Mental Health

A collection of mental health news and resources.

Meet Kahin Adam, healer of refugee trauma
Kahin Adam knows what it’s like to flee war and arrive alone in a strange, new country. MPR News host Angela Davis speaks with Kahin about his journey to Minnesota and how his own experience as a Somali refugee shapes his work as a therapist and mental health educator with fellow refugees in St. Cloud.  
Superintendent sought student mental health help months before shooting at Richfield school
District 287, a regional system serving some of the Twin Cities most vulnerable students, took its concerns about behavior to state lawmakers and education officials months before Tuesday’s shooting, warning that students were “not OK” and that its district was “on red alert.”
How do school closures affect kids' mental health?
Almost two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re starting to learn more about the toll distance learning takes on kids' mental health. To talk about findings from a new study review in JAMA Pediatrics, host Cathy Wurzer was joined by Dr. Jay-Sheree Allen.
A student pilot's death leads to efforts to combat mental health stigma at flight school
In October 2021, student pilot John Hauser died by suicide in a plane crash, sparking an effort to combat the stigma around mental health counseling in his flight school at the University of North Dakota. Dean Robert Kraus told host Cathy Wurzer about the effort.
Heartbroken? There's a scientific reason why breaking up feels so rotten
Science writer Florence Williams experienced what felt like a brain injury when her husband left her after more than 25 years. Her new book is “Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey.”
In Rochester’s library, social worker helps those in need
From her corner office on the second floor of the Rochester Public Library, Allison Carpenter dispenses advice and useful information — not about books but about social services like food and housing support. Carpenter’s role is part of a growing trend that recognizes that libraries are more than just a place to read.
A fundraiser for mental health justice featuring top Twin Cities chefs
An upcoming series of events called Graze 4 Good aims to raise money for mental health justice — by bringing attendees food from top Twin Cities chefs. An organizer and a chef told host Cathy Wurzer more about the project.
COVID takes a toll on college students
Almost two years into the pandemic, many college students are once again deferring a return to campus and taking courses online or living with restrictions on campus. Host Angela Davis talks about how the pandemic has impacted college students.
Britney Spears left her guardianship, but others who want independence remain stuck
If a judge rules a person can't make their own decisions, the next step can be a legal guardianship or conservatorship. Some states allow less-restrictive options, but advocates say it's not enough.