It’s no secret that we live in an age where there is a severe lack of mental health professionals; anyone who has tried to seek therapy in Bozeman for the last couple of years will tell you just how difficult it is to get the help you need. With Montana having the highest suicide rates in the US, it’s obvious that we have an issue than must be addressed immediately . One can blame the weather, the short daytime hours, or the rural nature of our state. However, these factors can not be changed. Therefore, we must treat the symptoms. That is exactly what Bozeman Health is attempting to do.

As of December 5th, Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center saw the opening of an emergency psychiatric care facility, aimed at providing a better alternative to the emergency room for those experiencing mental health crises. With a complete cost of $2 million, the facility offers not only registered nurses, but also psychiatric professionals in order to help citizens during critical circumstances. This combination of medical and mental health professionals will undoubtedly launch the future of crisis intervention in Bozeman, enabling those who are seeking help to be met with it.

In addition to helping those who would otherwise go to the emergency room, this new facility hopes to shelter those who have been picked up by the Bozeman Police Department due to mental health calls. Presently, the US Office of Justice Programs provides American officers with three options when responding to a person who has the potential to harm themselves or someone else: arrest, transportation to a mental hospital, or resolve the matter informally. These three options are not ideal for an officer who is most likely not a mental health professional, and they all have the potential to end traumatically for the citizen. Therefore, this new mental health facility provides the option for these situations to be dealt with in a much more therapeutic manner with people trained for this, rather than having a suffering individual spend a night in jail.

Overall, the new addition of a psychiatric facility will undoubtedly have a positive impact on our community, and provide a safe space for those dealing with the debilitating effects of poor mental health. If you are having trouble dealing with your mental health, believe you might be experiencing a mental health crisis, or think you might be a danger to yourself or those around you, please feel free to contact one of the following numbers.

Bozeman Help Center: 406-586-3333

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988

Bozeman Deaconess Emergency Department: 406-585-1000

Trevor Project crisis line for LGBTQ+ youth: 1-866-488-7386

Trevor Project crisis text line: Text START to 678-678