One of the hardest things about a mental health crisis is the overwhelming singularity of the current problem. You can’t “multitask.” The future is an entirely abstract concept. And while I share this from my own perspective, I’ve talked about this with many others.
Today I continue my series on mental health issues in Minnesota with Sam Miltich’s story about what he calls “an improvised life.” Miltich is a talented jazz guitarist who built a successful family and career in the aftermath of a schizophrenia diagnosis.
Overcoming mental illness doesn’t mean the illness goes away. It means you build a daily strategy to live well. And it works, if you stick with what works and remain open to the help available.
Read “Halting, slow, beautiful: Recovery from mental illness takes many forms” in the Monday, July 21, 2025 edition of the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Aaron J. Brown is a columnist and member of the editorial board for the Minnesota Star Tribune. His new book about Hibbing Mayor Victor Power and his momentous fight against the world’s largest corporation will be out soon.
One response to “Mental health crisis rages on, but recovery lifts hope”
Dear Aaron,
Thank you for your beautiful and courageous column on mental illness and hope. Your words resonated deeply with me and my family. We, too, have lived this experience—my youngest brother, whom we love dearly, was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder many years ago.
He is a gifted soul—kind, creative, and once on a path as a promising minor actor in Hollywood. Coming from a small Minnesota town, his journey was already extraordinary. But mental illness altered his path dramatically. The past several decades have been filled with deep pain, confusion, and the difficult work of love: trying to support him through a system that is often broken, underfunded, or simply unequipped to truly help.
There is so much to learn about mental illness. I often engage with folks that want to make quick sense of what happened alluding to drugs he may have taken, etc. If only it was that easy to wrap our heads around. So much work needs to be done educating the public. We have pummeled into taking the accelerated course because of how closely it impacted us. Even among my siblings and I have differing points of view regarding his entry point to what triggered his mental illness. I’m pretty sure it sent my mother to an early grave. The one who gave her all in trying to fix him to the end. He broke my parents heart over and over again.
Like the story you shared about Sam Miltich, we have seen both beauty and devastation in our brother’s life. There have been moments of progress and lucidity, but also long stretches of suffering and loss. It’s hard—for him, and for all of us who care about him.
What struck me most in your writing was the idea of hope. You’re right—it’s often the missing piece in conversations about mental illness. And yet, without it, we’re left only with fear and fatigue. Your column reminded me that recovery is not about perfection, but about persistence, management, and meaning. We need more stories like Sam’s, and more compassionate voices like yours, to keep the conversation going.
I hope with all my heart that we see more investment in mental health resources, more access to compassionate care, and more understanding in our communities. Families like ours—and individuals like my brother—have suffered quietly for far too long.
Thank you again for honoring this topic with such honesty and grace. It means more than you know.
Warmly,
Name withheld due to personal/family privacy