'State of Mind' uses theatre to get people talking about mental health

Six months into a two-year tour of Montana to promote mental and behavioral health awareness in an effort to break the stigma surrounding those issues, the University of Montana's "State of Mind" theatre workshop arrived in Anaconda on Wednesday and there was plenty to talk about at their interactive public performance at The Montana. 

Taking the form of over a dozen skits or "tracks" on an album, the actors – Kendra Mylnechuk Potter, Zac Thomas and Jackie Vetter – presented the show in a non-linear, choose-your-own-adventure style where the audience picked which tracks to "play" next. 

Starting with "Who Cares," a game show-style skit matching mental health workers' job titles with their duties, the show then shifted to one where the audience was asked to finish the sentence "loneliness feels like...", and then continued with the public participation as the attendees wrote encouraging and uplifting messages on greeting cards to be given to people experiencing loneliness. As a surprise later, the actors then read some of those responses. Next up was a talk show-style interview with Lauren Bolton, Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Public Health Director, who praised the people who work in the mental health field in Anaconda but spoke on the need to connect people with mental health resources before they reach a crisis point.

Another interactive sketch was "ABCs" where the audience listed off in alphabetical order the reasons why people don't seek help. After that was a poignant tale of "Hank and Lisa," a couple who knew each other their whole lives, went through their ups and downs – mostly downs – and how they happened to meet a community health worker who pointed them in the right direction to seek help.

Another track, "Voices of Montana," recounted what they've heard on their tour so far – much of it how Montanans are tough and take care of each other, but also how policies and legislation have harmed the mental health profession in the state.

After that was a conversation between former friends who had a falling out over their personal beliefs and how those beliefs intersected with their families and their school – but still were able to show that they do care about each other despite no longer being socially connected – and posited the question, "What would happen if we all agree on the importance of care?" Another interactive track separated the audience out into small groups where they were asked what they would do if a donor were to come to town offering $10 million for a project that would improve mental and behavioral health in the community, with the majority preferring a community center. 

After a comedy sketch about people's difficulty accessing mental health services, and a musical number on much the same theme, the audience was asked to form a call-and-response "choir" encouraging them to check in with each other on their mental health and well being. 

Next was a monologue by a father struggling to connect with his teenage son whose best friend had killed himself, with the audience offering suggestions on what to do. 

Finally, the performers read a statement crafted by Anaconda High School students during their "State of Mind" session earlier in the day on a list of care commitments, which are printed at right.  

For more information about State of Mind, visit https://www.umcivicimagination.com/state-of-mind-1. And see Page 1 for more from the community meeting following the performance.

Anaconda High School students' 'Care Commitments'

We the young people of this community, in order to feel supported, to feel healthy and welcome in this place where we live, need the following conditions to be met:

We need to know that we can be accepted.

We need to believe that we can be successful.

We need to see progression towards no favoritism, more care and safety for everyone.

We need the adults in our school, every day, to listen with the intent to act.

We need the adults in our lives, every day, to support us, to think of kids first, and take the time to understand where we’re coming from.

We need to have faith in the fact that we have a right to our own opinions and that we can have our own feelings.

We need to see indications that you believe we can have fun and be trusted at the same time.

We need resources to talk about our problems, to make smarter decisions and to move our lives forward.

We need to never worry that our safety isn’t valued and that we’re in danger in our own community

We need to always feel seen and heard, and like we belong. 

Editor's note: The above statement was written by Anaconda Junior/Senior High School students at their "State of Mind" workshop on Wednesday. It is being reprinted with permission.