Student reporters cover the U of M’s recovery community — and find supports lacking
“For students who are coming in already struggling with addiction and maybe don’t really know it yet, I think being a student here can be hard,” said Kelsey Roy.
Mental Health & Addiction
Jazz advocacy: Guitarist Sam Miltich teaches mental-health tolerance with music
Beginning in June, Miltich will tour Minnesota with a conversation-and-performance project titled “The Improvised Life: Exploring Intersections of Mental Health and Creativity Through Jazz.”
Speak Up: Science Museum’s new exhibit encourages open communication about mental illness
“Mental Health: Mind Matters” focuses on the history and treatment of mental illnesses, healthy expressions of emotion and building empathy. Each section includes interactive elements.
Art-A-Whirl installation analyzes connection between mental illness and sexuality
Artist’s “A Memorial for Craigslist” will be part of the Art-A-Whirl studio crawl in northeast Minneapolis in May.
After suicide attempt, survivor shares his story to help others fight depression
“Before I was even out of the hospital,” he said, “I decided I wanted to talk about my story.”
Avivo’s remodeled recovery apartments help families stay together
Avivo is the only residential addiction treatment program in Minnesota that accepts mothers and their children ages 0-17.
Interfaith lunch attendees to consider ways to address mental illness within congregations
This year’s “Learning From Each Other” luncheon will be held on May 7 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis.
Best Start for Moms and Babies inpatient treatment program helps pregnant women fight addiction
The Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Services Program at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul is the only inpatient program in the state that accepts pregnant women.
‘Crusaders’ who reformed state’s psychiatric hospitals highlighted in new book
Author Susan Bartlett Foote hopes that by laying out the history of the reform movement and the players who gave it fuel, her book will inspire others to pick up where the crusade left off.
Norman Ornstein: ‘The mental health system in this country is broken and needs to be fixed’
“We now know that there are many ways of providing wraparound services for people in an outpatient setting that can help get their lives back on track,” Ornstein said. “It is not perfect, but it works. We need to be putting more investment into these kinds of services.”
Washburn fellowship program aims to close the mental health provider gap
The Washburn Center for Children’s new Pathways program is a fellowship designed to support people of color interested in completing mental health degrees.
Clinic and new book de-stigmatize mental illness with humor
In their new book, “How to Stop Freaking the %#$@ Out!” therapists Erin Pash and Kyle Keller provide lighthearted, practical suggestions for people experiencing stress or anxiety.
Workshops help middle schoolers and their significant adults understand each other
During the retreat, participants work on improving communication, practice partner yoga and find time for kids to talk to their adult about something that’s been bugging them.
Julie Sjordal: With ‘deep commitment’ from families and professionals, young children can heal from trauma
CEO Julie Sjordal led St. David’s Center for Child and Family Development’s expansion into the newly expanded Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis.
After fighting her son’s addiction for years, one mother learned to let go
Author Sandra Swenson will be in Minnesota June 22-24 to lead a two-day workshop called “Mom to Mom: Where Love and Addiction Meet.”
Siblings’ podcast ‘deconstructs’ mental illness
The podcast focuses on putting mental health issues into context, on explaining topics in understandable language, and offering tips and advice for people who encounter those issues in themselves or in others.
Gustavus Adolphus student conference to focus on social justice and mental health
The conference, titled “Mental Health: Exploring the Unacknowledged Civil Rights Journey,” will feature keynote speakers Leah Ida Harris and Deborah Prothrow-Stith.
Mary Rymanowski: When kids come out, parents should offer ‘understanding, respect and support’
Rymanowski recently wrote a column offering advice about how parents can talk to and support their LGBTQ child for HealthPartners’ “Healthy Living” blog.
Local advocates push for change in dealing with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Children with FASD benefit from specific therapies; because they are often misdiagnosed and not given the right supports, many fail to thrive in educational settings.
Dr. Peter Stiles: To treat chronic pain, focus on the patient rather than the pain
Today, pain-management physicians are helping chronic-pain patients avoid opioids in favor of a range of treatment options designed to address pain at its root cause.