Patrick Kennedy to keynote summit

Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy will provide the keynote address next week for a virtual summit focused on mental health.

The event is sponsored by the Minnesota Health Action Group , which represents public and private purchasers of health plans. Designed for employers, it will include a variety of sessions about improving mental health outcomes in the state.

Kennedy, a Democrat who served Rhode Island in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995-2011, is a mental health advocate who founded The Kennedy Forum.

The event will take place from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. April 29, with Kennedy speaking at 8:15.

Register online at actiongroupsummit.com .

‘Breakthrough’ from NorShor to small screen

If you missed the showing of “Jim Allison: Breakthrough” in Duluth last month — or want to see it again — you’ll get your chance on the small screen next week.

The documentary about how a small-town Texan grew up to develop a new treatment for cancer will be shown as part of the PBS “Independent Lens” series at 9 p.m. April 27 on WDSE in Duluth.

The film was shown at the NorShor Theatre on March 4 through the efforts of Dr. Daniel and Kelly Nikcevich. Daniel Nikcevich said they believed the film was impactful, and they wanted to share it with a local audience.

Mental illness support groups meet online

A number of online resources are available for adults and young adults living with a mental illness along with those who care about and for them, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota.

The support groups are led by trained facilitators.

Those joining an online group should add only their first name, said a NAMI Minnesota news release. The groups are specifically for those suggested by each group’s title. For example, “family support group” is only for family members, and “NAMI Connection” is only for people 18 and older who are living with a mental illness.

Learn more by going to namimn.org and clicking on “Support Groups.”