FLATHEAD VALLEY, Mont. – The Flathead Valley community is facing a significant challenge as youth mental health concerns continue to rise. Suicide rates in the area are more than twice the national average, largely due to limited access to services in rural parts of the state.
In response, the state’s largest electric cooperative is taking action. The Flathead Electric Cooperative has invested more than $150,000 into a youth mental health grant, according to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
The funding will be used to launch a comprehensive school-based program that focuses on mental health, substance misuse prevention and crisis response for teens. The program will be guided by national experts from the Jed Foundation, who will assign a specialist to each participating school.
