Cavalier County
$1.00
Single Copy Volume 135
Republican cavaliercountyextra.com
In this issue:
Copyright © Langdon, North Dakota
Cavalier County 4-H recently held their communications arts and Project Expo, see results on Page 5. Senator Myrdal gives a legislative update on Page 7.
Index
OPINION YOUTH CHURCH COMMUNITY SPORTS AG PROF DIR PN CLASSIFIED
PAGE 4 PAGE 5 PAGE 6 PAGE 7 PAGE 8-9 PAGE 10 PAGE 11 PAGE 12-14 PAGE 15
Mental health encompasses many aspects of our lives, including emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, act, handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it focuses on educating everyone in the truth about mental illness and that help is available. Mental health problems are actually very common. In 2014, about one in five American adults experienced a mental health issue, one in 10 young people experienced a period of major depression, and one in 25 Americans lived with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for the loss of over 41,000 American lives each year- more than double the number of lives lost to homicide. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry; life experiences, such as trauma or abuse; or a family history of mental health problems. Half
of all mental health disorders show first signs before age 14, and three quarters of mental health disorders begin before age 24. Prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders focuses on addressing known risk factors that can affect the chances that children, youth, and young adults will develop mental health problems.
anyone else. Less than 5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness. In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population. Many people with mental health problems are highly active and just as productive as
Early mental health support can help a child before problems interfere with other developmental needs. Unfortunately, less than 20% of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need. It is a myth that people with mental health problems are violent and unpredictable. The vast majority of people with mental health problems are no more likely to be violent than
other people. Employers who hire people with mental health problems report good attendance and punctuality as well as motivation, good work, and job tenure on par with or greater than other employees. Many disorders and conditions are categorized under mental health problems. They affect feelings and behaviors differently and include anxiety, behavioral, eating, mood, personality and psychotic dis-
Parenting in a Pandemic: Setting limits and avoiding power struggles By Linda Timian Republican Writer North Dakota State University Parenting Education Network hosted the fourth webinar in their five-part series Parenting in a Pandemic. The webinars are led by Erin Walsh, co-founder of the Spark & Stitch Institute based out of Minneapolis, Minn. This session focused on understanding brain science to help us establish limits and consequences with our kids without devolving into arguments and fights. Setting limits is never an easy part of parenting. For many of us it’s a struggle in normal times, let alone during a pandemic. We are engaged in an intense juggling act. We each have our own stress map. Stress is one of those things that, if were not careful, can really amplify conflict in our households. As a reminder from earlier sessions, our brains shut down from the top down under stress. First, the thinking/problem solving part of our brain shuts down then the feeling part, leaving the functioning part of our brains operating at a basic level. The thinking part of the brain is under construction in our
kids. The part that thinks ahead and solves problems is still a work in progress, and kids don’t have the tools to navigate this extra stress. We get tired, and then we get prickly. It is tempting to think, “Things are already so hard for them right now and anything I can do to make things easier will help.” We want to help them cope, lower the bar, and smooth things out. It’s tempting, but it can backfire. The challenge
with this line of thinking is that green-lighting everything creates chaos and that creates anxiety. Predictable boundaries provide safety and security. It is difficult to be consistent because the part of our brain that helps us stay more measured is under strain right now. Reflect on when you are stressed out. Do you tend to over-parent, under-parent, or swing back and forth? Think about what your parenting partner does. It helps to know what you go to when under
Farmers & Merchants State Bank 816 3rd Street, Langdon, ND 58249
(701)256-5431 • www.fmbanklangdon.com
Member FDIC
Monday, May 10, 2021
Number 19
May is Mental Health Awareness Month By Linda Timian Republican Writer
Read the latest from the Cavalier County Commission on Page 3.
Official Newspaper of Cavalier County Published since 1889
A+
stress. It is common for parents to push each other to the extremes. If one under-parents and sees the other over-parent, they may back off even more. The other may see that and then over-compensate. We may not start far apart, but through the pandemic we pull apart. How do we loosen and be a bit more graceful but not completely let go? One strategy is to know what matters most and save your “relationship capital” with your kids for those things. When you’re feeling calm, identify what things are really important to you. What are your red-light items (not allowed), yellow (depends upon context or what is happening at the time), or green light (annoying but not worth a fight). Do this especially if you know you are swinging back and forth between over- and under-parenting. For example, it’s ok to be angry, it’s not ok to hit. Eye rolls? They’re not worth the fight and you’re not going to spend relationship capital on them. Then establish limits and consequences: 1) Set limits and rules ahead of time; 2) Choose a consequence that is appropriate when you are calm; 3) Make sure your child cont. on page 3
orders; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; suicidal behavior; and trauma and stress related disorders. Substance abuse sometimes occurs with other mental health disorders. People with anxiety disorders respond to certain objects or situations with fear and dread. Anxiety disorders can include obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorders, and phobias. Behavioral disorders involve a pattern of disruptive behaviors in children that last for at least 6 months and cause problems in school, at home and in social situations. Examples of behavioral disorders include Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Conduct Disorder, and Oppositional-Defiant Disorder (ODD). Eating disorders involve extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors involving weight and food. Eating disorders can include anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. Mood disorders involve persistent feelings of sadness or periods of feeling overly happy or fluctuating between extreme happiness and extreme sadness. Mood disorders can include depression, bipolar disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and self-harm. People with OCD have recont. on page 2
Lindseth hired as new deputy By Jared Entzi Republican Writer The Cavalier County Sheriff’s Department has hired a new deputy. Danielle Lindseth accepted the job offer on March 9 and will be attending the North Dakota Peace Officer Basic at the Law Enforcement Training Academy in
Bismarck from June 1st to August 20th of this year. Lindseth currently is licensed as a North Dakota Limited Peace Officer; upon completion of training, she will obtain her full Peace Officer License. Becoming a deputy was a career path Lindseth has been
working towards for some time. In May of 2006, Danielle graduated from the University of North Dakota with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, a bachelor's in Forensic Science, and a minor in Psychology. After graduating, Danielle was employed at the jail in Rugby, ND, as a correctional officer. She then
worked at the Rolette County Sheriff's office as a 911 dispatcher and correctional officer. In September of 2017, Lindseth started working at the Cavalier County Sheriff's office as a correctional officer and 911 dispatcher. cont. on page 2
Thank you to our area teachers and school staff for making a difference in the lives our students! Your hard work and commitment are greatly appreciated.