MANKATO — Representatives from the policy team of the Minnesota branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness provided an opportunity for residents to speak about their experience with mental illness and mental health care at a listening session held Tuesday.
The session was one of seven stops on NAMI’s summer and fall listening tour. Additional locations include St. Cloud, Duluth and Grand Rapids.
During the event, NAMI Minnesota Executive Director Sue Abderholden presented outcomes from the 2024 legislative session in 15 categories including adult mental health, housing and criminal justice.
Legislative advancements included $3 million in increased funding for school-linked mental health care and $1.75 million to engage people in treatment voluntarily before they are a danger to themselves or others, end up in the emergency room, or have police involvement.
“A lot has happened this session,” Abderholden said. “But obviously we are not done yet. I say that the mental health system isn’t broken, it was never built so we are trying to figure out what works and build that system.”
The testimonials and information gathered from the sessions will be used to help shape the future policy goals of NAMI Minnesota.
“With these sessions, we can all have our voices heard,” said Christine Myers, who has been working to restart the Greater Mankato NAMI affiliate location. “We can’t all go to the legislatures.”
Mankato-area residents discussed issues and barriers that are personally affecting themselves and the people closest to them. A lack of mental health hospital beds, decreased access to specialized therapies and outpatient services and difficult processes surrounding filing paperwork for children receiving mental health support were some of the topics discussed.
“I cannot underscore the importance of people’s personal stories,” said Abderholden. “They have the most impact. The stories are so powerful that when people hear them, it affects them.”
Residents also praised recently passed legislation which requires DHS to research Medicaid funding for clubhouses supporting those with serious and persistent mental illnesses.
It’s empowering to know that work is being done,” said Myers. “At the local level, families can be in crisis and can’t speak about these issues, but someone has to.”
Mankato area mental health resources can be found by googling “Mental health resources + Mankato Free Press” or Greater Mankato Mental Health Hub.
The National Suicide Prevention and mental health counseling number is 988.