OSF St. Anthony's Health Center to Host Mental Health Lunch-And-Learns
Winter support and stress management will be central topics at OSF St. Anthony’s Health Center’s upcoming lunch-and-learns. Learn why Sara Bennett and Sarah Huff see value in gathering during the colder months.
OSF Mental Health Lunch and Learns, Recovery Cafe and Counseling Resources
ALTON - OSF St. Anthony’s Health Center will offer several mental health lunch-and-learns and events to help people prepare for the busy fall and holiday seasons.
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Sara Bennett, LCSW, and medical assistant Sarah Huff shared that OSF will host monthly lunch-and-learns starting on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, to promote mental wellbeing. These lunch-and-learns will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the hospital. Therapists like Bennett will cover a variety of topics that aim to teach skills and strategies for handling the winter months.
“Winter is a time when we all need support,” Bennett said. “We’re all kind of hiding away in our houses and we forget about our neighbors a little bit. It’s a really great time to get out and get some support.”
The monthly lunch-and-learns will run through June 2027. Therapists at OSF will lead each one and “put their flair into it,” Bennett said.
Huff noted that these events will be especially helpful as community members prepare for the holidays, which can be “really meaningful” but “very stressful” at times. She and Bennett agreed that it’s helpful to learn a few skills to manage stress — including financial strain, pressure, or family conflicts — during the busy winter months.
“Give yourself permission to slow down,” Huff said. “Take a break. Take a step outside. You don’t have to engage in those conversations. You absolutely don’t have to.”
You can click here to view and register for these upcoming lunch-and-learns. You can also call the OSF St. Anthony’s Psychological Services department at 618-474-6240 to inquire about individual counseling or group sessions. The department has a variety of groups available for people ranging from caregivers to teenagers to those grieving a loss and more.
Bennett and Huff added that it’s important to them to connect with the community and share skills and information with people. They hope the lunch-and-learns are an opportunity for people to come together, gain skills and feel empowered.
“Mental health is really important, and even more so important is OSF’s connection to the community,” Bennett said. “We try to do a lot of events that bring the community in and give resources and opportunities to be the best selves that we can.”
To learn more about OSF St. Anthony’s Health Center, visit the official website.
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