Sticky notes, strong message: Installation highlights mental health in South Dakota
Washington Pavilion exhibit on display through May
A new art installation at the Washington Pavilion is shedding light on mental health awareness in South Dakota, using 13,000 sticky notes to represent each call, text or chat received by the state’s 988 Helpline in 2024.
The display, unveiled by the Department of Social Services (DSS) in partnership with the Helpline Center, symbolizes the lives touched by trained crisis counselors offering compassionate support in moments of need.
“The Helpline Center is immensely proud of the success of the 988 phone number and our partnership with the Department of Social Services,” said Janet Kittams, chief executive officer at the Helpline Center. “Most importantly, the 13,000 sticky notes represent that 988 counselors at the Helpline Center were there when people needed help the most.”
The installation features affirmations and messages drawn from DSS’s “Notes to Self” campaign, launched in 2023 to encourage conversations around mental and behavioral health and reduce stigma across the state.
“The Notes to Self campaign uses real stories to inspire real people,” DSS Cabinet Secretary Matt Althoff said. “South Dakotans are able to see themselves in the stories and messages portrayed. If they are struggling, they see they are not alone. We hope the connection they feel will invite that struggling individual to reach out for help.”
The exhibit will be open to the public throughout May in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. A kick-off reception held earlier this month introduced the installation and spotlighted the role of the 988 Helpline in connecting residents with immediate mental health assistance.
Visitors are encouraged to view the installation, learn about its purpose, and take part in the broader effort to destigmatize mental health support in South Dakota.
For more information, visit helplinecenter.org/988-talk-with-us.
