‘Not sitting this out’: Minnesota Medical Association votes to support decriminalization of illicit drugs
Leaders say they believe the proposal is the first of its kind to be approved by a medical association in the United States.
Mental Health & Addiction
MinnPost’s Mental Health & Addiction coverage seeks to shine a light on issues that affect a huge number of Minnesota families yet are often ignored by the media, with author Andy Steiner writing stories related to mental health, addiction and the complex relationship between the two.
More harm than good: Book details spanking’s negative impact on children — and parents
An Augsburg University professor who’d grown up in a family where spanking was the norm decided to research the practice after becoming a parent herself.
Campus religious groups step into a new realm: mental health counseling
Religious groups on college campuses that have long counseled students grappling with issues of faith or spirituality are now adding mental health clinicians in campus religious hubs, and training religious leaders to know when to refer students to psychological care.
Pat Miles discusses the ‘grim fog’ of grief — and preparing for life after a loved one’s death
Rather than having time to grieve and recover, Miles spent the first weeks and months after her husband’s death meeting with probate attorneys and bankers to sort out her financial life. She’s now published a book to help others with that.
Minnesota recovery community organizations struggle through DHS granting bottleneck
Many recovery community organizations that found out about grant awards in July still haven’t received money from the state Department of Human Services.
‘Build that bridge’: Culturally aware approach key to addressing Karen youth addiction crisis
Community bridge building, or tapping the indispensable expertise of people who have lived experience in a specific culture, is one approach that has shown some success in addressing the opioid addiction crisis among Karen youth in the Twin Cities.
Advocates say clinicians can help stem addiction in rural Midwest by prescribing medications
Unlike methadone, the traditional medication to wean people off heroin or other opioids, buprenorphine can be prescribed at primary care clinics and dispensed at neighborhood pharmacies.
Why states’ use of opioid settlement funds could look different from tobacco case
Is the massive tranche of money a target for elected officials to use for politically infused projects that will do little to offer restitution or help those harmed?
‘This problem is real’: Youth opioid addiction puts Minnesota’s Karen community on high alert
Advocates at the Karen Organization of Minnesota say Karen parents from around the state are increasingly concerned that their children are becoming addicted to opioids.
Native filmmaker seeks to bring attention to missing and murdered Indigenous women through provocative documentary
From 2010 to 2018, 8% of all murdered girls and women in Minnesota were Indigenous, making Indigenous women seven times more likely than white women to be murdered.
Minnesota health officials weigh whether to allow medical cannabis for opioid use disorder
The Minnesota Psychiatric Society officially registered its opposition. The health department is set to decide on or before Dec. 1.
Better Beginnings dads group addresses ‘dearth of support’ for new fathers
Though Better Beginnings started with a focus on birth, postpartum and lactation support, creating a dads group felt like a natural extension for the company, which aims to provide holistic care for all members of a family.
Teen mental health concerns build audience for NAMI’s Ending the Silence class
NAMI Minnesota began offering Ending the Silence pre-COVID, but demand for the class is up as rates of mental illness among young people continue to rise.
‘It’s a mess out there’: Experts discuss COVID’s impact on weight, health
Nearly half of Americans reported gaining weight after living through this extended period of stress and isolation. And it’s not just weight gain: For countless others, COVID has changed the way we eat in fundamental ways.
Agency staffing shortages put 3,500 disabled Minnesotans on waiting lists for jobs
Agency leaders and advocates are concerned about people’s mental health and are getting ready to ask state lawmakers to help make nonprofit workers’ wages more competitive.
Hazelden Betty Ford ‘evolves,’ encouraging skills-based approach to family support
Starting this fall, the Center City-based addiction treatment giant will begin to emphasize a program called Community Reinforcement and Family Training that helps family members build skills that move beyond terms like “enabling” and “tough love.”
Minnesota sees an increase in help calls following lifeline number change
In the past months, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has received more calls, which can be attributed to the hotline phone number change in mid-July to a shorter three-digit number, 988. But advocates are concerned about frequent callers who might not have access to longer term mental health care.
Fidgety Fairy Tales, children’s mental health programs eye expansion thanks to $1M gift
The anonymous donor requested that the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health spend the money within a year and that about a quarter go to Fidgety Fairy Tales, a musical theater group that performs at schools to help children understand mental illness.
3 takeaways on race and mental health equity from Gustavus Nobel Conference
A considerable portion of last week’s Nobel Conference was dedicated to exploring the impact of technology and social media on youth mental health.
Wrongful death lawsuit questions Brooklyn Center’s use of police on mental health call
Advocates and Kobe Dimock-Heisler’s mother say police escalated the situation that resulted in his death.
