When Johanna Bertken, student coordinator for Bozeman Public Schools, presented to the Local Advisory Council (LAC), the message was clear: supporting youth mental health requires more than crisis response. It demands a whole-school, prevention-first strategy built into everyday learning.
A framework for every student
At the core of Bozeman’s approach is a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) — an academic model applied to social-emotional and behavioral development. Using evidence-based platforms Second Step and Wayfinder, the district teaches students skills like emotional regulation, communication, and conflict resolution at every grade level.
The district is actively working to break down silos between grade levels so that supports grow with students, not just around isolated incidents. The long-term goal is a seamless continuum of care from kindergarten through graduation.
Prevention that works
The district has moved away from abstinence-focused prevention programs like DARE, embracing current research showing that teaching social skills and behavioral awareness has a greater impact on student choices — including around substance use. Notably, rates of vaping among students have dropped significantly in recent years, a trend the district continues to monitor.
School Resource Officers (SROs) also play a dual role, operating under a tri-fold model as law enforcement, counselors, and peer figures — extending the school’s capacity to connect with at-risk students.
A call to act on Montana’s youth suicide crisis
Perhaps the most urgent topic raised was the alarming rate of youth suicide in Montana. The school tracks self-reported data on suicidal thinking and attempts, and is seeing a troubling uptick — particularly among students also reporting symptoms of depression. Montana’s 2021–2023 teen suicide rate is more than three times the national average (36.7 per 100,000 in Montana compared to 10.2 nationally). The broader community is encouraged to review state-level data for context.
While the district cannot publish specific death rates due to privacy concerns around small sample sizes, trends are being monitored carefully across annual surveys of approximately 100 students per grade.
Building resilience upstream
The district’s work connects directly to the Youth Resilience Project — a community-based initiative focused on equipping adults with the skills and awareness to support young people before problems escalate. By strengthening the capacity of parents, educators, and neighbors, the program aims to create a wider safety net woven into daily life in Bozeman.
Additionally, the MT Mindfulness Project is hosting a free Mindful Parents program — six Wednesday evening sessions from 7–8 PM via Zoom. Details and the link are available at the MT Mindfulness Project website.