Author Archive: Coordinator

What is PTSD? PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. It’s normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after this type of event. At first, it […]

“Research shows our brain’s design makes us more compassionate toward people we find similar to us. This instinct was helpful when we traveled little and lived limited lives in the confines of our tribe. We need to transcend this instinct in an interconnected world. Fortunately research also shows we can overcome this limitation by choosing […]

Tidying up can help you de-stress, gain a sense of control, and improve your state of mind in numerous ways. We’re living in a time when many of us feel overloaded with stress. Yet many of us don’t realize how our personal habits may be contributing to our angst and anxiety. By Stacey Colino at […]

Download our new poster below! Learn about Stigma in this article from the Mayo Clinic: False beliefs about mental illness can cause significant problems. Learn what you can do about stigma. By Mayo Clinic Staff Stigma is when someone views you in a negative way because you have a distinguishing characteristic or personal trait that’s […]

Dr. Sood on Resilience How do you define resilience? Resilience is doing well when you shouldn’t be doing well. Resilience is your ability to withstand adversity, bounce back from hardships, and grow despite life’s downturns. We all at one time or another have a life experience that challenges our resilience. Can you describe what you […]

If you’re feeling anxious or depressed during these stressful and uncertain times, make sure you call your doctor or a healthcare professional. Medicare covers a number of services to support you, including outpatient mental health services like a depression screening, individual and group psychotherapy, and family counseling. Counseling services via telehealth may be available to […]

It’s time to start talking about mental illness. Here are some tips from MakeItOkay.org to help with the conversation. DO SAY "Thanks for opening up to me." "Is there anything I can do to help?" "How can I help?" "Thanks for sharing." "I’m sorry to hear that. It must be tough." "I’m here for you […]

By Hilary Jacobs Hendel, LCSW Disgust is an emotion I never gave much thought. It was just something that happened to me if I caught a stomach virus or ate something disagreeable. But after practicing psychotherapy for several years, disgust emerged as an important emotion in trauma healing. For example, Kyle, a man in his […]

https://mn.gov/dhs/crisis/ Mental Health MN Helpline Call 651-288-0400 or 877-404-3190 Text “support” to 85511 Open Monday through Saturday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. mentalhealthmn.org Wellness in the Woods Warmline Call or text 844-739-6369 Peer-to-peer telephone support that’s safe and supportive. Open 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. Crisis Text Line Text “MN” to 741 741 Free help […]

Expand your stress management toolkit by mastering these four strategies for coping with stress: avoid, alter, accept and adapt. By Mayo Clinic Staff When we feel the effects of stress weighing us down, it’s like lugging a backpack that’s becoming heavier by the minute. Too much stress can make our journey through life difficult. Happy […]

Reach out and #BeThe1To help someone in emotional pain. Suicide is complex, but everyone can help play a role in suicide prevention. ASK: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” It’s not an easy question, but studies show that asking at-risk individuals if they are suicidal does not increase suicides or suicidal thoughts. KEEP THEM SAFE: […]

How can I cope with the huge amount of information coming at me every day? I feel like I’m "drinking from a fire hose." Answer From Edward T. Creagan, M.D. There are two concepts that might help you cope with the amount of information you receive each day through social media, online sites, email and […]

Sharing a Facebook post that has good thoughts: Waves of Wellness – Mental Health AwarenessWhile it is natural to be feeling stressed and anxious at the moment, it is important to also keep things in perspective. Reminding ourselves of the things that we have control over rather than focusing on the things we can’t control, […]

Anxious, stressed, depressed…. just need someone to talk to? The Minnesota Warmline provides a peer-to-peer approach to mental health recovery, support and wellness. Calls are answered by our team of professionally trained Certified Peer Specialists, who have first hand experience living with a mental health condition. The Warmline provides a safe, anonymous and confidential environment […]

CALL 911 IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER. 911 is to be used only for emergencies (police, fire or medical) where an immediate response is required – when there is an emergency and lives are in danger, immediate action is required or there is a crime in progress. CALL THE CRISIS LINE if you are […]

”Activity and depression don’t like to live together.” Robert Wicks Article By Therese Borchard at Everyday Health A woman on my depression community, recently asked me this: “You exercise daily and eat the right things. You research and write this stuff for a living. But what about those of us who can’t get out of […]

Article in Kanabec County Times: http://www.moraminn.com/news/farmers-face-mental-health-challenges-with-little-support/article_74bc40c0-5e24-11ea-8e3d-9ba5dc057a90.html By University of Minnesota News Jeff Bender, with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health’s Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH), talks about unique challenges farmers face that may affect their mental health, signs someone may be struggling with their mental health and resources available. Q: […]

Many older Veterans find they have PTSD symptoms even 50 or more years after their military experience. Some symptoms of PTSD include having nightmares or feeling like you are reliving the event, avoiding situations that remind you of the event, being easily startled, and loss of interest in activities. Changes that come with aging can […]

Answer From Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D. Anxiety doesn’t cause long-term high blood pressure (hypertension). But episodes of anxiety can cause dramatic, temporary spikes in your blood pressure. If those temporary spikes occur frequently, such as every day, they can cause damage to your blood vessels, heart and kidneys, as can chronic high blood pressure. In […]

Stress management starts with an honest assessment of how you react to stress. You can then counter unhealthy ways of reacting with more-helpful techniques. By Mayo Clinic Staff It’s hard to avoid stress these days with so many competing demands for your time and attention. But with good stress management skills, you can cope with […]