mental health
- By Mavis FodnessJuly 03, 2024Rock County Commissioners unanimously approved a $10,000 annual commitment for Luv1LuvAll to help close a financial gap for individuals seeking mental health care. The Rock County Mental Health GAP Fund (Grant Assistance Program) will begin taking applications Sept. 1. Three GAP committee members updated commissioners June 18 about the developing program two months after the group asked…
By Lori SorensonJune 05, 2024As Mental Health Awareness Month ended last week, the staff at Rock Veterinary Clinic, Luverne, have a simple request: Be kind. Two of their five veterinary doctors recently left the clinic, and the remaining three are working overtime to meet the needs of farm clients and pet owners. “It’s been rough,” Dr. Erin deKoning said. “And it wouldn’t be so bad if people could be nice. … I just think…
By Lori SorensonMay 08, 2024Phil Voigt retired this spring from the Southwestern Mental Health Center after 43 years of helping people improve their mental health. Voigt is a licensed psychologist, a licensed clinical social worker and a licensed marriage and family therapist and said the career suited him well. “I sort of grew into this,” he said about the path to his career. “My parents taught kindness and respect for…- By Mark Jacobson, Peer Support SpecialistMay 01, 2024May is Mental Health Month, and talking about mental health can go a long way in improving mental wellness for those around us. Here are five reasons to talk about mental health: To reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. One of the biggest obstacles to mental health treatment is the stigma that surrounds it. Stigma can lead to shame, fear and discrimination, which can prevent people from…
- By Mavis FodnessApril 10, 2024A concerted effort began in December to close gaps in accessing affordable mental health care. Angela Nolz, integrative health therapist at Sanford Luverne Clinic, and Erica Hough, director of Luverne Counseling, addressed the Rock County Board April 2. Specifically, they sought support for the Rock County Mental Health G.A.P. Fund (grant assistance program.) “Our goal is to empower Rock…
- March 07, 2023Rural residents have dealt with diminishing access to health care for decades, largely because increasing costs of services makes sparsely populated areas less economically feasible to serve than densely populated urban areas. This problem applies just as much to mental health services as to any other aspect of health care in the United States. But now more than ever, as the demand for mental…
- By Mark Jacobson, Winona Peer support specialistMarch 08, 2022The mental health system in the United States is currently in a state of crisis. Consider the following: •In 2019, just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 19.86 percent of adults in the U.S. experienced a mental illness, equivalent to nearly 50 million Americans. •Suicidal ideation continues to increase among adults in the United States, with 4.58 percent of adults reporting serious thoughts of…
- August 11, 2020The Star Herald this week carries a story about volunteers assembling personal care kits to be shared with community members. The primary idea is that social isolation and economic hardships of a pandemic take a toll on human beings, especially those with fewer resources. This is especially true for our community members who struggle with brain health. Mark Jabcobson, a peer support specialist in…
- By Luke Comeau, Southwestern Mental Health Center interim executive directorMay 12, 2020The month of May is known for its warmer days, flowers in bloom, and students anxious to burst through their school's exit doors one final time to the freedom of summer break. Yet, this May is entirely different for all of us, whether it was the change in plans for Mother's Day, a birthday party celebrated over Zoom, or working from home while the kids scream during your corporate…
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