COMET (Changing Our Mental and Emotional Trajectory) is a short, two-hour program that teaches simple tools to
help someone who is struggling shift their mental health trajectory back to a place of wellness and away from the path toward mental health crisis. COMET helps people take that next step after noticing someone might be struggling.
Often, we want to support our friends, neighbors, and colleagues in times of need but may not know how. COMET
empowers us to be more prepared to support others’ mental health needs — especially before a crisis. This training
doesn’t expect community members to “fix it,” but instead trains people to feel comfortable initiating a supportive and potentially emotional conversation by using a simple seven-question guide.
The questions were developed using evidence-based techniques. The question guide:
- provides an easy way to start a conversation,
- teaches you how to exit the conversation in a supportive way, and
- offers resources to share with others if they need more than a listening ear.
These trainings are offered in partnership with Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Name | Affiliation | Geographic area for COMET delivery | Phone | Delivery mode | Specialty | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Silvia Alvarez de Davila | UMN Extension Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing | Statewide | salvarez@umn.edu | 651 8152025 | In-person, online | Spanish and English language |
Tonia Brinston | UMN Extension Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing | Metro area | brins002@umn.edu | 612-223-2767 | In-person, online | N/A |
Gabriela Burk | UMN Extension Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing | Southeast Minnesota | burkx012@umn.edu | 507-261-4277 | In-person, online | N/A |
Nikki Crowe | UMN Extension Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing | Statewide | crowe275@umn.edu | 218-464-3996 | In-person, online | Works with Tribal Nations |
Sara Croymans | UMN Extension Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing | Statewide | croym001@umn.edu | 320-226-6052 | In-person, online | N/A |
Matt Danielson | Pastor in Montevideo area | Montevideo area | misterdee7033@gmail.com | 320-226-5845 | In-person | N/A |
Aubree Derksen | UMN Extension Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing | Rochester, MN | derksen@umn.edu | 507-398-2362 | In-person, online | Spanish and English language |
Kim Fox | UMN Extension Department of Youth Development | Central Minnesota | kimfox@umn.edu | 763-682-7394 | In-person, online | Works with youth and adults |
Becca Golden | UMN Extension Department of Youth Development | West central Minnesota | turnq069@umn.edu | 320-8433796 | In-person, online | Familiar with farm and ag issues, work with youth and adult volunteers |
Amber Haus | Wellness in the Woods | Todd County | ahaus@mnwitw.org | 320-733-3284 | In-person, online | N/A |
Mary Jo Katras | UMN Extension Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing | Metro area | mkatras@umn.edu | 612-203-6403 | In-person, online | N/A |
Aly Kloeckner | UMN Extension Department of Youth Development | Southeast Minnesota | schw1348@umn.edu | 651-385-3100 | In-person, online | Familiar with farm and ag issues, work with youth and adult volunteers |
Emily Krekelberg | UMN Extension Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources | Statewide | krek0033@umn.edu | 612-756-3977 | In-person, online | Specializes in farm, ag and rural issues |
Jose Lamas | UMN Extension Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing | Southwest Minnesota | lamas006@umn.edu | 507-295-5316 | In-person | Spanish and English language |
Anna Lynn | Minnesota Department of Health | Statewide | anna.lynn@state.mn.us | 651-201-3627 | Online | N/A |
Cari Michaels | UMN Extension Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing | Metro area | cmichael@umn.edu | 612-626-0520 | In-person, online | N/A |
Meg Moynihan | Minnesota Department of Agriculture | Statewide | meg.moynihan@state.mn.us | 651-201-6616 | In-person, online | Familiar with farm and ag issues |
Sharon Powell | UMN Extension Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing | Metro area | spowell@umn.edu | 651-334-9307 | In-person, online | N/A |
Samantha Roth | UMN Extension Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing | Scott and Carver Counties | sroth@umn.edu | 701-390-3465 | In-person, online | N/A |