Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Brandi King, 38, is an army veteran and representing Montana's Fort Belknap Indian Reservation at the 66th Montana Legislature. She testified in front of a Senate committee on Jan. 22, 2019 about the lack of mental health resources in rural areas. King told lawmakers she attempted suicide when she had nowhere to turn for help. The tattoo on her hand is of a horse, a symbol of strength in Assiniboine culture. Photo by Shaylee Ragar / UM Legislative News Service
When Brandi King finished a 14-month deployment with the United States Army, she returned home to Montana's Fort Belknap Indian Reservation to heal.
King carried with her the trauma she experienced during combat in Mosul, Iraq. She began to feel anxious, hypervigilant and she couldn't sleep at night. In rural Montana, mental healthcare resources can be scarce. King wasn't able to see a counselor or support specialist, and her post-traumatic stress progressed.
She became suicidal and attempted to take her own life more than once.
Family and friends were supportive and wanted to help, but like a...
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