Montana’s Suicide Struggle Is Real but So Is the Hope and Help That Exists

There’s no easy way to say this, but Montana is hurting. We rank third in the entire United States for suicide rates. It’s a heartbreaking statistic, one that’s easy to glance at and move on from, until it’s your friend, your neighbor, your child, your parent…or you.

This isn’t just a number. It’s hundreds of lives lost each year in our own backyard. And the truth is, it doesn’t have to be this way.

One Every 11 Minutes

According to the CDC, more than 45,000 people died by suicide in the U.S. in 2020. That's one life lost every 11 minutes. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young Americans aged 15 to 24. And in Montana? The numbers hit even harder.

In 2020, Montana had the third highest suicide rate in the nation. We lost 300 people, at a rate more than twice the national average.

Why Is Montana Struggling So Much?

There’s no single answer. It’s not just one thing, it’s a tangle of factors all woven together. Social isolation plays a huge role. Montana has fewer than 7 people per square mile, compared to the national average of nearly 89. When someone’s struggling, they often struggle alone.

READ MORE: How To Get Your Criminal Record Sealed in Montana

Other contributors? High rates of alcohol use, limited access to mental health services in rural areas, and a deeply rooted stigma around asking for help. Add in long winters, low sunlight, economic strain, and the fact that nearly 65% of suicides in Montana involve a firearm and you start to see the bigger picture.

Stigma Is Still Our Biggest Barrier

In Montana, we pride ourselves on being tough. Independent. Resilient. And while those are good qualities, sometimes they make it harder to speak up when we’re hurting. We’ve been taught to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps. To tough it out. But mental health isn’t about toughness, it’s about being human. Reaching out for help doesn't make you weak. It means you're fighting to stay and that’s the strongest thing a person can do.

Help Is Available Right Now, 24/7

If you're struggling, or if someone you love is, there is free, confidential help available every single day, at any hour. You are not alone.

Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s available 24/7.

Montana 211 connects people to local mental health services, housing, food support, and more.

For immediate emergencies, always call 911.

Resources in Every Corner of Montana

Whether you're in Billings, Missoula, the Bitterroot, Miles City, or a remote corner of the state, there are organizations here for you and many offer sliding scale payment or are covered by Montana Medicaid.

Visit montana211.org to find help in your area.

 If You’re Reading This and Struggling, Please Stay

This world needs you. Even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, you matter. The pain you're feeling isn’t forever. You are not a burden. And you are not alone. Asking for help doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’ve decided your life is worth saving and it is.

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If you need someone to talk to, call or text 988 right now. Someone will answer. Someone cares. And someone can help.