By Sara Sipe EBS CONTRIBUTOR
According to the Google AI, “moving out of your teens and into your twenties marks a significant transition, often seen as a time of newfound independence, exploration, and the beginning of adulthood, with many people experiencing a sense of both excitement and uncertainty.”
This can also be true for organizations.
Wellness In Action began in 2005 “by Big Sky residents who were concerned about the community’s wellbeing and over all health,” according to their website. In the nineteen years since, the initial aim of providing support for general health and corresponding financial resources has blossomed into a thriving organization with fully developed community support programs, access to resources and direct mental and behavioral health services.
“WIA helps support the mental health of anyone who lives and works in Big Sky by increasing access to and affordability of mental health services,” Director of Programs Kiernan McCarthy told EBS.
But why does Big Sky need WIA? McCarthy knows the answer. Wellness.
“Montana is consistently one of the lowest ranking states for mental health, and Big Sky has additional factors that can exacerbate mental health challenges,” McCarthy said. “Big Sky experiences increased rates of depression, anxiety, suicide, substance abuse and other mental health challenges due to lack of affordable housing, cost of living, economic pressure associated with seasonal employment, and limited access to and affordability of health services.”
What does this wellness look like in action? It looks like partnering with 13 providers offering care to Big Sky’s residents and workforce—your neighbors. It looks like assisting with telehealth appointments for our neighbors working odd hours. It looks like eliminating barriers for our Spanish-speaking neighbors. It looks like building and providing resources available to all your neighbors, so the whole neighborhood can be healthy and well.
”We want to ensure everyone has the support they need to reach their full potential,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy added it’s especially important to reach residents and workers in Big Sky because of the transient nature of a resort town, with new members entering the community each season. WIA now offers a full array of services including financial resources, counselors, support groups, training programs, community health outreach volunteers and music therapy, as well as youth scholarships.
With WIA turning 20 and leaving their teen years behind, they have a lot to look back upon and celebrate. Notable recent accolades include the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Nonprofit Business Person of the year award, which went to McCarthy, and finishing out the year with WIA receiving the 2024 Best of Big Sky Nonprofit of the Year award in December.
With the basics down and a firm foundation in place, WIA is hopeful for the next 20 years and beyond. As Big Sky continues to grow, WIA will too, relying on valuable lessons learned, important relationships fostered with community members and businesses, and with a continued desire to create meaningful and needed mental and behavioral health programs that serve the needs of all Big Sky’s community members.
I’d say they turned out to be a pretty great neighbor!
20th anniversary milestones
2005: Women In Action is established as a nonprofit in Big Sky
2010: First school counselor at Ophir Elementary School
2011: Extended counseling program for all K-12
2013: Funds Alcohol and Drug Services of Gallatin County in-person services in Big Sky
2015: First counseling services offered through partnership with interns from MSU
2016: Partners with Haven to provide support groups for domestic violence victims and a 24-hour crisis and help line
2018: Offers first reduced-cost counseling service with initial funding from Yellowstone Club Community Foundation
2022: Women In Action becomes Wellness In Action to reflect the critical health services offered. Extensive office refresh with community funding (BSRAD, Big Sky Rotary and community members)
2023: First Community Health Workers hired
2024: Provides access to reduced-cost, sliding-scale counseling, free support from community health workers, support groups, youth scholarships and programming to reduce stigma and normalize mental health wellness.
For more information about mental health and wellness resources and services offered through Wellness In Action, or to make a donation to honor their 20 years of service to Big Sky, call (406) 993-6803, email info@wiabigsky.org or visit them at bigskywia.org, on Instagram at bigskywia_, and on Facebook at wiabigsky.
Big Sky Community Spotlight is a short column that is meant to shine a light on those in Big Sky doing important work. Whether it be a profession, hobby or volunteer work, Big Sky is home to interesting people that do interesting things and as our community grows, it is important to stay connected to our neighbors and local businesses. This is more easily done if we know more about one another. We hope you enjoy getting to know your neighbors!
