Montana NAMI director presenting 'What is Mental Illness' in Havre

The Havre affiliate of National Alliance on Mental Illness is bringing a speaker to Havre to tell people about the basics of mental illness to try to help people understand the issues of the complex matter.

Matt Kuntz, the executive director of NAMI Montana, will speak Saturday, June 3, at 1 p.m. in the Third Floor conference rooms at Northern Montana Hospital.

Kuntz, a U.S. Army veteran, began advocating for screening and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder after his step-brother, a Montana National Guardsman, committed suicide. His lobbying led to the passage of a bill requiring screening and treatment of PTSD that Congress passed in 2009.

He took the position leading NAMI Montana in 2008 and has received national recognition for his work.

His presentation of "What is Mental Illness?" discusses the basics of mental illness as understood by current research.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend the presentation, NAMI Havre President Crystal Laufer said.

Laufer said she and NAMI Havre are there to help people understand and deal with mental illness, in themselves and in their friends and family.

Laufer said she understands first-hand the difficulties of dealing with the effects of mental illness.

People on both sides of her family were Montana homesteaders, and though she was born in California, her family moved back to Montana in 1973, she said. She has lived in Havre for 41 years and is a 1988 graduate of Havre High School.

Laufer said she has dealt with a learning disability since she was 6, caused by scarlet fever.

"I was bullied in school because of my disability and for some time after becoming an adult," she said. "I still get bullied."

"My parents always told me to not let my disability stop me from doing anything in life I wanted to do," she added.

Her issues have continued in her adult life. She married in 1995, but her husband died from cancer in 2016.

Her husband was diagnosed with schizophrenia and their daughter has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and anxiety. Other family members also have mental issues, Laufer said.

"This is why I got involved with NAMI to learn about mental illnesses," she said.

Laufer has worked as a home health care worker for about five years, receiving training that she said helps with her work with NAMI.

She also has received training through Mental Health First Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Family to Family, In Our Own Voice and suicide prevention programs as well as serving with NAMI and as vice-chair of the Mental Health Local Advisory Council.

Laufer said NAMI Havre is there to help people understand and deal with mental illness issues, and people can call 879-6646 for more information or to ask for help.