October 10, 2024
HELENA, MT - Thanks to a $288,057 grant through the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, St. Peter's Health will soon offer a cutting-edge, proven treatment for patients struggling with severe depression.
The treatment, known as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, improving symptoms of depression without surgery or invasive procedures. Under the expert medical guidance of board-certified Psychiatrist and Psychiatry Medical Director Dr. Bridgid Crowley, St. Peter's is the sole provider of TMS treatments throughout its five-county service area.
"This treatment represents a pivotal moment in addressing the rise of depression and suicide rates in Montana, where the state now grapples with the highest suicide rate per capita in the nation," said Crowley. "I look forward to having this option to treat patients who have struggled to respond to conventional therapies for major depression and other conditions."
TMS is a proven effective treatment for adults experiencing depression. On March 22 of this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved TMS treatments for teens. This marks a significant milestone in mental health care, widening access to life-saving interventions and reinforcing the urgent need for progressive approaches in addressing mental health challenges.
Dr. Crowley brings her expertise to the forefront of this groundbreaking treatment after completing a specialized TMS education program at Duke Health, generously supported by employee scholarship through the Fred C. Olson Learning and Development Institute at St. Peter's.
"We are immensely proud to support St. Peter's Health in their groundbreaking initiative to bring TMS treatment to their patients in Helena and beyond. Mental health is a critical issue facing all communities across Montana, and this partnership represents a significant step forward in addressing it", says Walter Panzirer, a Trustee of The Helmsley Charitable Trust.
Executive Vice President of St. Peter's Health Foundation, Stephen Mason, emphasizes the transformative impact this funding will have on mental health initiatives at St. Peter's, as well as on other collaborative efforts underway to address mental health in our community.
"With the backing of the Helmsley Charitable Trust, we will have one more tool in our toolbox to combat the mental health crisis in our community," stated Mason. "It takes collaboration and funding to address health issues of this magnitude. We're grateful for their trust in St. Peter's to help provide additional treatment options for our community."
The funding will cover costs associated with the TMS equipment, facility enhancements, and staff training. Anticipated renovations are slated for completion late this fall, with TMS treatment services available after the New Year.
St. Peter's is committed to transforming mental health care in our community and extends its heartfelt appreciation to the Helmsley Charitable Trust and their Board of Trustees for their generosity and commitment to making a difference in the lives of patients and families in Montana.
About The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $4.5 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care, bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas, and provide state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded more than $700 million to organizations and initiatives in the states of Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and two U.S. Pacific territories, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. For more information, visit helmsleytrust.org