Treat Yourself First Campaign Aims to Reduce Stigma of Seeking Mental Healthcare

February 26, 2025

 A coalition of Minnesota-based professional associations, led by the MMA, are working together to end the fear and stigma that many healthcare professionals experience when in need of mental health services and support. The campaign was announced at a press conference (starting at 6:11) in St. Paul on February 26. 

The Treat Yourself First campaign, which is funded by a 2024 Minnesota Department of Health grant, is designed to: build awareness of stigma around help-seeking and create a supportive environment that encourages clinicians to prioritize their mental health and seek help when needed; create peer-to-peer messages and resources designed to amplify clinicians’ voices to reduce stigma surrounding mental health and seeking mental health care; and communicate to all Minnesota clinicians that there are effective and confidential resources available to help them battle burnout and fatigue and focus on their own well-being.   

Edwin Bogonko, MD, MBA, MMA president, kicks off the press conference to announce the Treat Yourself First campaign on February 26.

“Even before COVID-19, the National Academy of Medicine found that burnout had reached ‘crisis levels’ among the U.S. healthcare workforce, with 35-54% of nurses and physicians, 61-75% of pharmacists, and 45-60% of medical students and residents reporting burnout symptoms,” said Edwin Bogonko, MD, MBA, MMA president.  

“The goal of the campaign is to normalize the process for clinicians and healthcare professionals to seek help for work-place related stresses and increase clinicians’ awareness of mental health issues and services,” Bogonko said. 

On January 30, Sen. Liz Boldon (DFL – Rochester) introduced SF 831, which includes a one-time $250,000 appropriation to help promote the awareness and education campaign. 

The coalition has also launched a website that includes resources for healthcare workers to use to get the help they need, and to help promote it to their fellow healthcare workers.  

Founded in 2024 by the MMA, with support from the Minnesota Department of Health, the Treat Yourself First Coalition is a group of Minnesota-based professional associations working together to end the fear and stigma that many healthcare professionals experience when in need of mental health services and support. 

Coalition members include: Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians; Minnesota Academy of Physician Associates; Minnesota APRN Coalition; Minnesota Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics; Minnesota Chapter, American College of Emergency Physicians; Minnesota Chapter, American College of Physicians; Minnesota Dental Association; MMA; Minnesota Nurse Practitioners; Minnesota Nurses Association; Minnesota Pharmacists Association; and Minnesota Psychiatric Society.