SAUK RAPIDS - The legacy of late Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone was alive and well at the Sauk Rapids Government Center on Thursday night.

David Wellstone, mental health advocate and the senator's son, gave a presentation on dealing with his depression following the 2002 plane crash which took the life of the senator, his wife and daughter.

His talk also focused on the work he's done ever since the crash to promote mental health and addiction awareness, issues his father championed while in office, before turning the talk over for questions and discussion.

Wellstone is currently promoting his book, "Becoming Wellstone: Healing from Tragedy and Carrying on My Father's Legacy," which he says tackles all of the aforementioned topics in detail.

Wellstone opened up to the audience of around 60 people, describing his severe and debilitating depression following the crash. He says, when life hands you something incredibly difficult, it's important to know how to ask for help, and hopes the book inspires people to take action on mental health issues.

Despite making strides on the national political front through advocacy, Wellstone says he's not interested in holding public office. He'd rather focus on promoting the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, his father's hallmark legislative achievement.

The presentation was sponsored by the Senate District 13 DFL.

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