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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-02-26 Correspondence - Disability Rights MT - Struggling to Navigate Montana's Mental Health System_ Start Here.From:Disability Rights Montana - Growth Rings To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Struggling to Navigate Montana"s Mental Health System? Start Here. Date:Wednesday, September 2, 2026 12:06:01 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Every paid subscription supports Disability Rights Montana’s work across Montana. Federal funding is nowhere near sufficient to meet the advocacy and culture change work that is needed. You can help fund the future you want to see! Struggling to Navigate Montana'sMental Health System? Start Here. During Suicide Prevention Month, We're Sharing Tools, Rights, andResources READ IN APP Disability Rights Montana regularly hears from people struggling to navigate Montana’s mental health system. In many ways, it is a sign of the times that getting unhealthy is far easier than getting healthy. If I want a burger, almost every town in Montana can hook me up. From the smallest communities to the largest cities, there are countless places to buy junk food. SEP 2 New Mental Health Rights Resource LibraryLaunches During Suicide Prevention Month But if I want mental health services, it can feel like I have to hike to the top of a mountain and whisper a secret password at the door of a cloistered monastery. Not all of the services we need exist or exist in the amount we need. But many services do exist, although they are often hard to access when you are in crisis. The challenge is knowing where to look, what to ask for, and how the system actually works. This September, Disability Rights Montana is trying to demystify the process what we can. Some of the people we know who are looking for answers are parents trying to find services for a child who is struggling. Some are adults appealing the denial of a mental health service they desperately need. Others are trying to understand their rights during an involuntary commitment proceeding or while receiving treatment at Montana State Hospital. Many simply want clear information about where to turn before a crisis occurs. Too often, that information is difficult to find. September is national Suicide Prevention Month, and far too many Montanans are in a struggle for their lives. Every single year, for decades on end, Montana is at or near the top of the list of states with highest suicide rates. Behind those numbers are friends, family members, coworkers, neighbors, and community members whose lives matter. In recognition of Suicide Prevention Month, Disability Rights Montana is launching a new Mental Health Rights & Resources Library designed to help Montanans better understand mental health services, patient rights, and opportunities for advocacy and systemic reform. Throughout September, we will be releasing a new training each week covering topics that affect thousands of Montanans and their families, including: How to access youth mental health services in Montana How to appeal a Medicaid denial of a mental health service Your rights during involuntary commitment proceedings Your rights as a patient at Montana State Hospital How to engage in systemic advocacy to improve Montana’s mental health system Our first training, “How to Access Youth Mental Health Services in Montana,” is available now. The video is available both on YouTube and through our website because we know people often look for answers outside regular business hours. Mental health questions rarely arrive on a convenient schedule. The video provides an overview of therapy services, case management, school-based mental health supports, crisis services, Medicaid coverage, and other resources available to youth and families before a crisis develops. These trainings are designed for youth, adults, parents, family members, advocates, providers, and anyone who wants to better understand their rights and options within Montana’s mental health system. They are free, available online, and intended to translate complicated systems into practical information people can use. Mental health advocacy is about more than responding to crises. It is about ensuring people have the knowledge, tools, and support necessary to exercise their rights, access services, and participate fully in community life. We invite you to explore the resource library, watch the first training, and check back throughout September as new videos and materials are added each week. Visit the Mental Health Rights & Resources Library here: https://disabilityrightsmt.org/mental-health/ If you know someone who may benefit from these resources, please share them. One conversation, one resource, or one piece of information can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life. Together, we can build a Montana where mental health support is easier to find, easier to understand, and easier to access. In solidarity, David David Carlson, J.D. Executive Director Disability Rights Montana You’re currently a free subscriber to Life Beyond Compliance. Upgrading to paid subscriptions supports Disability Rights Montana’s work across Montana. Federal funding is no where near sufficient to meet the advocacy and culture change work that is needed. You can help fund the future you want to see! Upgrade to paid LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Disability Rights Montana1022 Chestnut Street, Helena, MT 59601 Unsubscribe