Keep The Conversation Going Regarding Mental Health

The month of September has been National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a month-long endeavor to share resources and stories in an effort to shed light on a topic that is often taboo to talk about and stigmatized. According to FMDH employee Samantha Griffin, who is currently in school to become a licensed clinical social worker, in 2017 the national death by suicide rate rose by four percent while Montana saw a rise of 15 percent, which means that most Montana residents know someone who has attempted suicide or struggled with suicidal thoughts.

According to the 2017 Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey, issued by the Montana Office of Public Instruction, staggering statistics show the effects various aspects can have on children’s mental health, in particular. The survey showed 22 percent of high school students had been bullied on school property during the past 12 months and 18 percent had been electronically bullied during the past 12 months. The survey also showed 31 percent of students felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row that they stopped doing usual activities. Among students who attempted suicide, 34 percent had a suicide attempt that resulted in an injury, poisoning or overdose that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse.

According to Griffin, adults are not immune to being affected. Adults who suffer from mental health problems, serious or chronic health problems or prolonged stress are at higher risk of developing mental illness and/or needing assistance with mental health.

“People are reluctant to seek help for various reasons. What do you do if you have cancer? You get help. Behavioral issues, such as mental illness and addiction, should be treated the same way. An individual doesn’t have the ability or know how to deal with and solve the issues by themselves,” stressed member of the Valley C.A.R.E. Coalition and Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center board member Bruce Peterson.

According to Peterson, there is not just one cause that affects a person’s mental health instead it can be a combination of factors such as stress, trauma and/or environment. “The solution should be to address the causes, however people choose other means such as drugs, alcohol or hurting themselves,” stated Peterson.

The Valley C.A.R.E. Coalition, whose members include Valley County Health Department, Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital, Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center and Glasgow Police Department ,sets out to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Valley County. One way the coalition is improving and protecting the health of Valley County residents is by hosting a Mental Health Awareness Walk on Saturday, Oct. 5, starting at 10:30 a.m., which will start at the Valley Event Center and end at the Glasgow Civic Center. The goal of this walk is to open the dialogue surrounding mental illness and mental health and to educate the community that mental health should be treated in the same manner as physical health.

There will be two speakers starting off the morning to talk about their experience living with mental illness and how they overcame the stigma of their mental health to get themselves happy and healthy. “It’s always important to talk to someone who has been there and who has overcome the challenges,” stated Peterson. In addition to creating an open dialogue with various handouts and literature about living a mentally healthy life, there will be free hot dogs at the Civic Center and free rides back to the Event Center.

The dialogue of mental health can not start and/or stop on Oct 5. In an effort to open the conversation regarding one’s mental health, there is a practice in the medical field, including at the Glasgow Clinic, to treat mental health in the same manner as your physical health. When you attend a routine doctor’s appointment, questions will be asked by the provider to get you talking about how you are feeling. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your primary provider,Valley County has a number of religious figures, private/public therapists, Peer Support/Recovery Coach Heather Henry, as well as the Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center on 6th Ave. N, in Glasgow, for those who need a safe space to talk.

There are several options for help. Below are a number of hotlines and mental health contacts.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741

FMDH: 406-228-3500

Glasgow Clinic: 406-228-3400

Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center: 406-228-9349

Immediate Help: 911