‘State of Mind’ theatre, public dialogue tour visits Polson
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
2 of 3 free articles.
News from Betsy Wad, Polson Curriculum Director
POLSON - The University of Montana’s Co-Lab for Civic Imagination brings its exciting theatre program, State of Mind, to Polson on April 9. State of Mind is a unique and engaging theatre and public dialogue event that is touring to over twenty (primarily rural) Montana communities from Sep. 2024 to May 2026.
The project consists of a free theatre performance for the general public, and workshops for local students, school faculty, staff, and local health providers. The performance will take place on April 9, 6:30 p.m., at the Polson High School Library, with workshops taking place there earlier in the day. The workshops will inspire a portion of the performance, ensuring that Polson’s residents’ voices and ideas are a part of the performance, thereby providing a unique experience for each community that State of Mind visits. The Polson residency closes out the following morning, April 10 at 8:30 a.m. with a community meeting at the North Lake County Public Library. This will be an opportunity for people to reflect on the workshops and performances, and to discuss potential action and engagement around mental health in Polson.
State of Mind has been developed over two years by a group of professional Montana artists, facilitators, and mental and behavioral health professionals in response to the troubling trends in Montana’s behavioral and mental health outcomes. Thirty-five percent of adult Montanans report symptoms of anxiety or depression, and Montana ranks in the top five states for highest rates of suicide across all age groups. With so many Montanans living in rural areas, it can be challenging to connect with professionals like psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, or addiction counselors in times of crisis or just for regular counseling support.
Health providers and policy experts believe that in addition to having more professionals around the state, we also need to change how we talk about mental health with one another - neighbor to neighbor, Montanan to Montanan. If someone has an accident on the ranch or the job site, we know how to get them the medical help they need, but if someone’s struggling with addiction or other mental health crisis, sometimes it’s less clear how to help. And that’s where State of Mind comes in.
State of Mind director Michael Rohd says, “The arts are a powerful way to not just share stories, but to gather and imagine the futures we want to see and build together. State of Mind’s goals include tackling stigmas around seeking help, making local resources more visible and contributing to local capacity for community care. We aim to bring diverse Montana voices into health policy & resource conversations across our state, and to make opportunities for those with local knowledge to lead the way as Montana continues to battle our behavioral health crisis.”
State of Mind tours at no cost to the communities they visit. The Polson event is being organized by Betsy Wade, Curriculum Director of Polson School District, and Andy Fors, Principal of Polson High School.
Betsy Wade says of the program, “We’re looking forward to State of Mind as a meaningful opportunity for our students to share their insights on supporting wellness in our schools and community. When we listen to our youth and come together to support them - educators, families, and local leaders - we create space for connection, understanding, and lasting positive change.”
For more information about State of Mind and the people involved, visit: https://www.umcivicimagination.com/ or follow them on Facebook.
