4 events this week support mental health and recovery efforts

A handful of events taking place this week demonstrate a changing conversation around mental health and recovery in the Madison area. It’s not just talk — organized events are designed to proactively bring people together. In the span of four days, four organizations offer the public opportunities to connect over shared struggles and experiences that are often difficult to talk about.

Two events celebrate milestone years for their host organizations, while another marks a second-annual gathering for a community that’s still healing after a school shooting-related incident. Here’s more information on each event and the organizations hosting them.

Horizon High School’s 20th anniversary celebration | Sept. 18 at Madison Sheraton Hotel

Horizon High School on Madison’s westside supports students in recovery from substance use disorders or who may have co-occurring mental health disorders. It’s the state’s only recovery high school and it celebrates 20 years this year. The nonprofit school relies on grants and donations for 60% of its annual budget. The fall festival and fundraiser is celebrating the 20-year milestone from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Madison Sheraton Hotel (706 John Nolen Drive). Dr. Zorba Paster, an American physician and host of Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Zorba Paster On Your Health,” is the featured speaker for the evening. Click here for more information

Java Jive Fundraiser | Sept. 21 at Goodman Community Center

This 29th-annual event — described by organizers as “Madison’s most relaxed fundraiser” — raises funds and awareness for survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones. Hosted by the RCC Sexual Violence Resource Center (formerly Rape Crisis Center), the event will feature food and drink from local bakeries, coffee shops and other businesses, plus live acoustic jazz and a silent auction. Stop by Goodman Community Center’s Brass Works building (206 Waubesa St.) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. RCC offers lifesaving crisis intervention services, 24-hour helplines, medical and legal advocacy, support groups, mental health therapy and other programming and education. The organization is in its 51st year. Click here for more information

Mental Health and Wellness Fall Festival | Sept. 21 at Tyrol Basin in Mount Horeb

The messaging for this second-annual fundraising festival is clear: It exists to help reduce stigma around mental health and to provide resources to community members for individual and family mental health and well-being. The Mount Horeb setting for this event means even more this year following a May 2024 incident in which a student armed with a pellet gun was shot and killed by law enforcement outside of Mount Horeb Middle School. This year’s event — hosted by nonprofit Connected Equine Development and Rehabilitation Center, or CEDAR Center — will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and feature 45 event exhibitors. With more than 1,000 attendees expected, the festival will include activities that focus on five mental health themes: physical, nature, movement, art and culture. This includes ecstatic dance, self-defense classes, meditation for beginners, yoga for kids, art demonstrations, guided nature walks and more. One demonstration will host a community conversation about self-harm and suicide. Another will explain the art of storytelling through story slam. There will be live music, a 50/50 meat raffle, equine therapy and more, all at Tyrol Basin, 3487 Bohn Road, Mount Horeb. Click here for more information

The World We Make 2024 | Sept. 26 at the Wisconsin Masonic Center and virtual livestream

Another Madison entity is celebrating a milestone year: The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Center for Healthy Minds is in its 15th year of cultivating well-being by furthering our understanding of the mind. To celebrate, the center is hosting a free, public annual event that’s offered both in person (at 301 Wisconsin Ave.) and online via livestream. Lectures and hands-on activities take place between 5 and 9:30 p.m. and range from a scholars scavenger hunt to a talk that goes through Healthy Minds’ four pillars framework. The featured discussion at 7 p.m. (which will be livestreamed) is on “collective flourishing” and will be a panel discussion between Dr. Richard Davidson and Dr. Yuria Celidwen, moderated by Steve Paulson with a special performance by Dr. Dalal Abu Amneh. Click here for more information