March 1, 2023 from NAMI Minnesota

Over 40 organizations working to improve the lives of adults and children living with a mental illness and their families were represented at the Mental Health Legislative Network (MHLN) Press Conference in the Minnesota State Capitol this Wednesday. They stated that it is imperative to recognize mental health in Minnesota as a public health crisis that requires immediate action. According to the coalition, more people than ever are struggling with their mental health, and more people than ever are seeking treatment and support. However, workforce shortages, poor reimbursement rates, closure of programs and hospitals, health inequities, and lack of coverage by private plans have resulted in a fragile system that is not available statewide and is unable to meet the demand.

“We know what works. It costs a lot more to not do anything in terms of dollars and people’s lives,” explained Sue Abderholden, Executive Director of NAMI Minnesota, referring, for example, to the cost of emergency overuse rates that could be avoided with proper early intervention. “People often look for ‘quick fixes’ such as more beds. While we need more inpatient beds, children and adults living with mental illnesses spend most of their lives in the community. We need to provide early identification and intervention and ongoing community support.”

Barriers to building Minnesota’s mental health system disproportionately affect people of color, LGBTQ people, and rural communities, said Dr. Willie Garrett, president of the Minnesota Association of Black Psychologists; for instance, there are only twenty Black Psychologists in Minnesota, and some of them are about to retire. Hence, the lack of diversity among mental health professionals makes it often difficult for people to obtain culturally responsive care. T Sonya Carruthers, Family Resource Navigator at Wilder Foundation spoke to the importance of peer support – she’s been there, she can relate to families and they trust her.

“I may have a day when my illness will try to kill me,” pictured Patrick Rhone, Mental Health Minnesota’s board member, mental illness survivor, and mental health advocate. “As an African American male, my likelihood of calling 911 is rather slim. It will fill me with more fear and anxiety […]. Having a peer specialist that knows what to say, exactly who to call, exactly who to send, exactly what to do is the difference between life or death.” Shannah Mulvihill, Executive Director of Mental Health Minnesota focused on the need to then fund 988 the new number for the suicide prevention lifeline. 

For Kirsten Anderson, Executive Director of AspireMN, and Jinny Palen, Executive Director of MACMHP, Minnesota can do better in 2023 despite the unprecedented needs because there are enough resources that can finally be dedicated to build a mental health system. 

The MHLN is working together to come to the legislature with 18 bills. The bills cover issues regarding the adult mental health system, children’s mental health system, employment, housing, equity, workforce, criminal justice, health insurance, life insurance, education, rates, regulations, and 988.

Watch the entire Mental Health Legislative Network (MHLN) Press Conference here.

To learn more about NAMI, follow this link to their home page: https://namimn.org/