After drawing attention across the state, the University of Montana’s State of Mind project will make its way to Alberton to the River Edge Pavilion on April 30, bringing an evening of interactive theater and community dialogue with a conversation around mental health in Montana.

Created and hosted by the University of Montana’s Co-Lab for Civic Imagination in partnership with Montana Repertory Theater, the traveling program is designed to open up conversations around mental and behavioral health, topics that can often feel difficult to approach, especially in rural communities.

“What makes this effort successful is that the content of the project has been created through collaboration with community members with lived experiences, local experts and area knowledge,” said Michael Rohd, the director of UM’s Co-Lab for Civic Imagination. “After a successful launch in 2024, we are thrilled to again hit the road for a second year to help ensure every corner of Montana has access to this critical project.” 

Since launching last year, State of Mind has visited more than 30 communities and worked with over 75 local partners. More than 3,000 Montanans have taken part in performances, workshops and discussions aimed at reducing stigma and connecting people with resources. The program blends storytelling with real-world experiences, something that has resonated with participants across the state.

“The performance dives into the complexities of mental health with raw honesty and emotional depth,” said Cassie Weightman, an independent living specialist with Ability Montana in Butte. “It’s a stunning blend of storytelling, vulnerability and care, crafted and delivered with extraordinary compassion.” 

Others say the project helps break down overwhelming issues into something more approachable. 

“The performance successfully deconstructs Montana’s overwhelming mental health crisis into manageable pieces that are accessible and actionable,” said Miranda Zent, a prevention specialist with Southwest Montana Prevention. “We’re left with the understanding that even without perfect answers, simply knowing that support is available can be profoundly helpful, and talking about a frightening concern is often less difficult than we might imagine. State of Mind gives us the experience of watching a story that’s playing out in our own lives, one that we’re all participating in and we’re writing how it ends together.”

But the visit to Alberton will involve more than a single evening performance. During their stop, organizers will also host workshops with Alberton School students, along with professional development sessions for educators, health care workers, law enforcement and others who regularly work with youth and families. Those sessions are designed to reflect what local high school students are experiencing and to help adults better understand how to respond.

“State of Mind truly stands out as one of the best conversations I’ve had with both students and staff,” said Conrad High School Principal Raymond DeBruycker. “The open and honest conversations fostered by the program allowed for a safe space for everyone to express their thoughts and feelings about social-emotional needs. The workshop not only addressed the important issues but also empowered us to support one another in our collective journey toward emotional well-being within our school and community.”

In Alberton, local organizers say bringing the program to Mineral County has been a community effort. Regarding the upcoming visit, Josie Hayes-Johnson, Tier 3 Counselor for Alberton School, is helping organize the event. 

She said, “It was a team effort throughout Mineral County with several different people taking time to learn about State of Mind and work to try to figure out how the county might be able to utilize this program. Timing and scheduling were always the challenge in making it happen, but we are excited that we were able to move it forward and this year and Alberton School is excited to host State of Mind for their Mineral County debut.” Hayes-Johnson said the event builds on work already happening locally. “Mineral County as a collective has many wonderful and talented people that work to promote, support, and address mental wellbeing throughout the county. I am hopeful this can just be one more experience to highlight the great work already being done, identify any gaps that exist, and to connect as a community!”

The free public performance will begin at 7 p.m. April 30 at the River Edge Pavilion. Community members of all ages are invited to attend. The visit will wrap up the following morning with a community coffee meeting at 9 a.m. May 1 at Alberton School, offering residents a chance to reflect on what they’ve seen and discuss next steps for supporting mental health locally. 

The Alberton stop is being supported in part by River Edge. 

“The River Edge has been a great support to the school and other local organizations over the years and this is just one more example of how they give back to community,” Hayes-Johnson said. 

For organizers, the goal is simple but ambitious: to make conversations about mental health more open, more local and more actionable, one community at a time.