mental health
By Nicole RonchettiMay 22, 2026Since the start of 2026, use of Rock County GAP Fund has increased by over 200%, bringing affordable mental health care to county residents who otherwise might not be able to access it. Angela Nolz helped found the initiative in 2024 and updated Rock County Commissioners at their May 19 meeting about the project’s importance and its recent growth. “There are two reasons people don’t get…- By Star Herald EditorialMay 13, 2026During Mental Health Awareness Month, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation is encouraging conversations around mental health in agriculture and reminding farmers that support, and resources are available. Farming is a rewarding yet high-pressure profession. From volatile markets and unpredictable weather to long hours and diverse daily responsibilities, the challenges farmers and ranchers face can…
By Lori SorensonMay 13, 2026As the child of a farmer, wife of a farmer and mother of a farmer, this week’s Farm Bureau editorial content resonated with me. Farming is among the most physically and mentally hazardous occupations in the world, yet farmers are the least likely to reach out for care when they need it. That’s partly due to high-deductible health insurance that makes you think twice before scheduling an…- By Lori SorensonAugust 27, 2025Research shows that the odds of surviving a heart attack in a public place are 10 times greater in regions where thousands of ordinary citizens are trained in CPR. This form of bystander rescue is also applied in suicide prevention through QPR training — which teaches how to Question, Persuade and Refer to prevent a suicide. On Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 20, David Goehl-Manolis of the National…
By Jason BerghorstJuly 02, 2025Sanford Luverne recently expanded behavioral health care services at the local clinic. Suzie Walgrave, who is a nurse practitioner in Luverne, recently became certified as a mental health practitioner with a subspecialty in psychiatry. Briana Halse, who joined the Sanford Luverne clinic in April, is a behavioral health counselor who works with patients of all ages but is also a registered…
By Lori SorensonJanuary 08, 2025Rock County residents can now sign up for affordable counseling sessions with the new Grant Assistance Program (GAP) through Luv1LuvAll. The No. 1 barrier for those seeking mental health care is cost due to high insurance deductibles and/or ineligibility for existing low-income programs such as Medicaid. As a result, many do not seek help, and some with serious conditions end up in emergency…- December 04, 2024As part of National Rural Health Day, Sanford Luverne Medical Center has been recognized with a 2024 Performance Leadership Award for excellence in quality. Compiled by the Chartis Center for Rural Health, the Performance Leadership Awards honor top quartile performance (i.e., 75th percentile or above) among rural hospitals in quality, outcomes and/or patient perspective. “Providing quality…
November 20, 2024People seeking support for health and wellbeing now have access to CredibleMind, a free and confidential online resource available 24/7. CredibleMind offers users the opportunity to gain insights into mental health, learn new skills, take mental health assessments, and access an extensive library of wellbeing resources. “We are thrilled to launch CredibleMind in Southwest Minnesota,” said…- 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…
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