Minnesotans are stressed.
According to a 2026 report from Minnesota’s National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), there is a significant and “concerning” surge in distress and mental health needs in Minnesota, a state historically ranked as the “least stressed”.
“Things are really challenging right now,” said Teresa Steinmetz, assistant commissioner of behavioral health at the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS).
Stress levels are high in the state for several reasons, including community-level trauma from social unrest and killings as a result of heightened Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota. That’s on top of existing concerns over economic uncertainty and personal challenges Minnesotans may be facing, all in the coldest and darkest months of the year.
That’s why Steinmetz is spreading the word about a free resource to help called the Minnesota Warmline. It is a safe, supportive space to talk things through over phone, text, or chat with a real person who gets it.
“We all need someone to talk to sometimes,” Steinmetz added.
Every year, the Minnesota Warmline takes more than 16,000 calls, texts, and chats from across the state. It is designed for those moments when Minnesotans feel stuck, overwhelmed or just need to talk. Stress, isolation, and anxiety build over time, potentially leading to a mental health crisis if not addressed.
The person on the other end of the Minnesota Warmline is a Certified Peer Support Specialist, or, plainly put, someone who gets it.
“This is someone who lives with their own mental health challenges and has lived experience and is trained to provide that support and a listening ear for individuals,” Steinmetz said.
The Minnesota Warmline offers several ways to engage because not everyone wants to talk on the phone.
“I have three young adults of my own, and they text me, they do not call me,” Steinmetz explains.
In addition to phone calls, staff at the Minnesota Warmline offer support through a text line and an online chat option. The line is available 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is completely anonymous. “You share as much information as you want to share at that point in time. If you don’t want to share your name, you don’t have to.”
Anyone who reaches out using the Minnesota Warmline will be directed to additional help if they want it.
“If they need connection to clinicians or outpatient therapy or anything they may want to explore in the future, they will get those resources as well,” Steinmetz says, though she said the line also serves a very simple purpose.
“Sometimes it’s just someone who wants to talk because they’re having a stressful day.”
Whatever the reason, the Minnesota Warmline is free and available by calling 651-288-0400, texting “Support” to 85511, or chatting online at www.mentalhealthmn.org.
The Warmline is a part of a broader network of mental health supports and is not meant to replace crisis services.
If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health emergency, help is available 24/7 through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.