News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Tuesday February 3rd 2026
The Link Between Financial Stress and Mental Health
By AMANDA THEISEN , Communications Manager for Sunrise Banks.
Financial stress can come in many ways — unexpected car repairs, a job loss, foreclosure or a life-changing illness. Regardless of your current financial status, a sudden strain on your finances can have long-term impacts on both your physical and mental health.
With Mental Health Awareness Month in May, this is a good opportunity to look at how financial strain can affect your health and the steps you can take to address both the symptoms and the root causes.
What is Financial Strain?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, financial strain happens when a person or family’s spending (both discretionary and nondiscretionary) starts to exceed their income to a degree that psychologically threatens their relationships and self-esteem. It can refer to your current well-being or look further into your future. Unlike poverty, which objectively measures a person’s lack of basic needs, people at all income levels can experience financial strain.
Finances consistently rank among the top stressors for many Americans. In the American Psychological Association’s “Stress in America 2022” report, about two thirds (66%) of those surveyed said money was a significant source of stress.
Physical and Mental Links
Financial stress has the potential to impact both your own health and quality of life, and those around you, as well.… Read the rest “The Link Between Financial Stress and Mental Health”
The Trouble with Jessica
from the series Movie Corner…
By HOWARD MCQUITTER II
If you suffer from any claustrophobic issues, this dark comedy may just not be the movie for you. It all centers in an elaborate home when Beth, her husband Richard, and Jessica visit Tom and his wife Sarah. Jessica is the uninvited guest coming to their dinner. Tom and Sarah have deep problems of their own, mainly financial troubles. One problem is that Tom and Sarah are having to deal with an enfant terrible like Jessica.
Once everybody sits down to eat, some unlikely and disturbing topics are talked about. A moral dilemma arises for Tom, Sarah, Richard and Beth. What do they do? Their situation doesn’t get any easier. Will they be discovered or not?
Generally this is a relatively funny dark comedy, although the profanity is unfortunately heavy and profuse.
The film is from The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival 44 and was screened at The Main Cinema (formerly known as St. Anthony Main).
Cast: Alan Tudyk (Tom), Shirley Henderson (Sarah), Rufus Sewell (Richard), Olivia Williams (Beth), Indira Varma (Jessica), and Alice Henley (Jessica’s neighbor).
Running time: 89 minutes.
Director: Matt Winn. Screenwriters: James Handel, Matt Winn.… Read the rest “The Trouble with Jessica”
Keep citizen journalism alive!
Nightmares and Sweet Dreams
from the series Raise Your Voice…
By PETER MOLENAAR
April 3rd, 1811 Chicago Avenue….
Folks from all around gathered here to protest threats to our Social Security. Democrats listen up: extend the program’s solvency by having millionaires pay the same percentage of income the rest of us pay. SCRAP THE CAP!
April 5th, State Capitol grounds….
About 25,000 protesters expressed a multi-faceted angst. The artistic expression of homemade signs and costumes was unprecedented, as well. For example, a paper mache mutation protruded from the belly of a bearded elder. It was rendered with stars and stripes, outstretched arms, anguished face and gaping mouth… remember Picasso’s Guernica?
Meanwhile, Nukewatch Quarterly:
The transfer of new U.S. nuclear bombs to air bases in Europe is part of a “nuclear sharing program”. Remember the Cuban Missile Crisis? Just for fun, might we cut military spending in half to see who might invade.
One special request:
Open your computer and search: “The target is unmistakable: The shooting of Gaza’s children”. The Israeli soldiers who snipe out Palestinian children with drones will suffer nightmares forever.
Yet democracy will blossom based on public ownership of big business. Sweet dreams…who needs billionaires?… Read the rest “Nightmares and Sweet Dreams”