Minneapolis Mental Health

Minneapolis is one-half of the “Twin Cities”, the two largest cities in Minnesota, in essence Siamese Twins, eternally joined at the center with little or no distinction between them as you pass from one city into the other. Its sibling is the State Capitol, Saint Paul and of the two, Minneapolis is the larger with an estimated population (2004) of 373,943.

In adding the rest of the metro area into the mix, you end up with the 15th largest agglomeration in the United States with a population of over 3 million. Minnesotans from outlying areas typically don’t make any distinction at all between the Twin Cities or their many suburban communities and are apt to refer to the entire area as just “the Cities”.

Minneapolis originated near Saint Anthony Falls, which has the distinction of being the only waterfalls on the Mississippi River. About the time Minneapolis merged with the smaller village of St. Anthony Falls, the University of Minnesota also had its beginnings. Today the U of M is one of the largest campuses in the US.

U of M Medical Center

The University of Minnesota Medical Center is a world-class facility that consistently ranks with the best-of-the-best hospitals in the nation. Allied with Fairview Hospitals and Clinics, it provides physical and mental health services in a number of locations throughout the Cities. Its Children’s Hospital is the only facility in Minnesota that provides an inpatient mental health unit for children under 12 years old.

Through its unique alliance with Fairview, the U of M Medical Center is able to both extend its many services throughout the area and take advantage of specialized clinics and services provided at other Fairview locations. Fairview mental health programs and services for adults, children and adolescents include:

• Adjustment Disorders

• Anxiety Disorders

• Asperger’s Syndrome

• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Bipolar Disorder/Manic Depression

• Conduct Disorders

• Delusional Disorders

• Depression

• Impulse Control Disorders

• Mental Health Issues and Chemical Dependency (Dual Diagnosis)

• Mood Disorders

• Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

• Oppositional Defiant Disorder

• Panic Disorder

• Personality and Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

• Reactive Attachment Disorder

• Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

• Stress

Abbott Northwestern

The largest not-for-profit hospital in the Twin Cities, Abbott Northwestern is another facility that consistently ranks high among its peers, this year rated 16th for it Neurology/Neurosurgery Department.

The Behavioral Health Services unit of Abbott provides mental health treatment for children, adolescents, and adults on a 24/7 basis. Abbott also provides inpatient care for those in crisis.

Children’s Hospital

Minnesota Children’s Hospital, located in Minneapolis, is the largest pediatric care facility in Minnesota. Psychological services focus on:

• Depression

• Anxieties and fears

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

• Learning disorders

• Behavioral problems (Tantrums, defiance)

• Counseling for traumatic social situations like death, family turmoil, or divorce.

• Developmental problems

• Pediatric problems such as compliance with medical treatment or pain management

Hennepin County Medical Center - Level 1 Trauma Center

HCMC describes itself as “a comprehensive academic medical center and public hospital” located in the heart of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. That the HCMC is comprehensive may be an understatement, especially in matters of mental health!

Consistently, for the last 8-years, HCMC has been named as one of America’s Best Hospitals by the U.S. News. The HCMC is staffed by a superior multi-disciplined team, the Hennepin Faculty Associates (HFA) and is also home to the third largest nonprofit medical research organization in Minnesota, the Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation (MMRF). In addition, the HCMC operates three primary care clinics at satellite locations in Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County.

Five separate inpatient units at HCMC are designed to offer a safe therapeutic environment to adults who need individualized care for specific mental health problems. Two of the five units are used for intensive treatments and forensic services. Inpatient services specialize in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression.

HCMC's Acute Psychiatric Services (APS) also provides emotional crisis services on a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week basis and handles over 42 thousand calls and drop-in visits each year. The APS is supported by Hennepin County funds and state grants and provides services to any person in need, regardless of their financial capabilities The APS is notable as the first and only US hospital-based crisis intervention center- to be certified by the American Association of Suicidology.

The HCMC also maintains an Adult Partial Hospital Program that provides short-term intensive mental health treatment with a goal of stabilizing acute episodes of mental illness. The William W. Jepson, M.D. Day Treatment Program is an option for those adults working with an outpatient psychiatrist. This program is a benefit for those who are trying to avoid the necessity of inpatient treatment as well as for those hoping to reintegrate successfully into the community.