Southwest Montana News

No Montana community remains unaffected by the ongoing mental health crisis, which encompasses issues such as suicide, addiction, and difficulties in accessing mental health services or support for individuals with developmental disabilities. These challenges have persisted for years, but recent actions aim to address them.

In a significant move this spring, Governor Greg Gianforte and the Montana Legislature allocated $300 million to reform and enhance Montana's behavioral health and developmental disabilities service systems. This investment marks the largest of its kind in the state's history.

The Behavioral Health System for Future Generations (BHSFG) Commission is tasked with recommending how best to utilize this funding. The commission includes members with diverse backgrounds as service providers, legislators, and state officials who are committed to this responsibility but acknowledge they need public input.

Public meetings will be held every six to eight weeks across Montana to discuss potential reforms and gather feedback from community stakeholders. These gatherings offer an opportunity for public comment from those directly affected by behavioral health conditions or developmental disabilities.

Since July, three meetings have been conducted where judges, county attorneys, sheriffs, jail commanders, family members, suicide prevention experts, hospital psychiatrists, community-based service providers, tribal officials, crisis response teams, key stakeholders, and state officials shared their experiences and proposed long-term solutions.

During a recent meeting in Missoula, providers gave testimony on the challenges they face while serving families dealing with mental health crises. The testimony highlighted that current systems are inadequate for addressing these needs.

This initiative aims to expand and integrate community-based behavioral health care and developmental disabilities services throughout Montana while improving services at facilities like the Montana State Hospital.

The commission has already adopted two recommendations: one addressing the backlog of court-ordered mental health evaluations statewide and another increasing residential bed capacity in adult behavioral health as well as developmental disabilities and children's mental health service areas.

The next meeting is scheduled in Kalispell from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1. It will provide an opportunity for public input on how best to assist communities moving forward with multi-year reform plans. Additional meeting dates will be announced online at futuregenerations.mt.gov.

Montanans are encouraged to participate actively in these discussions as more recommendations emerge. "Our work is only beginning," said Rep. Bob Keenan of Bigfork. "Together we can use this investment to help our neighbors in need – both now and for future generations."

Rep. Bob Keenan serves as chairman of the BHSFG Commission; Charlie Brereton is Director of the Department of Public Health & Human Services; Senator John Esp also contributes significantly within his role on this commission alongside co-sponsoring HB 872 legislation supporting these efforts.