(Atlantic, Iowa) – One of the informational booths to be featured as part of next Monday’s Youth Mental Health Symposium, will be staffed by Atlantic Parks & Rec Department staff. The symposium will be held from 5-until 7:45-p.m. Oct. 25th, at the Atlantic High School. Park and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen says “Our main focus is going to be obviously on outdoor recreation, and just trying to promote the impacts that outdoor recreation can have on mental health, and then also push that people can take advantage of it through the Atlantic Parks and Rec Department to utilize that.”

Bryant said that’s especially true during the winter months when people don’t like to be outside, but “there’s still things that we offer to allow people to get out and about. through trails and cross country skis, sledding, or anything like that.”

All middle school and high school students, parents, and community members in Cass County are invited to attend the symposium. The free event includes a meal sponsored by area businesses, door prizes, and free childcare. Motivational speaker Joe Beckman will talk about the importance of human connection at a time when loneliness is at an all-time high, and a series of short presentations will be given on issues affecting students today, including anxiety, healthy relationships, and mental health awareness. Organizations from Cass County and across the state will be at the event providing resources to students, parents, and community members.