Frosta needs help to deal with the aftermath of the extensive abuse case. Health surveys in the last ten years show a large consumption of sedatives, especially among young women. This worries the municipal management. They recently had a meeting with the Minister of Health to brief them on the situation. Health Minister Ingvild Kjerkol promises to stand up for the frostings in these difficult times. Photo: Per Sveinung Larsen / news Promise to help – It is important for me to listen and show that we must stand up for the frostings in these difficult times. This is what Minister of Health Ingvild Kjerkol says to news. The municipality will lift the public health work, with the aim of improving the mental health of the residents. – This case happens to many people in our village. It is demanding and difficult to stand up for those who are affected and their families. That’s what mayor Frode Revhaug says at Frosta. Now they want to find out if the use of sedatives is connected to the case against the municipal superintendent, and have asked the Minister of Health for help. Mayor Frode Revhaug at Frosta is hoping for support from the Minister of Health in the work they are now doing to improve public health in the municipality. Photo: Tariq Alisubh / news Mange ramma The municipal superintendent was suspended from his position in the summer of 2022, suspected of having abused his position to obtain sexual intercourse. Since then, the case has grown in scope. 6,000 hours of hidden video recordings from gynecological examinations in the period 2016–2021 have been reviewed by the police, and 220 women have been offended in the case. He is charged with 39 cases of rape. The former municipal superintendent denies having done anything wrong. The extensive assault case against the former municipal superintendent at Frosta will probably go to court in January. Photo: Morten Waagø / news – We spend a lot of time and try to provide health care as best we can. We are a small municipality, and do not have a large enough staff to handle such an extensive case, says Revhaug. – The work of the police takes time, which is demanding for those closest to them. The municipality works closely with the State Administrator, who has twice previously provided additional financial support in this matter. The municipality has so far received discretionary funds of well over NOK 5 million. – Demanding situation Now they need to strengthen capacity further. That was the background to why mayor Frode Revhaug, according to municipal director Endre Skjervø and municipal manager for welfare and education Elisabeth Erle, recently met the minister of health. Three representatives from the State Administrator in Trøndelag also attended the meeting in the ministry. – The Frost community is in a demanding situation. The case has not been fully investigated, so I do not want to go into it, but the scale and number of victims make this very demanding for a small municipality, says Kjerkol, who promises to stand for the municipality. – The meeting also gave me the opportunity to inform about issues we are working with in the government that can be of help and benefit to Frosta municipality. I will keep in touch with the mayor and the municipality. – Saying more about medical practice The fact that young women at Frosta have a high consumption of sleeping pills and sedatives is also confirmed in the HUNT4 survey. It took place in the period 2017-2019. – When it comes to the use of medicine against anxiety and depression, Frosta excels in having the highest recommendation of such medicine for both men and women. So says Steinar Krokstad, psychiatrist and professor at HUNT research centre. – On average, the population of Frosta do not report having worse mental health than other municipalities in northern Trøndelag. – So this says more about medical practice than about actual illness in the population? – Yes, data from HUNT indicates that this says more about medical practice than about real mental health in the population. Professor Steinar Krokstad at the #HUNT RESEARCH CENTER believes it is important to monitor the use of special medicines that are far beyond recognized medical practice. Photo: Tariq Alisubh / news – Disturbing Krokstad believes it is important to monitor the use of special medicines that are far beyond recognized medical practice. – If a municipality is well above the average in the use of drugs that make you dependent, there is every reason to sound the alarm. – What can it mean for those who receive this type of drug at a young age? – It is unfortunate. We have seen an increase in psychological problems among young people in the last ten years, but such medicines do not solve the problem. You achieve a change in symptoms, but the underlying problem is not solved, says Krokstad. Anne Jørstad Stenhaug says it is still difficult to talk to people about the case against the municipal superintendent at Frosta. Photo: Jøte Toftaker / news – Take time to rework In the rural environment, it is still difficult to talk about the abuse case against the former municipal superintendent. – Many are broken, and have experienced difficult things that take time to rework. It has been going on for such a long time. Anne Jørstad Stenhaug says so. – It would be strange if it had no impact. There are probably many who struggle with mental illness. He was the GP for many of us. Mayor Frode Revhaug says they cannot establish that there is a connection. – This is part of what we will now try to find out. We will spend time on this in the future. The municipality will now initiate several measures to improve the mental health of the population, with the aim of reducing the use of sleeping pills and sedatives. – The Minister of Health understands that the municipality needs extra resources, and we are happy about that, says Revhaug.
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Here, young women use more sleeping pills than in the rest of the country
