Many of us were taught to respect adults, share and be nice, but never taught that we could love someone and still say no. In Part 2 of Breaking the Chains, Analissa Ruzynski of Sexual Abuse Warriors explains why boundaries matter and how to set them.
mental health
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Metro depression rates outpace the nation
About one in four adults in Hennepin and Ramsey counties has been diagnosed with depression, well above the national average, according to CDC estimates. Editor Jasmine McBride looks at what the numbers do and do not show.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Voting under pressure: The 2026 midterms and Black emotional health
With the midterms weeks away, surveys show deep anxiety among Black voters about rolled-back rights and the fairness of elections, and also strong motivation to vote. Psychologists explain the stress and how to cope.
Posted inTake Care with Nurse Felicia
Well together: Community as medicine
Chronic stress wears down the body the way weather wears down a house. This health column explains “weathering,” why connection interrupts it, and simple ways to build community that protects your health.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Reviving Roots reimagines Black wellness
Reviving Roots Therapy & Wellness founder Marlee James built a Black-centered wellness space that stretches beyond traditional therapy, offering movement classes, support groups and a training program for the next generation of mental health professionals.
Posted inHealth + Wellness, Opinion
A letter to Black men with anxiety: You are seen
A Black man opens up about anxiety and why silence about mental health costs more than speaking up.
Posted inPerspectives From Within
What are the ripple effects of harsh conditions at Rush City prison
Rush City prison inmate Keith Hapana Crow writes about deteriorating conditions following the closure of Stillwater prison, including restricted recreation, mental health neglect and practices he argues violate restorative justice principles.
Posted inOpinion
The stigma we carry, the silence we must break
Dr. Sharon M. Holder writes that mental health stigma in communities of color is rooted in generational silence, systemic barriers and trauma, and calls on readers to break that silence this Mental Health Month.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Ashley Bolden built Lynnmonade on mindset and mission
Lynnmonade founder Ashley Bolden built a wellness beverage brand rooted in mental health, holistic nutrition and positive affirmations from a backyard lemonade stand she started with her son during COVID.
Posted inBusiness
Why people are opting out of hustle culture, choosing lifestyle over work
Hustle culture and Black burnout explored by two therapists who say opting out is not failure but a necessary corrective to a system built on extraction and overwork.
Posted inCommunity Voices
Fear, and the mental health impact of the anti-immigration climate on children
Immigrant children mental health crisis in the Twin Cities is described by a Somali therapist who calls for culturally responsive services and community investment as the only genuine response.
Posted inOpinion
How war news affects your mental health even from a distance
How to manage war news stress and stay informed without letting chronic headlines consume your mental and physical health. Here is what to know.
Posted inMusic
Kanye West Seeks Forgiveness from the Black Community in Wall Street Journal Apology
Ye issued a public apology to the Black community in a Wall Street Journal ad, addressing mental health, accountability, and actions that caused harm.
Posted inArts + Culture
Creative writing circles at George Perry Floyd Square offer community healing
The Agape Movement’s biweekly writing circle near George Floyd Square provides a safe, judgment-free space for healing through creative expression.
Posted inBusiness
Fear exacts a toll on public life
Increased ICE activity across Minneapolis is keeping residents home, reducing foot traffic and hurting local businesses.
Posted inEducation
Is college still worth it?
Minnesota students are using winter break to reflect on whether college is still worth the cost, debt, and uncertainty surrounding career outcomes.
Posted inTracey’s Keepin' It Real
The Cost of the Grind: When Entrepreneurship Breaks Your Health
Episode 6 of Tracey’s Keepin’ it Real with Business tackles burnout head on. Tracey Williams Dillard, Octavia “Tav” Treadway, and Tommy McNeal break down how exhaustion, anxiety, and unhealthy work habits are hurting entrepreneurs and why modeling wellness is essential for leadership and growth.
Supported
Posted inHelp Is Here
Finding peace in the struggle: one man’s journey through recovery
For Lamont B. Taylor, recovery is both a battle and a sanctuary. Born in Hennepin County and raised in Gary, Indiana, Lamont has lived a life marked by struggle, mistakes, and the long road to self-discovery. Today, he finds solace at Anything Helps, a Minneapolis-based organization that provides resources for people navigating addiction and life’s […]
Posted inOpinion
Many feel conflicted mourning Charlie Kirk’s death
Charlie Kirk’s killing is a tragedy—and for many, it brings conflicted mourning. A marriage and family therapist outlines how to hold compassion for a life lost while rejecting harmful rhetoric, and offers three practical steps to process grief, avoid false binaries, and lower the temperature in our public life.
Posted inCommunity Voices
Ujamaa Place helps Black men achieve holistic wellness
Ujamaa Place guides young African American men through a culturally grounded Theory of Transformation. Participants receive individualized coaching, mental health support, fitness and nutrition, and access to 37+ services that lead to housing, education, work, strong family ties, and no justice-system involvement. A digital music program with Walker West Music deepens healing and connection.