‘It Just Happens Here:’ In a Perfect Storm of Risk Factors, Montanans Grapple with Barriers to Mental Health Care
Teigan Avery poses for a portrait at the University of Montana, where she completed her undergraduate degree and graduated with a master’s in economics. She holds a photograph of herself and her father, Jerad Avery, from her childhood. (Ava Rosvold/UM Byline Magazine)
Josie Libby sits on her dorm room bed and glances out of her window that overlooks the University of Montana’s campus. (Ava Rosvold/UM Byline Magazine)
MONTANA – The day Josie Libby’s guidance counselor killed himself is seared into her memory.
It was Monday, Nov. 18, 2019, shortly after classes had ended at Glacier High School. Libby was driving home to pick something up for jazz band class and got a text from her mom. Traffic was going to be bad around the overpass. Libby didn’t think anything of it.
She didn’t anticipate how bad it was. There were cars everywhere, backed up so far she couldn’t see the problem. As she was redirected, she saw ambulances.
Support Local News
You have read all of your free articles this month. Select a plan below to start your subscription today.
Already a subscriber? Login
Daily Inter Lake - everything
Print delivery, e-edition and unlimited website access
- $26.24 per month
Daily Inter Lake - unlimited website access
- $9.95 per month