The Connection

We want to thank everyone who participated in our Wellness Through Connection Bingo Challenge for May Mental Health Month! Throughout the month, we focused on one simple but powerful message: connection matters.

Together, we explored small ways to build connection into everyday life through acts of kindness, mutual aid, self-care, reaching out to others, attending events, spending time outside, and creating moments of support in our homes and community. We heard from so many of you about how fun the bingo challenge was and how it helped you reconnect, try new things, and be more intentional about your mental wellness.

Whether you completed a few squares, got a bingo, or filled the whole card, every act of connection mattered.

If you got bingo and haven’t let us know yet, be sure to submit your bingo card! If you used a hard copy bingo card, you can notify us that you got bingo by using our Google Form: https://forms.gle/Edcp6Wwii3uF12j97

If you used an online card, just make sure you’ve marked your squares and we’ll be able to see your bingo automatically in our database.

Everyone who submits a bingo will be entered into our raffle prize drawing. If you win, we’ll contact you by email or phone.

We hope these simple ways of connecting continue long after May. Send the text. Make the call. Ask for help. Offer support. Reach out. Because connection is one of the most powerful ways we care for ourselves and one another.

This campaign was brought to you through a community partnership between N.E.W. Mental Health Connection, NAMI Fox Valley, NEW Hmong, People of Progression, Multicultural Coalition, Inc., and Hmong American Partnership.

Thank you for helping us create a month full of compassion, community, and connection. 💚

Being present is one of the simplest ways to connect.
Even brief phone distractions can reduce the quality of conversations and connection.
Today, try:
📵 Putting your phone away during conversations
👀 Making eye contact
💬 Being fully present
The message you send: “You matter right now.”
✔️ Practiced presence? Mark your bingo card!
Haven’t started your bingo card yet? Head to www.newmentalhealthconnection.org/mham-2026-bingo to start connecting!

Joy is better when it’s shared.
Laughing with others and reminiscing about positive memories can boost mood and deepen connection.
Today, try:
😂 Sharing a laugh
📸 Talking about a favorite memory
📚 Learning something new together
Connection isn’t always deep. It can be joyful, too.
✔️ Shared a moment of joy? Check it off your bingo card!
Haven’t started your bingo card yet? Head to www.newmentalhealthconnection.org/mham-2026-bingo to start connecting!

Connection starts close to home.
Checking in on a neighbor, friend, or family member can strengthen relationships and reduce feelings of isolation for both of you.
Today, try:
🏡 Checking in on someone nearby
👋 Welcoming someone new
💬 Asking how someone’s really doing
You never know who needed that moment.
✔️ Did this today? Mark your bingo square!
Haven’t started your bingo card yet? Head to www.newmentalhealthconnection.org/mham-2026-bingo to start connecting!

We’re stronger when we show up for each other.
People who engage in community activities report a greater sense of belonging and improved mental health.
Today, try:
🌍 Attending a local event
🙌 Volunteering your time
📣 Sharing a community resource or need
Connection builds healthier communities.
✔️ Got involved? That’s a bingo square!
Haven’t started your bingo card yet? Head to https://www.newmentalhealthconnection.org/mham-2026-bingo/ to start connecting!

Connection gets stronger when we’re real with each other.
Research shows that sharing our own experiences can reduce stigma and help others feel less alone.
Today, try:
💬 Opening up about something you’ve been carrying
🤝 Asking for help (and allowing it!)
❤️ Reminding someone they’re not alone
Vulnerability builds bridges.
✔️ Took a step toward openness? Mark it off your bingo card.
Haven’t started your bingo card yet? Head to https://www.newmentalhealthconnection.org/mham-2026-bingo/ to start connecting!

Connection grows in shared moments.
Spending time together, even something simple like a walk or coffee, has been linked to lower anxiety and stronger relationships.
Today, try:
☕ Inviting someone for coffee
🚶 Going for a walk together
🍽 Sharing a meal
It’s not about what you do, it’s who you’re with.
✔️ If you spent time connecting today, mark your bingo square!
Haven’t started your bingo card yet? Head to https://www.newmentalhealthconnection.org/mham-2026-bingo/ to start connecting!







Post #6

A quick message can mean everything.
People often underestimate how much others appreciate being reached out to. That simple “thinking of you” text? It matters more than you think.
Today, try:
📱 Sending a quick check-in
📞 Calling someone you haven’t talked to in a while
💬 Sharing encouragement
Connection doesn’t have to be complicated.
✔️ Sent a message? Mark it off your bingo card! Get your card here: www.newmentalhealthconnection.org/mham-2026-bingo to start connecting!

Small moments of kindness aren’t small at all.
Studies show that even brief positive interactions, like a compliment or thank you, can boost mood for both people involved.
Today, try:
✨ A genuine compliment
🙏 Thanking someone who often goes unnoticed
💛 Reminding someone they matter
These moments ripple farther than you think.
✔️ Check it off your bingo card if you made someone’s day a little brighter.
Haven’t started your bingo card yet? Head to www.newmentalhealthconnection.org/mham-2026-bingo to start connecting!

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say… is nothing at all.
Research shows that feeling heard can significantly reduce stress and improve emotional well being.
When we listen without interrupting, or trying to “fix”, we create space for real connection.
Today, try:
👂 Listening fully
💬 Reflecting back what you hear
❤️ Validating how someone feels
You don’t need the perfect response, just your presence.
✔️ If you practiced this today, mark it off your Wellness Through Connection bingo card.
Haven’t started your BINGO card yet? Start connecting here:
https://www.newmentalhealthconnection.org/mham-2026-bingo/