Mental Health Pop Up
Logan Nugent, Missoula County
In 2021 31.5% of Montana high school students reported that their mental health was most of the time or always not good. (Poor mental health includes stress, anxiety, and depression, during the 30 days before the survey)
In 2021 41.4% of Montana high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless (almost every day for 2 or more weeks in a row so that they stopped doing some usual activities, during the 12 months before the survey. from Montana high school youth risk behavior survey 2021
Resilience and mental health are closely linked. Strengthening the ability to adapt in the face of adversity can help teens heal more quickly from trauma, depression, anxiety, and other difficult conditions and experiences. Resilient children and resilient teens also have a lower risk of turning to unhealthy coping strategies such as substance abuse, self-harm, eating disorders, or other risky behaviors.
To begin the school year with a focus on emotional wellbeing, a pop-up exhibit featuring mental health facts, tips, and strategies will be installed at Frenchtown High School. The pop-up will include resiliency and mental health topics for youth such as:
- · Developing a Positive Mindset
- · Building strong relationships
- · Practicing self-care
- · Setting achievable goals
- · Practicing problem-solving skills
- · Cultivating a sense of purpose
- · Seeking support
- · Info on 988
The pop-up will be in a public area of the school. Students, visitors, and school staff will be encouraged to visit and interact with the exhibit. Information will be shared in several ways including trivia, media from 988, SAMHSA, and engage.youth.gov.
The two goals of the pop-up exhibit are as follows:
- To encourage the schools and the student body to begin the school year with a spirit of connection and support for one another, and to begin a dialogue focused on ending the stigma of mental illness by helping students feel empowered to improve their mental health.
- To develop a sustainable relationship with school administrators. Mental Health and prevention resources will be provided to administrators and school nurse with the long-term goal of strengthening the district’s policy on mental health care and suicide prevention.
Plans for this pop-up continue as we are planning to have it at the Missoula 2025 fair along with a permanent pop-up at Missoula’s YMCA. Other schools within Missoula County are welcome to have this as scheduling allows.
