State of Mind - Season 1 - WY PBS
This Wyoming PBS docuseries focuses on the mental health struggles of people living in rural Wyoming.
“The Mountain West is in the grips of a full blown mental health crisis, and Wyoming is ground zero. This documentary series traces patient journeys, weaving together expert interviews with man on the street commentary to examine solutions to Wyoming's mental health crisis.”
In the west, there is a stigma around mental health that can stop people from getting treatment. Some call it the ‘cowboy code’: that you are supposed to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, stuff it inside and move on. There are resources available and sometimes the bravest thing you can do is reach out for help.
Wyoming had the highest rate of suicides in the United States in 2020. How does this keep happening? This episode begins a conversation around suicide loss and what can be done to prevent it.
Addiction impacts people across all ages and groups, and does not discriminate. And mental health and addiction are intertwined. This episode explores substance abuse, tracing the journey of several people who overcome their addiction.
Most everyone has been through a stressful event in life. When the event causes a lot of stress, it is called a traumatic event. Our first responders, police officers and any other ‘protectors’ often experience higher rates of depression and mental health issues resulting from PTSD. This episode tells their story.
Wyoming has a long tradition of military service with nearly 10 percent of the population having served in the military. And many combatants often experience depression, PTSD, and flashbacks. This episode features the soldiers' perspective of their own mental health crisis, as they open up about their post traumatic stress.
Young people are facing unique mental health challenges in Wyoming. Often, youth mental health issues are ignored, which can result in long term consequences. This episode gives young people in Wyoming a voice as they discuss mental health specific to a new generation.