On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the Rock Island Public Library hosts Quad City Visiting Artist Robin Spielberg with a presentation on Music and Mental Health. Spielberg, a national speaker on the connection between music and healing, speaks at 6 pm at the Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30^th Street. During this 50-minute program, Spielberg explains the science of music and the brain, and provides strategies for using music to reduce stress and anxiety. Scientific data supports that music has an impact on health: it can elevate mood, improve focus, sleep and enhance both physical and mental health.

The pianist, composer, and recording artist is also a celebrity spokesperson for the American Music Therapy Association, and a founding member of the Mindful Music Association. According to the artist’s website, her interest in the connection between music and healing became personal when her premature baby spent four months in neonatal intensive care. Her release “Beautiful Dreamer,” a recording of lullabies and songs on solo piano for parent and child, was the result. Spielberg’s work with music and wellness has been covered by The New York Times and in segments on LifeTime Live and ABC News. Her popular TEDx TALK has had over 400,000 views, and has resulted in lectures and workshops nation-wide.

According to Mental Health America, about 23.8 percent of all US adults experienced some form of mental illness in 2023. Learn how to best support a loved one living with a mental health condition at the NAMI Family & Friends Seminar. Offered Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the Watts-Midtown Branch, the 6pm seminar offers a non-judgmental space for discussing mental health. At the 90-minute program, certified National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) family educators will offer practical skills and information on: 

• Effective communication strategies, 
• The importance of self-care, 
• Crisis preparation strategies, and
• NAMI and community resources. 

Registration is appreciated, but not required. To sign up, visit the library’s online calendar or call 309-732-7341. The seminar is open to both teens and adults, and all participants receive a companion eBook by email afterwards. It provides important information about mental health conditions, warning signs and diagnoses, treatment and recovery, crisis planning, and other resources. 

On Saturday, Nov. 16, the library’s Death Café group meets at 11 am in the conference room of the Rock Island Watts-Midtown Branch. Facilitated by Jackie Hauer of Sacred Mournings, the open group meets monthly to discuss anything related to life and death. It fosters open, non-judgmental, and honest conversations. New participants can just drop in to any discussion. 

Memory Health: Even Elephants Forget Sometimes wraps up the month on Sat. Nov. 30, from Noon to 1:30 pm at the Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19^th Street. Frequent library speaker Dr. Cathy Rosenbaum, a holistic clinical pharmacist, will review causes of memory loss, discuss medications that may contribute to the condition, and review the pros and cons of various strategies aimed at improving cognition. Rosenbaum is a former Rock Island native now living in Cincinnati, where she serves as the founder and CEO of RX Integrative Solutions, a health and wellness consulting practice. 

All events are free and open to the public. In December, the Library offers Journaling for Mental Health and Motivational Flip Calendar events, along with the start of its Tuneful Tuesday music series The programs support mental health, wellness, and community connection. The Rock Island City Council designated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies to the Rock Island Public Library for the purpose of providing mental health resources, which includes Comfort Carts, mental health resource cards, and special programming. 

For future mental health, wellness, and self-care programming, check the library website, pick up information at any Rock Island Library, or call 309-732-READ.