Dear Friends,

We're sending this email for two important reasons.

First, we want to share a few essential mental health resources. As one of the area's oldest and largest nonprofits serving youth, Bridger Ski Foundation is leaning into addressing our community's mental health crisis. We are in year two of BSF’s mental health initiative, providing educational resources for BSF parents, athletes, and coaches.

It's important to reduce the stigma around mental health, to have open communications with each other, and to give our youth tools so they can become more resilient. (Adults can benefit from a lot of these tools, too!) We hope some of the links below are helpful. Look for an online toolkit of additional resources this next year as well.

And finally, if you're able, we need your support this giving season so that BSF can continue to build programs that help our youth thrive. (If you can't donate, we'd love your support through volunteering or sharing the resources below with someone who might need them.)

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"Being on the mountain helps clear your brain from stuff that's worrisome at school and home."

-BSF Athlete

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

Emily Danza and John Padilla discuss mental health for teens.

Earlier this month, BSF hosted a parent education session on mental health and how to support teens. Click here to watch a recording of the full session.

THE MENTAL SIDE OF SKI RACING & PARENTING

Jim Taylor is author of Train Your Mind for Athletic Success and a columnist for Ski Racing. He has a series of articles online on the mental side of the sport, as well as how to be a good (and not so good) ski parent.

EATING: WHAT TO SAY

Kids get complicated messages in our culture about food, body, and exercise. Withall, an organization that works with eating disorders, has a Simple Guide for What to Say and other resources for parents, including a timely holiday season guide.

VIEW GUIDES

MOUNTAIN IN MY MIND MOVIE

John Padilla, who spoke about suicide awareness at our parent night, has produced two ski films that focus on skiers talking about mental health (everything from depression to anxiety, bullying, and recovering from injury) and they also feature some great skiing. You can watch them on Youtube.

VIEW FILMS

QUICK CALMING

Feeling anxious, nervous, overwhelmed? Take some deep breaths and guide yourself (or a friend) through these steps to bring your body back into the present and help self-calm:

1) What do you see?

2) What do you hear?

3) What do you smell?

4) What can you touch?

5) What do you taste?

NEED TO TALK?

Crisis? If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.

Warmlines: If you just need someone to talk to, consider calling a warmline. Warmlines are staffed by trained peers who understand what it’s like to need mental health support. montanawarmline.org

Montana: Call 211 for non-emergency information and connection to local resources. www.montana211.org

LEARN MORE

Bridger Ski Foundation's mental health initiative is supported by funding from AMB West Community Fund and FICO.

Best wishes for a snowy, fun-filled holiday season. Thank you for all your support!

The Bridger Ski Foundation

p.s. If you're looking for a free family activity over the holiday break, join us for the Hyalite Tour on December 30! It's old-fashioned fun with skiing, warming fires, hot drinks and soup.

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