LynLake urges Minnesotans to seek depression care sooner

LynLake Centers for WellBeing says Minnesotans should not wait to ask for help as holiday stress approaches after Depression Awareness Month. The Twin Cities practice is pointing to a statewide shortage of mental health workers and highlighting ways it is expanding access to care.

Why it matters: - Depression is common and treatable, but Minnesota still has too few mental health professionals to meet demand. - LynLake Centers for WellBeing says faster access to screening and treatment can help people avoid waiting until symptoms or seasonal stress become overwhelming. - The practice is positioning its scale as a way to make care easier to reach across the Twin Cities.

What happened: - LynLake Centers for WellBeing used the close of October’s Depression Awareness Month to remind Minnesotans to recognize depression symptoms early and seek care. - The Minneapolis-based practice serves individuals, couples and families across the Twin Cities. - LynLake said people should not wait for a crisis to ask for help, especially as the holiday season approaches. - Dr. Lori Quist, CEO of LynLake Centers for WellBeing, said people should not have to spend weeks or months figuring out where to turn when they are ready for help.

The details: - Common signs of depression include persistent sadness or emptiness, loss of interest in activities, changes in sleep or appetite, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and hopelessness. - LynLake encourages anyone with those symptoms for two weeks or more to speak with a mental health professional or primary care provider. - Free online screening tools, including those from Mental Health America, can be a starting point. - Minnesota employers reported more than 1,100 openings for mental health counselors and for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors in the 2024 Job Vacancy Survey from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. - Psychiatrist positions had a vacancy rate of 38% in that survey. - LynLake was founded in 2014 in two shared offices at the corner of Lyndale and Lake in Minneapolis. - The practice now includes more than 200 professionals at 12 locations across Minneapolis and St. Paul, plus telehealth services. - LynLake is in-network with most major commercial and state-based insurance plans. - LynLake offers sliding-fee options where available and provides in-person and telehealth appointments. - LynLake combines psychotherapy, psychiatry and medication management, nutrition therapy and other wellness services under one roof. - LynLake serves people of all ages and backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ and BIPOC Minnesotans who have often faced barriers in traditional healthcare. - LynLake says it supports clinicians with competitive compensation and benefits, continuing education support, clinical consultation groups, professional office space and centralized administrative support.

Between the lines: - LynLake is framing access as both a patient issue and a workforce issue. - The practice is arguing that keeping experienced clinicians matters as much as recruiting new ones in a tight labor market. - Quist said LynLake has an opportunity and responsibility to bring high-quality, compassionate mental healthcare within reach of more Minnesotans. - The message also reflects a broader push to normalize help-seeking before stress intensifies during the holidays.

What's next: - Minnesotans seeking care can schedule an appointment at therapy-mn.com or by calling 612-979-2276. - Anyone in crisis can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. - LynLake says it will continue focusing on access, whole-person care, community reach and clinician retention as demand for mental health services stays high.

The bottom line: - LynLake’s pitch is simple: do not wait to get help, and make care easier to reach when people are ready for it.