Minn. Lawmakers Want to Up Schools' Mental Health Funds

While state and federal politicians consider changes to gun laws, a group of Minnesota lawmakers want to improve mental health care in schools.

Sen. Kathy Sheran unveiled a bill Friday that would give schools an extra $10 million over the next two years to bring in mental health specialists.

The bill would also provide more training to mental health professionals handling psychotic episodes, and resources for earlier treatment of teens experiencing a crisis.

Sheran says mental health is one factor in mass shootings that the state needs to address. The Mankato Democrat and colleagues say schools are the best place to catch mental illness before a student becomes violent.

Sue Abderholden, executive director of Minnesota's National Alliance on Mental Illness, says only 5 percent of the mentally ill are violent.

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