The mental strain with the presence of federal agents in the state is taking a toll on many people.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota Executive Director Marcus Schmidt says they have seen a sharp increase in demand for help.
"Unfortunately, you know, we've seen a lot of stress, and uncertainty directed towards our young ones," says Schmidt. "You know, our kiddos I mentioned, I have an 8 and a 9-year old, and I had a conversation with them. And I continue to have dialogue with them about what's going on. And that's a conversation I never thought I would have, and we have guidance for parents."
To meet the growing need, the organization is now expanding its free training and resources to ensure no one has to struggle alone.
Schmidt says he's also seeing a significant spike in demand for trauma courses.
"And it's not just here and now. This is really going to be a marathon, it's not a sprint," he explains. "There's so much uncertainty in our communities and our team is really trying to skate to where the puck is going to be in the coming weeks and months. So that we're able to position ourselves to provide that level of support and work with other community-based organizations to respond to that need."
To help, Schmidt recommends reaching out to the organization for guidance, checking in on neighbors, and avoiding the "doom scrolling" of social media to protect your peace of mind.
He also suggested anyone experiencing serious issues reach out to the 988 mental health hotline services available in Minnesota.