Montana is spending $300 million to improve mental health services in the state.

Experts are focusing on six key areas.

Montana's mental health care services took a hit in 2017 during an economic downturn, and Matt Kuntz - executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Montana - said the state is trying to come back from that.

New data released by what's known as the 872 Commission recommends the state bolster services in key areas - including investing in more mental health crisis beds, securing more funding sources, and getting more resources into Montana classrooms.

"It's important because it's a really great place for the kids to be able to access the care without disrupting their schooling," said Kuntz, "and it also gives the schools the ability to help their students get the care that they need."

The 872 Commission will make its recommendations to state legislators when they convene in January.

Kuntz said some of the commission's recommendations will require ongoing funding.

He said the state is already working to re-establish the mental health services the state needs, which suffered dramatically during the 2017 budget shortfall.

"And it was really heavily impacted in ways that we haven't quite dug out from yet," said Kuntz, "and they were only compounded during COVID."

The 872 Commission also recommends funding for forensic mental health evaluations and expanding group homes. Its report and recommendations are open for public comment.




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Researchers have announced a new blood test that will predict whether someone has Alzheimer's disease far better than current tests can. A new law in Iowa will make sure it's covered by insurance.

The Alzheimer's Association says the blood test is 90% accurate in informing people showing signs of cognitive impairment if they have the disease.

Iowa Chapter Communications Director Lauren Livingston said it's a huge step beyond the memory tests doctors currently use.

"Very good news," said Livingston. "It was about 30% to 40% higher accuracy rate with the blood test, versus just the physicians using a memory screening."

Livingston said patients must have a certain amount of "tau" in the brain, a protein that is an Alzheimer's precursor, to qualify for the test.

Iowa passed a law this year that requires state-funded health insurance companies to cover tests for dementia biomarkers, like tau in the blood.

Livingston said positive blood tests could boost recruitment for Alzheimer's clinical trials and reduce wait times for assessment.

There is no cure for the disease, but Livingston said early detection means a person can take drugs to slow its progression.

She said the test can be especially helpful outside Iowa's metro areas that have larger health care centers.

"Especially to rural Iowans who don't have as much access to specialists and these tests," said Livingston. "It would be much, much easier for them to be able to get a diagnosis if there was a simple blood test available."

Some 62,000 Iowans suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Nationwide, the number is close to 7 million, although the Alzheimer's Association says the disease is underdiagnosed.

Livingston is hopeful the test is available in health care settings in the near future.




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July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the challenges ethnic and racial minorities face when it comes to mental health care.

The Food and Drug Administration says barriers include a lack of health insurance and less access to treatment.

Lisa Pion-Berlin, president and CEO of Parents Anonymous, which runs both the California and National Parent and Youth Helplines, said society must fight to eliminate the stigma around mental health.

"We don't talk about those things in their families, which may be tied to your cultural values," Pion-Berlin observed. "The history of oppression, where people say, 'If I express a problem, I'm seen as weak and as incapable.'"

She said 80% of callers to the California helpline are people of color. People can call or text the free helpline at 855-427-2736 to be connected with a trained counselor. Or you can live-chat through the websites, CAParentYouthHelpline.org or NationalParentYouthHelpline.org, 24/7. Parents Anonymous also offers free weekly support groups in California.

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., has called on the feds to finalize a rule proposed last year, requiring insurance companies nationwide to cover mental health and substance use disorders the same way they cover physical health.

Pion-Berlin argued many health plans are woefully inadequate, covering only a few therapy sessions. She added it can be hard to find a therapist who takes insurance because of extremely low reimbursement rates.

"They're saying two-thirds of the people actually experiencing mental health problems are not receiving any treatment, even though insurance companies claim that they have mental health coverage," Pion-Berlin noted.

Federal data show as of 2020, fewer than 50% of African American adults got care for mental health. And in 2018, Asian Americans were 60% less likely to receive mental health treatment than non-Hispanic whites.

In the past year, the Colorado AgrAbility Project added four behavioral health specialists to help the state's agricultural producers, workers and families who face unique stressors and health risks, including higher rates of suicide.

Chad Reznicek, behavioral health state specialist for the project, said stigma continues to be a barrier when it comes to seeking help for mental or behavioral health but he hopes farmers understand the equipment between their ears is more important than any high-dollar piece of equipment in their operation.

"Because if things aren't going well there, it's really hard to be effective, efficient, resilient and creative in how you're addressing all these other factors that someone has to juggle while they are involved in agriculture," Reznicek pointed out.

For more than 30 years, the Colorado AgrAbility Project has helped farm and ranch families maintain their agriculture lifestyle in the face of physical challenges, limitations, and disabilities. After Colorado lawmakers expanded the project's scope in 2021, more than 1,500 people in rural communities have been able to connect with behavioral health care, stress management resources, and suicide prevention initiatives.

Farmers can access six free therapy sessions with counselors who understand the pressures facing producers, including volatile commodity pricing, drought and extreme weather events, pests and disease. Reznicek emphasized the sessions are anonymous and can be accessed remotely.

"We have providers that will be in their office talking to someone that's actually in the cab of their tractor, if that's what best serves them," Reznicek observed.

The project has conducted anxiety and stress management trainings for students, and workshops for the Colorado Young Farmer and Rancher conference and 4H groups. Reznicek added with farmers' average age now over 60, families can also get help as they face the challenge of creating succession plans.

"And that's great if you've got the time, the resources, the planning and the relationships to make that effective," Reznicek noted. "If not, it becomes incredibly stressful."


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