Burcum: Minnesota’s top mental health group gets an empathetic new leader

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I’ve been a health care writer for over three decades. There’s one data point that still sobers me each time I come across it:

Close to 1 in 5 adults in the United States lives with a mental illness. More specifically, it’s 23.1%, according to the National Institutes of Health. That translates to 59.3 million people in 2022, the most recent year for which results are available.

Chances are, either you or someone you care about has a mental illness or has had one. Despite the prevalence of these conditions — which include depression, anxiety, addictive disorders and schizophrenia — there’s still an unfortunate stigma accompanying them. Achieving parity in the care and insurance coverage provided for these medical concerns vs. other disorders also unfortunately remains a challenge.

All of this is why the recent leadership change of a vital Minnesota nonprofit matters. The Minnesota chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has long been one of the state’s most vigorous advocates for better mental health care and access to it. It’s often one of the first places families struggling with a new diagnosis turn to for resources.

Last month, longtime NAMI Minnesota leader Sue Abderholden retired after more than two decades on the job. The new executive director is Marcus Schmit, 40. He grew up in Red Wing and has served as a congressional staffer for now-Gov. Tim Walz, a state Department of Corrections assistant commissioner, and director of advocacy for Second Harvest Heartland. He most recently served as the executive director of Hearth Connection, a Minnesota nonprofit aiding the homeless.

Q. What drew you to the NAMI Minnesota leadership role?

Schmit: It starts with the mission, right? I’m really passionate about the mission. It just impacts so many people. I wasn’t looking to leave Hearth Connection ... [where] we really doubled down on the important work of supportive housing, which is, you know, the housing and the services that people who have long histories of mental illness challenges really need. As I went through that process, I just realized what an opportunity it [would be at NAMI Minnesota] to apply that experience in policymaking, both as a main advocate and in nonprofit leadership, rooted in my public service background involving housing, homelessness, food security, corrections and health care. Mental health is the through line on all of this. But you know, it’s also personal experience, and I’ve had my own challenges.

Q. Do you want to say more? Sue Abderholden was candid that her own family lived with mental illness. It made her a very credible but approachable advocate.

Schmit: I’ve navigated cyclothymia, which is like a mild form of bipolar, and never really understood that this was something that wasn’t normal. It was my wife who encouraged me to look into it. And that was two years ago, so I was navigating the condition for a lot of my teen and adult years. It’s been life-changing getting medication to help me manage that. It’s made me a better husband and better dad. It’s just made me more confident and comfortable in my own skin, too.

If at the end of the day, one of the things that I’m able to accomplish by talking about it is to help bring more people into a conversation that will get them more comfortable getting the help that they need, then I will feel very proud of that.

Schmit: I’ve really found it fulfilling to help people and organizations navigate through change. I feel like I can bring some energy to this organization to help them navigate this.

I’m not Sue, and I have the utmost respect for her. I’ve worked with her for probably 15 years, as a congressional aide and in a number of the different roles that I’ve played. She’s got big shoes to fill. I think I do have a strong record of being an effective advocate. I know how the Legislature works, and I have great relationships with a number of legislators and staff. I always think it’s good to have a fresh set of eyes to come in. I’ll continue to build on Sue’s legacy and apply a lot of what I’ve learned through experience and working with some great leaders to help an organization that does incredible work level up and continue to meet the moment. I’m going to work hard every day, and I’m going to do my best to fill those shoes. I’m kind of bringing a little bit of my own energy to this role.

Q. You mentioned your childhood in Red Wing and working for then-U.S. House Rep. Tim Walz, who represented southern Minnesota. Might that greater Minnesota background flavor some of your policy goals in your new role?