WEST ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) _ A new initiative in West St. Paul requires police officers to have an annual mental health wellness checkup. Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association executive director Andy Skoogman says officers’ jobs are demanding, sometimes even traumatic, yet many resist seeking therapy when they need it to avoid appearing weak. Skoogman says that may be changing….
Two mass shootings at crowded public places in Texas and Ohio in less than 24 hours claimed at least 29 lives and left scores injured, a shocking carnage even in a country accustomed to gun violence. In the Texas border city of El Paso, a gunman opened fire Saturday morning in a shopping area packed with thousands of people during…
FARGO, N.D. — With an audience of about 2,000 people, TEDxFargo is a great platform to raise awareness. That’s what Aneela Idnani did to teach people about a condition called trichotillomania. It’s a compulsive hair pulling disorder that left her in hiding for years, afraid people would find out about her bare eyebrows. “I skipped out on pool parties, I…
FARGO, N.D. — May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and experts say one in five Americans suffer from a mental health issue. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) is introducing a bill to address it. She recently revealed she struggled with depression in her teens and late 30’s. “I’m really blessed that I was able to get the help I needed to…
MOORHEAD, Minn. — People are stepping up to the mental health stigma. Minnesota State University Moorhead’s Psychology Club is hosting a 5K for mental health awareness. People are going 13 laps around the track at Nemzek Fieldhouse and walking for those affected with a mental disorder. Club representatives say they want these types of events to reach the whole community. “We…
FARGO, N.D. – NDSU is celebrating National Public Health Week by offering a series of week-long events promoting the importance of public health. Some of the topics touch on vaping, women’s mental health, American-Indian public health, and the “me too” movement. Anyone in the community is welcome at the events. Dr. Abby Gold, the vice-chair of NDSU’s Department of Public…
MOORHEAD, Minn. – Employers in the community are learning to create a more inclusive work environment for people facing mental and behavioral health issues with The Chamber’s monthly Eggs & Issues event. “The idea is to give people that work in this every day, people that have gone through some of their own issues themselves, to help our audience understand…
FARGO, N.D. — Childhood psychiatrists say there aren’t enough of them to keep up with demand, so Sanford put on a conference to train primary care doctors about mental health. Pediatric primary providers learned about diagnosing and treating childhood mental health issues. One in ten young people struggle with mental health concerns. Experts say treatment usually involves a combination of therapy…
FARGO, N.D. — One of the brightest symbols for mental health awareness in the metro lights up in the sky for the first time this winter. The Tree of Hope is an initiative spearheaded by two groups, including Mental Health America of North Dakota, to help erase the stigma for mental health issues in North Dakota. Republican State Senator Judy Lee…
HUNTER, N.D. — Six rural school districts in North Dakota now have mental health experts available on their campuses to assist students. KVRR’s Danielle Church tells us how the partnership between United Way of Cass-Clay, the Burgum Foundation and the school districts will make a difference. The expansion of mental health services is meant to accomplish two goals: increase access to…
