Conversation with Minnesota legislators explores practical solutions

Some years ago, Joyce Marter was making a purchase at a neighborhood store when she suddenly found herself embroiled in a conflict with the cashier. She described her own behavior in that moment as “rude” and “completely irrational” as she erupted into an argument with the person behind the counter. 

“I was not behaving like my usual self,” recounted Marter, who explained that her father had died the day before and she was just beginning to wrestle with the grief. “Sometimes we see good people at their worst and we need to recognize that we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg. We don’t know what’s going on in people’s lives at that time.” 

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

Included in the discussion were Minnesota Senators Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake) and Jordan Rasmusson (R – Fergus Falls), as well as A.J. (John) Peters, DFL candidate for the Minnesota Congressional District 7 seat. They spent the morning discussing the issues with attendees and listening to the personal stories of individuals 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 legislators and their constituents together to engage in constructive dialogue on mental health issues, as well as put a personal face on mental illness in the region. The event also provides a forum to educate people involved with the mental health system on how to effectively interact with their legislators.

“When we are stressed out emotionally, we may become angrier and more irritable, or even apathetic and numb,” said Marter, who was keynote speaker at the event.

Untreated stress may lead 

to worse symptoms

According to Marter, most people, since living through the “global, collective trauma” of the pandemic, along with recent economic uncertainties, political divide, and more, are indicating that they are struggling or just surviving. The American Psychological Association reports that 27% of all adults are so stressed out on a daily basis that they cannot function. “Simple acts of daily living like showering, taking care of yourself, taking care of your family, working, going to school is very challenging for one out of four of us right now,” she said. 

Marter said that the significant increase in stress over the past few years has led to a dramatic increase in anxiety and burnout. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 65% of Americans identify with the symptoms of anxiety, which may include obsessive thoughts, panic attacks, feelings of overwhelm, ruminating on or second-guessing the past, and physical tension in the body. 

“Stress shows up differently in all of us,” she said. “For some, it shows up in our bodies first: headaches, migraines, stomach aches, digestive issues, difficulty sleeping, changes in weight or appetite. Cognitive responses may include our brain not functioning like it normally does, you forget things, you make mistakes and errors, you have difficulty making decisions. We’re on overload.”

“You need to check in with yourself,” she advised. “I want you to ask yourself honestly, with no judgment, no denial. Where are you today?”

Marter encouraged anyone experiencing mental health challenges to seek help and support, whether by reaching out to family members or friends, securing a counselor through an Employer Assistance Program (EAP) offered by many businesses, or reaching out to their medical provider for guidance on options that may be available.

Legislative Perspective

“When I first announced that I was running for the Legislature, this was not a top five issue for me”, said Senator Rasmusson. “But when I began knocking on doors and talking to folks in the communities I represent and asked them what’s the biggest issue facing them and their family, the number one thing I heard about was mental health.”

Rasmusson explained how feedback from constituents has caused him to reprioritize mental health in his own legislative efforts. He described several recent, successfully funded projects that address gaps in mental health services including new funding for Teen Challenge, and establishing a higher rate structure for small, four-bed, crisis stabilization units. This project allowed one facility at risk of closure to continue operating, while enabling a new unit to open in Elbow Lake. 

“The need is so great,” agreed Senator Westrom, who identified recent advances in mental health services offered to farmers, who he described as “private people” who are often so busy working on their farms that they do not always address their own need for support. “We have a dedicated psychologist and counselor for farmers to confidentially talk to them when they have mental health struggles.”

“Your stories matter and have a huge impact on the legislature,” said Sue Abderholden who moderated a dialogue with the panel of legislators 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 own stories with the panel. 

Cherie Rush, a former social worker from Traverse County and current coordinator of a mental health socialization program, shared her concerns about gaps in rural areas around public transportation options.  

“You can have all the programs available, but if people have no means of transportation to get to them, we’re back at step one, said Rush”. She explained that mental health grants require that there be no owned assets by the provider and asked about a state level leasing program for state funded programs to get access to a vehicle. 

“There are models in Minneapolis and St. Paul where people can become part of a co-op, or a network and they can rent a car by the hour or the day,” Westrom said. According to Westrom, legislation for rural transit that he authored went through this year is exploring how to combine dynamic transit opportunities like an Uber or Lyft system with county or regional dispatched public transit systems. 

Additional topics discussed included identifying solutions for people with disabilities who want to work from home by utilizing improved broadband and technologies, legislative activity underway to increase affordable housing, and incentives to resolve shortages in the mental health workforce. 

If you, or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis and you need help, please call the 24/7 crisis hot line at (701) 364-0431. For more information about mental health issues in this region or to watch video from the event, visit www.r4sconversations.org