Mental Health Association of Greater St. Louis	1905 S. Grand Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63104 314-773-1399 Info@mhagstl.org	The Mental Health Association is a United Way Agency.  Click on the logo above  to go to the United Way website.

The Mental Health Association of Greater St. Louis sponsors a variety of events throughout the year to provide learning opportunities to the community, provide recognition to deserving professionals, and to raise additional funds to help us fulfill our mission.  Information about these events is distributed through mailed announcements, flyers posted at community agencies, e-mail, and posting on this website.  If you would like to be on our mailing list, send us an e-mail with information on how you would like to be contacted.  You can reach us at info@mhagstl.org.  For information on events coming up in the near future, click on one of the following: 

Fund Raisers

Shelter Training Series 

Special Events

The 24th Annual Spirit of St. Louis Dinner, the Snow Ball, was held on Friday, Nov. 30, 2007 at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark under the leadership of honorary chairpersons Whitney and Anna Harris, and Mrs. Norma Stern  &  Mr. Robert C. McNutt, Co-Chairpersons.  

Many Thanks to our wonderful SNOWBOARD

Here are some pictures of the 2006 Snow Ball.

 

           American Beauty       
starring

Kevin Spacey
Annette Benning

American Beauty, a film written by Alan Ball and winner of five Academy Awards, follows the life of Lester Burnham (Oscar winner Kevin Spacey) who is suffering a mid-life crisis and becomes infatuated with his daughter’s friend Angela (Mena Suvari).  His wife, Carolyn (Annette Bening), is wrapped up in her job and having an affair. While the adults are absorbed with their own lives, rebellious daughter Jane (Thora Birch), who hates her father, falls in love with the boy next door.  *Please note the film has an R rating (language, sex, violence, and drug content); running time 122 minutes. 

Come and join Dr. Ryan Niemiec as he explores how this film takes something that is tragic and brings the viewer to see beauty, love, hope, gratitude and interconnectedness.  This film raises many important questions about happiness: Can we become happier?  What are the factors we have control over to increase our happiness?  What does the latest scientific research say about happiness? Does pleasure-seeking lead to happiness?  Find out how this film is about building character strengths, such as wisdom, appreciation of beauty, awe, meaning and purpose.  Does this movie teach us how to find beauty in unlikely places?  American Beauty displays tremendous insight into the human condition. 

Dr. Ryan Niemiec, clinical psychologist at St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute, works in the Program for Psychology and Religion. He directs an integrated care program for SLUCare in which behavioral health services are integrated into a primary care practice.  Dr. Niemiec is Assistant Clinical Professor at St. Louis University, School of Medicine.  He is co-author of the new book Positive Psychology at the Movies: Using Films to Build Virtues and Character Strengths.  This book examines the science and practical application of positive psychology and popular movies that portray human strengths and virtues.  He is also co-author of the book Movies and Mental Illness, and a number of publications on movies.  Dr. Niemiec has a clinical and teaching interest in mindfulness meditation, mind-body medicine, and spirituality.