Mental Health

A collection of mental health news and resources.

Sober curious? Here’s what happens when you abstain from alcohol
Drinking alcohol is a big part of how we socialize. But increasingly, people are choosing to abstain for a month or more for personal reasons. What happens when we cut out booze?
In rural Minnesota, a scarcity of beds for people in crisis
The shortage of mental health care in remote areas like International Falls means patients in need of inpatient psychiatric care are waiting days to be transferred to beds far from home. It’s a situation that’s challenging for patients, families and health care providers, one with no obvious solution.
Minnesota winter blues: Tips to treat seasonal affective disorder
Winter blues are common, especially in Minnesota where for months it’s cold and dark. We tend to hibernate and crave carbohydrates. Our mood changes. These symptoms can be signs of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or seasonal depression. Craig Sawchuk, a psychologist at Mayo Clinic, shares tips on how to treat it.
Study: Raising minimum wage by $1 may prevent thousands of suicides
Paying minimum wage workers $1 more per hour might save lives, according to new research. The increases appear to have the largest effect when unemployment is high.
Start fresh: 6 tips for emotional well-being in 2020
Joy can be cultivated. Hostility often masks depression. As one year ends and another begins, these six insights and tips from psychologists offer hope for a good new year.
In International Falls, the last psychiatrist for 100 miles just retired
The lack of psychiatrists in this town near the Canadian border shows just how tough it is to recruit mental-health care providers to rural or remote areas.
MPR News mental health reporter Alisa Roth spent 2019 in prisons, medical offices and in the homes of families to report on some of the most compelling mental health stories in Minnesota this year. She joined the program to talk about those stories and share what she wants to focus on in 2020.
For struggling Minnesota Muslims, help is a phone call away
Two sisters, Sumaya and Fadumo Hassan, started a mental-health helpline offering callers counseling and referrals to other resources. They’ve addressed questions on how to deal with bullying, anti-Islam sentiment and issues of identity.
Holiday parties make you squirm? Here's how to conquer social anxiety
People with social anxiety disorder fear their "fatal flaws" will be exposed by a wayward comment or other social misstep. If holiday parties send you spiraling, try these tips.