Mental Health Archives - KVRR Local News

Veterans Ruck For Mental Health Awareness

Veterans Haul Rucksacks to Raise Awareness of Mental Health Issues with Military Members

This is the 9th annual ruck in honor of the late Brady Oberg.

May 24, 2026

Gabriel Ostler,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – In 2015, combat veteran Brady Oberg died by suicide after struggling for years with post-traumatic stress disorder. Ever since, fellow veterans have organized rucks across North Dakota and Minnesota to highlight the importance of mental health for members of the military. John Dalziel has been spearheading these rucks for almost a decade now, after serendipitously getting…

FirstLink’s annual breakfast focuses on mental health in the workplace

May 7, 2026

Juliana Pelaez,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — First responders and community members came together to focus on workplace wellness at the annual FirstLink breakfast. This year’s theme, “Upstream Connection: Keeping Communities Connected – Before the Call,” focused on wellness and the importance of early connection through services like 988 and 211. The invited keynote speaker focused on helping people in the workplace with…

Cass County Jail sees increase in need for mental health services

May 7, 2026

Juliana Pelaez,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — “It’s one of our biggest challenges that we face. And it’s a growing issue for us. We have more inmates today on psychotropic medications than we ever had in the past. We see more individuals getting booked in, getting flagged for mental health care, and follow-up than we’ve ever seen before. The numbers every year creep…

North Dakota may expand Medicaid for mental health but some see other options

April 10, 2026

KVRR Staff,

Kurt Snyder, executive director of the Heartview Foundation, shows a display of the different buildings the organization has operated in since 1964 during a tour of its facility in Bismarck on March 20, 2026. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota lawmakers are drafting a policy that would change the system in which some…

Need For Mental Health Care On The Rise In North Dakota

Need for mental health care grows in North Dakota as there continues to be shortage of providers

March 10, 2026

Juliana Pelaez,

NORTH DAKOTA (KVRR) — Thousands of North Dakota residents have been experiencing long wait times or are simply unable to receive mental health care when they need it. “We do have people that are waiting weeks or months without receiving care. So their conditions get worse, and it becomes more costly when they are able to receive care,” said Caitlin…

Fargo Police Chief Shows Concerns Over Repeat Offenders And Other Crimes

Fargo Police Chief expresses concerns over repeat offenders and other crimes

February 23, 2026

Juliana Pelaez,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — “If we don’t have people being held accountable on a prosecution and incarceration side, we’re getting them back. And in some cases, I would argue that we’re still getting some of them back way too soon, they’re coming back into our community, and oftentimes they are reoffending,” said Chief David Zibolski, Fargo Police. According to the…

The Caring Foundation partners with BIO Girls to reduce mental health stigma

February 5, 2026

Juliana Pelaez,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Caring Foundation is once again teaming up with the Fargo Force to battle mental health stigma with Shut Out the Stigma. The statewide initiative is focused on reducing mental health stigma and expanding access to resources. Around 46 percent of North Dakotans live in areas with limited access to…

Stress of the Job: How Local Firefighters Focus on Mental Health

September 1, 2025

Juliana Pelaez,

FARGO, N.D./MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) — Approximately 20 percent of both firefighters and paramedics develop post-traumatic stress during their careers. It’s a number larger than the general population risk of 6.8 percent. “We are a family, so we spend so much time together, you get to know each other and everybody’s families really well. But it is very tough to understand…

Handling Mental Health At The Start Of The School Year

Essentia Health clinical psychologist shares how to handle emotions going back to school

August 28, 2025

Juliana Pelaez,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — It’s that time of year again, school has started with a new classroom, new classmates, and homework piling up. Essentia Health Clinical Psychologist, Alexandra Kohlhase, talks about what kinds of feelings there may be. “It’s exciting to go back and see friends. It’s exciting to maybe have some structure entertained to the day. But it’s also…

West Fargo Rallies Around Family of Brooklyn Hansen

The benefit, held at the Silver Dollar Bar & Flying Pig Grill from 4 to 7 P.M. on August 17, was packed from the moment it began.

August 17, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – The parking lot was already full and the inside of the Silver Dollar Bar and Flying Pig Grill in West Fargo was already packed just minutes after the benefit for the family of Brooklyn Hansen began on August 17th. “The West Fargo community has always been amazing at pulling together for people that we care…