Mental Health Group Reflects On 40 Years Of Service

For 40 years, the National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota has been supporting people with mental health issues and their families. The group is celebrating the milestone by meeting with 40 communities to address health needs.

The group says that while significant changes have been made to the mental health field, there is still a lot of work to be done. Sue Abderholden says she hopes people will learn about the history of the movement how communities are being affected by mental health issues. She says that there is a strong stigma and different reactions when someone is hospitalized for mental illness over other diseases.
One part of breaking down these barriers is public awareness and access to resources. NAMI hosts a variety of law advocates, support groups, educational events, and help hotlines. One provider said education is the key for change.

Those attending the Bemidji event shared personal and professional struggles in the field.

As NAMI points out, while the issue is getting more attention it just isn’t where it could be.

The organization will be holding more meetings across Minnesota from now until mid December. More information on the times and locations can be found at NAMIhelps.org