Intermountain Health St. James Hospital Donates $30,000 to Promote Student Well-Being in Montana

Southwest Montana Community Health Center recently received a $30,000 donation from Intermountain Health St. James Hospital to support a behavioral health therapist on campus at East Middle School for the 2026 school year.

The check presentation marked part of a larger effort by Intermountain St. James to expand behavioral health support for students in Butte‑Silver Bow.

“School-based services, like having a therapist available, help our students navigate their day-to-day,” said Collette Chorney, a pediatrician at Intermountain Health St. James Hospital. “By spearheading school-community partnerships with our Butte Schools, we continue to support our students through the mental health services they need.”

Laurie Andrews, the behavioral health therapist for Southwest Montana Community Health Center working at East Middle School, emphasized how placing behavioral health providers in schools removes barriers for students.

“The barrier of the kids having accessibility to these services is kind of taken away when we are here in the schools,” Andrews said. “They are able to just come out of class, have a session, and then go back to class.”

The need for enhanced behavioral health support in Butte remains significant.

In Butte-Silver Bow County, 23.9% of students have reported experiencing suicidal thoughts, compared to the 15% Montana state average.

“Suicide is now one of the leading causes of death among students, which is a reality that calls us to listen more closely and provide support and understanding,” said Karen Costello, president of Intermountain Health St. James Hospital. “Through this funding, which will help bring a therapist to campus for the 2026 school year, we continue to place our students’ well-being and mental health at the forefront.”

Intermountain St. James has continued to work with the community of Southwest Montana to provide behavioral health support to students across our region.

At the end of 2025, Intermountain St. James Hospital donated $25,000 to support the implementation of Hope Squads in schools across the Butte School District, providing peer-to-peer support and suicide prevention for our students. For more information about Intermountain Health St. James Hospital and its support in the community, please see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/locations/intermountain-health-st-james-hospital.