mental health

A state commission has come out with a draft report laying out recommendations for how leaders can invest millions of dollars to strengthen Montana’s behavioral health system.

Despite the seemingly idyllic nature of life in a mountain resort town like Whitefish, these communities often experience higher rates of mental health challenges and suicide than the national average.

Montana ranked third-worst among states for suicide deaths in 2020, and 25% of all suicides in the state from 2017 through 2021 were among Native Americans, even though they represent only 6.5% of the state’s population.

The second slice of the $300 million pie for behavioral health improvements in Montana will be going to mobile crisis response as well as developing training for new mental health professionals.

Looking to provide a continuum of care in mental health services, western Montana's largest provider on Tuesday received a boost from Missoula County, which agreed to float the organization a $750,000 loan.

As the changes made by the Montana Legislature to Medicaid rates and reimbursements settle in, Missoula County may direct $1 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to help Western Montana Mental Health shore up its budget.

Missoula County on Tuesday agreed to apply revenue from a mental health mill levied by the county in 1999 to support the opening of the Riverwalk Crisis Center.

After years of planning, Missoula will finally have a designated facility open to patients experiencing a mental health crisis when a 13-bed receiving center opens next month.

Students at the four schools will have on-site access to mental health services, substance use disorder services, and support to address health-related social needs, including access to food and housing, or to sign up for health insurance.

In 2021, Montana lawmakers declined to advance a bill that would have established a phone fee and corresponding revenue account to fund 988 ahead of its launch.