Mental Health Awareness Month: Meeting the Moment with Local Impact
May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time to reflect, act, and recommit to the collective work of supporting mental wellness in our communities. In Montana, where suicide rates are among the highest in the nation and mental healthcare access remains a persistent barrier, this work is urgent.
At Greater Gallatin United Way, we’re proud to invest in local partners who are meeting this moment with compassion, innovation, and a commitment to whole-person health. These organizations are not just responding to crises—they are building systems of care, belonging, and hope across Gallatin, Park, Madison, and Meagher counties.
Here’s how our Mental Health & Well-being Community Impact Partners are leading the way:
Bridgercare
Bridgercare integrates mental healthcare into routine visits through the Collaborative Care model, making it possible for many patients to receive both physical and mental health support in one place. As psychiatry waitlists grow and affordability becomes an ever-greater barrier, Bridgercare is a vital lifeline—screening patients for anxiety and depression and connecting them with care when and where it’s needed most.
Montana Mindfulness Project (MMP)
MMP brings mindfulness training to over 1,200 individuals annually—empowering youth, parents, and educators with tools proven to reduce stress and anxiety. In a state where more than 40% of teens report feelings of hopelessness, MMP’s upstream approach helps prevent crisis by building emotional resilience and community connection early on.
Wellness in Action (WIA)
Big Sky faces unique mental health challenges tied to isolation and cost of living. WIA’s Affordable Counseling Program provides low- or no-cost therapy, group support, and community education to bridge the gap. With counseling hours up 136% in just one year, the demand for accessible mental healthcare is clear—and WIA is rising to meet it.
Suffer Out Loud
Through their Mental Healthcare Scholarship Program, Suffer Out Loud removes financial barriers to care by covering the cost of up to 12 counseling sessions. In a state where therapy often costs $100–$200 per session and most providers don’t accept insurance, these scholarships are not just helpful—they’re lifesaving.
Big Sky Youth Empowerment (BYEP)
Teen mental health is in crisis—and BYEP is stepping in with intensive, year-round programming that includes mentorship, 1:1 counseling, and social-emotional learning. With half of participants reporting suicidal thoughts and nearly 60% showing signs of depression, BYEP offers a place for healing, connection, and growth during the most vulnerable years.
Help Center, Inc.
The Help Center is the backbone of mental health crisis response in southwest Montana, answering calls for 211, 988, and local crisis lines across 13 counties. Whether someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts or needs a listening ear at 2 a.m., Help Center’s team is always there—offering immediate support and critical resource navigation, day or night.
LiveWell49
In Park County—where suicide rates are among the highest in the state—LiveWell49 is responding with a bold, community-driven approach. By launching a Suicide Prevention Coalition and prioritizing connection and belonging, LiveWell49 is working upstream to prevent mental health crises before they begin.
North Yellowstone Education Foundation (NYEF)
In rural communities like Gardiner, consistent access to mental health care is rare. NYEF partners with Rural Resilience to bring in-school support to students, helping them manage emotions and build coping skills from an early age. By supporting young people where they are, NYEF is investing in the long-term well-being of rural families and communities.
Moving Forward Together
Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us that healing doesn’t happen in isolation—it takes a network of care, trust, and support. Our Community Impact Partners are creating that network, piece by piece.
We invite you to be part of it.
– Visit VolunteerMT.org to get involved.
– Make a donation at greatergallatinunitedway.org to support local mental health programs.
– Share this information. You never know who might need it.
Together, we are building a community where everyone can thrive—mentally, emotionally, and wholly.
