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By Friends of the Children - Western Montana Executive Director, Ben Davis.

Montana is facing a mental health crisis — and our children are at the center of it. While much of the public conversation focuses on treatment and crisis response, one of the most effective solutions starts much earlier: ensuring children have consistent, supportive relationships that reduce stress, build stability, and promote lifelong health. During National Mentoring Month, we have an opportunity to reflect on how early, consistent relationships can shape lifelong mental health and wellbeing — especially for children growing up amid adversity.

In Montana, 22.5% of children have experienced two or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) — the highest rate in the nation. These experiences, which include exposure to violence, household substance use, mental illness, or instability, are strongly linked to later health challenges including depression, anxiety, chronic disease, and shortened life expectancy. ACEs are not just a social issue; they are a public health issue.

The consequences are visible across our state. Montana has the third-highest suicide rate in the country, at 28.7 deaths per 100,000 people, far exceeding the national average. At the same time, access to care remains deeply limited. More than 88% of Montanans live in a mental health professional shortage area, making it difficult — if not impossible — for many families to access timely services.

When systems are strained, prevention and protective factors become even more critical. One of the most powerful protective factors for children is also one of the simplest: a stable, caring relationship with a trusted adult. That’s where Friends of the Children–Western Montana comes in...