MISSOULA, Mont. — In Missoula, one organization is finding a new way to start conversations about mental health.
This Saturday, join the Missoula chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness for its first-ever Melodies for the Mind.
This event features up to 25 musicians on a 1.2-mile loop through the scenic areas of the park.
“To help with the stigma of mental illness, and that’s one of the biggest things that NAMI does. It helps people with mental illness and helps families that are dealing with mental illness,” Michael Hurd, the event planner for NAMI Missoula, said.
The event will take place from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and will begin at the covered picnic area at Greenough Park.
All music will be completely acoustic, and different musicians will be stationed around the loop, providing melodies every step of the way.
“This park itself is very healing. I’ve run into so many people that talk about, ‘Jeez, I came down here to hear the river and the birds,’ and that in itself is quite calming, and I think just having acoustic music, especially people that really know how to do it is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Hurd said.
The Ready Bettys are a female harmony group that will be performing on Saturday. They are just one of the groups that you will find along the path.
“For all the musicians that are going to be performing, volunteering and performing, there’s lot of really special places to choose from so it will be difficult, and that’s a good thing!” Marlene Hutchins, a musician with The Ready Bettys, said.
Saturday may see some light showers and will be chilly, so make sure to dress accordingly.