Mental Health

A collection of mental health news and resources.

The ketamine economy: New mental health clinics are a 'Wild West' with few rules
Ketamine, approved as an anesthetic in 1970, is emerging as a major alternative mental health treatment. But more than 500 clinics have popped up with little regulation, and treatment varies widely.
Brooklyn Park initiative offers alternative to police response to mental health crisis calls
The Brooklyn Park Police Department partnered with Hennepin County and North Memorial Health to launch a mental health Alternative Response Team which consists of a social worker and a paramedic who can handle calls police officers may not need to respond to.
Soul doctors: How Minnesota chaplains’ roles are changing
They’re the people who show up at some of the worst moments of our lives. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with three chaplains about helping Minnesotans through pain and suffering as society becomes both less religious and more religiously diverse. 
‘Like a chain reaction’: UW-River Falls grappling with fourth student death in 2 months
The university is treating the four deaths as a suicide cluster and working to support its community and prevent further deaths ahead of its roughly 5,000 students returning for classes on Jan. 22.
As mental health worries rise for Black Minnesotans, focus shifts to strengthening kids, caregivers
The well-being of young children and their caregivers is closely connected, and children struggle when adults struggle. For Black Minnesota kids and their families, poverty and racism compound those problems. Charting a path forward includes preparing kids for a “harsh world,” one expert says.
 Feeling SAD? Tips to treat seasonal affective disorder
Looking for ways to escape the winter blues? MPR News host Angela Davis talks about seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and how you can get through the cold, dark months ahead.
‘Red flag’ gun removal orders become new option in Minnesota in 2024
Earlier this year, the DFL-led Legislature approved the policy that will let a person petition the court to remove a firearm from another individual if they pose an extreme risk. It starts Jan. 1.