A new advocate steps in as Minnesota's mental health needs rise

Nearly one in five Americans rate their mental health and emotional well-being as poor , according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In Minnesota, many people's mental health has been strained by a series of overlapping stresses — from the COVID-19 pandemic to the murder of George Floyd, the assassination of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, the mass shooting at Annunciation Church and School, and more recently, a surge in federal immigration enforcement that has left many communities experiencing fear and uncertainty. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the new leader of NAMI Minnesota about his vision for reaching more Minnesotans with mental health support and how seeking help for his own mental health is shaping the way he leads. Guest: Marcus Schmit is the executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Prior to joining NAMI Minnesota, he was the executive director of Hearth Connection, a nonprofit focused on ending long-term homelessness. If you or a loved one is experiencing a crisis, you can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also find the number for your local county or tribal crisis team here.

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A new advocate steps in as Minnesota's mental health needs rise is an episode from MPR News with Angela Davis by Minnesota Public Radio.

This episode is 00:35:09 long.

This episode was published on May 6, 2026.

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