State of Mind, YAM, Mental Health and More
Gina Lamb, Phillips/Valley Counties
| Phillips County hosted State of Mind in Malta earlier in April, a free theatre and public dialogue event that is visiting over 20 Montana communities between September 2024 and May 2026. The project aims to address the mental and behavioral health crisis in Montana by using theatre and creative arts to facilitate productive conversations inside communities and schools. The program consists of a free theatre performance, and free workshops for students, faculty and staff. Attending the workshops were 21 high school students, 24 school staff/healthcare professionals; with 45 community members taking in the public performance; and 12 stakeholders joining the “Coffee & Conversation”, where the air was energized with hope for the future. This group plans to meet again mid May to brainstorm about what steps are next to move forward with mental health in our community. The following are a few reactions to the State of Mind experience: “I loved that we as students had our voices heard when most times we don’t.” “Support students in a way that acknowledges the pressures facing students in our community.” “This was a great experience and I would like to see a workshop for parents offered.”
For more information about State of Mind, please visit: https://www.umcivicimagination.com/state-of-mind-1 And on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556751081311
Prevention Specialist Gina Lamb was one of 18 individuals newly trained in YAM (Youth Aware of Mental Health). Currently, there is intent to implement the program this fall at Malta High School. PS is working at reaching out and promoting the program at other high schools in Phillips & Valley counties as well.
Prevention collaborated with Malta Kids Club in providing bags for the Kindergarten Roundup of preschoolers who are enrolled in Kindergarten this fall. The bags contained ParentingMontana.org information, Tobacco prevention; Play Doh & scissors, along with a placemat for the children to create letters of the alphabet with the dough and other tasks, such as rolling the dough into a snake and cutting it with dough scissors. The Play Doh activities were suggested by their future teachers on what the students could work on over the summer. Promoting Mental Health with radio interview and decorating the window in green.
|
