NORTH DAKOTA ( KXNET ) — With National Recovery Month taking place during September, North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has started a statewide community engagement initiative called Recovery Rocks ND.

The initiative aims to celebrate recovery and reduce the stigma about seeking help for substance use and mental health needs.

People across the state are encouraged to paint rocks with messages of hope, resilience, and recovery that reflect their journey or connection to recovery.

Here’s how you can participate:

• Paint a rock (or several)
• Keep it as a reminder as to why recovery matters
• Share it as encouragement with a loved one
• Display it in a rock garden as inspiration
• Post it to social media with #RecoveryRocksND
• Submit photos and stories to HHS here

While the initiative is simple, it highlights the power of creative expression in the recovery journey.

Painting rocks is an activity that doesn’t have a high price point or skill set, yet it has a transformative significance.

“This goes beyond just an art project,” said HHS Behavioral Health CLinical Policy Director, Shauna Eberhardt. “Each painted rock becomes a tangible reminder of strength, support, and resilience. Celebrating recovery through art is a powerful and meaningful way to express and process the journey. Art can be both a therapeutic tool and a form of celebration, allowing individuals to visually represent their experiences, growth, and transformation. It offers a moment to reflect on the meaning of one’s recovery of that of a loved one. This small visual keepsake provides a sense of belonging and motivation to continue the journey, reminding individuals they are never alone.”

HHS Human Service Centers and other behavioral health partners will host rock painting sessions and create Recovery Rocks rock gardens at their facilities.

The HHS Behavioral Health and Children and Family Services Conference is also taking place from September 16-19 at the Bismarck Event Center. The conference will offer a chance for people to decorate a “recovery rock” while visiting with support specialists.

About 50% of Americans report knowing someone who struggles with addiction, which shows the effect recovery has not only on the individual, but their friends, family, and communities. Recovery Rocks is designed to foster connection and healing, and it can even provide the chance for people to talk about taking the first step toward recovery.

“This project aims to build unity and support, highlighting that recovery is a shared experience and a testament to resilience,” said the HHS Manager of the Addiction Treatment and Recovery Program and Policy, Lacresha Graham. “Recovery is not defined by a single path, and it doesn’t have to feel like the weight of a huge boulder. Instead, there are a multitude of pathways to recovery created by each individual as a stepping stone for themselves.”

You can visit the ND Mental Health Directory for services related to crisis support, counseling and treatment, early intervention, recovery support, and more.

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