Mental health funding shortage in Jefferson County predates severe state budget cuts

Massive budget cuts that hit the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services hard have been in the headlines often in the past year. Even before the cuts, though, many of Montana’s small communities were finding it hard to address mental health issues.

In December 2015, the Jefferson County Commission vowed to withhold about $11,000 in funding for services being delivered by the Center for Mental Health (CMH), citing frustration over what the commission saw as inadequate local services.

“Until we begin to see an improvement in services, we’re going to sit on it,” said Commissioner Bob Mullen at the time.