LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) — The Mental Health Coalition of Greater La Crosse is using Mental Health Awareness Month to encourage people to unplug from their devices and reconnect with the people and world around them through this year’s “Be Here” campaign.

The month-long campaign focuses on how screen overuse and technology may be affecting mental health, including sleep, social connection and healthy daily habits.

The Coalition’s Executive Director, Diana DiazGranados, said the goal is not to completely avoid technology, but to help people become more intentional about how much time they spend online.

“We are spending way more time often than we want to on screens and how that is interrupting our social connectedness,” DiazGranados said. “It’s interfering with sleep, it’s interfering with just being together.” 

The campaign’s theme, “Be Here: Unplug–Connect–Thrive,” centers around being present and creating more opportunities for face-to-face connection.

Throughout May, the coalition and its community partners are encouraging people to create phone-free moments, spend more time outdoors and reconnect with family, friends and their communities.

DiazGranados said they’ve seen increased concerns surrounding screen use since the pandemic, with both adults and young people reporting spending several hours a day on their devices.

“Our devices are engineered to keep us engaged, and they have really created platforms that are really addictive,” DiazGranados said.  “It’s more difficult for young people to negotiate it and moderate their use, but I think we’re all struggling.” 

Throughout the month, the coalition is hosting and promoting activities designed to help people disconnect from their phones and reconnect in person.

That includes “Unplug and Create” events on Tuesdays, partnerships with the library’s creation lab and discounts for college students at All Glazed Up.

“We have put together a calendar of events and activities that youth and families can do together to focus on mental health in unplugged sort of ways,” DiazGranados said.  

The campaign also includes community toolkits with social media graphics, printable materials, activity ideas and screen-free challenges for schools, workplaces and families.

DiazGranados said one of the campaign’s goals is helping people reflect on what may be getting replaced by hours spent online.

“Not only young people, but adults reporting six, seven, eight hours a day of being on their phones,” DiazGranados said. “Just considering what has that replaced? You know, is it developing healthy hobbies? Is it, we let go of other social connections?” 

The month culminates with a Mental Health Awareness Celebration Event, community walk and resource fair May 21 at noon at the La Crosse County Health and Human Services Building.

The event will include community speakers, proclamations and a one-mile walk through downtown.

DiazGranados said she hopes the campaign encourages people to continue prioritizing connection and mental well-being long after Mental Health Awareness Month ends.

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