Local representatives discuss the daily impact of stress on mental health

Editor’s note: The following story was written by Philip Drown of Alexandria for the Echo Press.

A few years ago, Joyce Marter was shopping at a neighborhood store when she suddenly got into a fight with the cashier. He described his behavior at the time as “vicious” and “absolutely unreasonable” as he argued with the person behind the counter.

“I wasn’t behaving like I normally do,” said Marter, who explained that his father had died yesterday and he was beginning to struggle with grief. “Sometimes we see good people at their worst, and we have to realize that we’re only seeing the bottom line. We don’t know what is happening in people’s lives at that time.”

Marter, an entrepreneur, author, and physician for more than 25 years, was one of 127 people who gathered at the Broadway Ballroom Event Center in Alexandria recently to discuss health care topics. mental health in Minnesota and the five-county region.

Included in the discussion were Minnesota Sens. Torrey Westrom, R-Elbow Lake, and Jordan Rasmusson, R – Fergus Falls, along with AJ (John) Peters, DFL representative for Minnesota Congressional District 7. They spent the morning discussing issues with attendees and listen to the personal stories of people whose lives have been affected in some way by mental illness.

The “13th Annual Day at Home in Region 4” event was sponsored by the Region 4 South Adult Mental Health Consortium. The annual event is designed to bring together lawmakers and their constituents to engage in constructive discussions on mental health issues, as well as put a human face on mental illness in the area. The event also provides a forum to educate people involved in the mental health system on how to effectively interact with their legislators.

Marter, who was the keynote speaker at the event, said: “When we are emotionally overwhelmed, we can become angry and resentful, or even apathetic and frustrated.

According to Marter, many people, living in the midst of the “global, collective panic” of this epidemic, as well as the latest economic uncertainty, political division and others, are showing ‘a that they are still struggling or still alive. The American Psychological Association reports that 27% of all adults are stressed every day to the point that they cannot function.

He said: “The simple things of everyday life like showering, looking after yourself, looking after your family, working, going to school are very difficult for one in four of us now.

Marter said that the huge increase in stress over the past few years has led to a huge increase in anxiety and burnout. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 65% of Americans report experiencing symptoms of anxiety, which may include obsessive thoughts, panic attacks, feelings of panic, or second thoughts. past, and physical tension.

“Stress manifests itself differently for all of us,” he said. “For some, it manifests first in our body: headaches, migraines, stomach aches, digestive problems, sleep, changes in weight or appetite. Psychological responses can include our brain not working as it normally does, you forget things, you make mistakes and errors, you have difficulty making decisions. We are burdened with many things.”

He advised: “You need to check yourself. “I want you to ask yourself honestly, without judgment, without denial. Where are you today?

Marter encouraged anyone with mental health issues to seek help and support, whether by reaching out to family members or friends, to find a counselor through the Employer Assistance Program (EAP) offered by businesses lot, or contact their medical provider for guidance on options. which may exist.

“When I first announced that I was running for the Legislature, this was not the top issue for me”, said Sen. Rasmussen. But when I start knocking on doors and talking to people in the communities I represent and asking them what is the biggest problem they and their families are facing, the main thing what I heard about it is mental health.”

Rasmusson explained how feedback from members led him to prioritize mental health in his legislative efforts. He described several recent, successfully funded projects that address gaps in mental health services including new funding for the Teen Challenge, and creating a high-quality framework for groups. small, with four beds, fixed problems. The project allowed one facility at risk of closure to continue operating, while enabling a new unit to open in Elbow Lake.

Sen. Agreed Westrom, who noted recent advances in mental health services for farmers, who he described as “independent people” who are often too busy working on their farms to always dealing with their own. the need for support. “We have a psychologist and a dedicated counselor for farmers to talk to them privately when they have mental health issues.”

“Your stories matter and have a huge impact on the legislature,” said Sue Abderholden who moderated the panel discussion with lawmakers and event participants. Abderholden, who is the Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Minnesota, encouraged the audience to ask questions and share their stories with the group.

Cherie Rush, a former social worker from Traverse County and current mental health program coordinator, shared her concerns about vacancies in rural areas near the polls. public transport.

“You can have all the programs, but if people don’t have transportation to get to them, we’re back to square one,” Rush said. He explained that mental health grants require that the provider not own the property and asked about a state-level rental program for state-sponsored programs to obtain a vehicle.

“There are examples in Minneapolis and St. Paul where people can become part of a co-op, or online and they can rent a car by the hour or the day,” Westrom said. According to Westrom, the rural transportation law he authored passed this year is exploring how to integrate ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft with county or county transportation systems.

Other topics discussed included finding solutions for people with disabilities who want to work from home using improved internet and technology, legal jobs that continue to increase affordable housing, and incentives to address the mental health workforce shortage.

If you, or someone you know, has a mental health problem and needs help, please call the 24/7 hotline at (701) 364-0431. For more information on mental health issues in the region or to watch a video from this event, visit www.r4sconversations.org