worker Monica L. Yeadon on how an emotional intensity model she developed on what causes an individual crisis and how to avoid it. Brown County Attorney Chuck Hanson will talk about social media and its effects on children, behavioral health counseling Ruth Boubin on cannabis and youth, and licensed acupuncturist Kayla Bartlett on mental wellness in traditional east asian medicine.

Conference registration is at full capacity. A waiting list is available at tinyurl.com/WeShouldtalkconf.