Phone visits, health equity, vaccines: One physician recounts his pandemic year
For Cuong Pham, M.D., 2020 was a year of change, advocacy and seemingly endless work.
Andy Steiner
Andy Steiner is a Twin Cities-based writer and editor. Before becoming a full-time freelancer, she worked as senior editor at Utne Reader and editor of the Minnesota Women’s Press. Email her at asteiner@minnpost.com.
Red Lake ‘Portraits of Recovery’ paints a hopeful picture of Native addiction treatment
The video features the addiction and recovery stories of three Red Lake Chemical Health employees.
Taking peer support online helped one nonprofit expand its approach to recovery
Wellness in the Woods’ Virtual Peer Support Network offers daylong programmed Zoom meetings, giving people with mental health and addiction issues the ability to meet with others to promote wellness and discuss challenges they face.
UMR’s new B.S. degree in health sciences finds a ‘silver lining’ in pandemic-era education
Most classes in the innovative year-round, two-year+ program will be taught virtually, using a gamification-based technology platform designed for the university by Google Cloud.
Advocates urge COVID vaccine priority status for people with schizophrenia
Medical studies have reported that people with schizophrenia are the second most likely after the elderly to die if infected with COVID-19.
New clinic offers alternative options for treatment-resistant depression
The Minnetonka-based clinic — Advanced Brain + Body Clinic — is scheduling virtual appointments and will open officially for in-person treatment on April 6.
‘Bigger than myself’: Incoming Hazelden CEO takes a collective approach to recovery
In a wide-ranging and open conversation, Dr. Joseph Lee talked about his career trajectory, the importance of family connections and how it feels to be a trailblazer.
New mobile cardiac program extends reach of lifesaving treatment
While ECMO can work miracles, restoring life and health to patients whose hearts have ceased to function, the technology can only help if a patient can be connected to the machine as quickly as possible.
‘Coffee Talk’ phone line helps older adults cope with loneliness, isolation
It’s a casual drop-in opportunity, where older Minnesotans can call and find a friendly person on the line who can provide support, resources — or simply a listening ear.
Video encourages East African youth to mask up — for others
The video features a group of young East Africans — a mix of cultural influencers and regular young adults — pulling on masks and answering the question “Who Are You Masking Up For?”
After finding sobriety, thanks to community living, Patrick Flanagan opened Lion House
The 7,200 square-foot house is for women in early recovery, with enough space for 16.
St. Thomas institute will take a ‘head-on’ approach to addressing back-to-school trauma
The Minnesota Institute for Trauma-Informed Education (MITIE) will support professional development for teachers and administrators; build a statewide trauma-informed teaching network; and create a research and policy division.
U of M researchers elaborate on their study of ‘less-lethal’ weapons’ use in crowd control
The study was inspired by the injuries that University of Minnesota doctors were seeing during the George Floyd protests.
MDH’s #StayConnectedMN campaign promotes COVID-era mental health
The public health campaign provides a monthlong set of templates that employers and community leaders can use to deliver messages encouraging behaviors that enhance mental health.
Mental health supports help rural care providers weather a COVID surge
“We know that we could hit another surge. When we talk about what the staff has gone through, they feel like they’re more prepared. We’ve got this now, ” said Jodi Hillmer, director of patient care services at CentraCare – Long Prairie Care Center.
Seeking health equity: MDH Community Coordinators program provides COVID help to diverse communities
Hotlines are staffed by coordinators familiar with the needs and languages of the specific community their organization serves.
Rachel Mairose: ‘Dogs saved my life’
Minnetonka-based Secondhand Hounds has seen a marked increase in adoptions recently. “I think it is good for people’s mental health to be able to adopt an animal during COVID,” Mairose said.
Federal funding extension helps local nonprofit expand care for the most vulnerable
The COVID spending package will help People Incorporated fund its behavioral and mental health services for three years.
Unique collaboration created Fergus Falls’ new Center for Dental Health
A partnership between DHS and the nonprofit Apple Tree Dental, the center’s clinics focus on serving children, families and seniors who cannot afford dental care and people with disabilities who need specialized facilities and expertise.
In updated version, Minnesota-born psychological test seeks to better reflect modern society
The MMPI-3, published by the University of Minnesota Press, is the first full revision of the test in more than 30 years.
