Wyoming is no stranger to the boom-and-bust cycle of the energy industry and how it affects the state’s economy. However, the ups and downs also cause uncertainty for those working in the industry who don’t know when the next fall will occur and if they will be left with a job.
A new episode of the Wyoming PBS series, “A State of Mind,” shines a light on the mental health load carried by coal miners in the state. The installment, “Miner’s Light,” premieres at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20, on the main Wyoming PBS channel.
The new episode exposes the depression and suicidal thoughts that plague coal miners in the Powder River Basin. But there is hope in the mining town of Gillette where a coal mine, its workers, and a group of therapists find creative ways to bring more mental health resources to the region.
“This series continues to confront the mental health crisis we are facing in Wyoming, including our incredibly valued energy sector workforce,” says Joanna Kail, CEO at WY PBS. “We hope this installment forces dialogue and provides an opportunity to support those who may be suffering.”
Following Friday’s broadcast, the episode can be viewed on the WY PBS website, app, and YouTube channel. Past episodes from this mental health series can also be watched on these platforms.
In its second season, “A State of Mind” is an award-winning documentary series. Earlier this year, the episode, “The Battle Inside,” won a National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Heartland Chapter Emmy Award. In 2023, the series earned three Heartland Emmys for episodes, “The Lone Wolf–Addiction” and “The Pickup Man.” A third episode, “The Cowboy Code,” was also nominated last year.
“A State of Mind” is directed by Mat Hames at Alpheus Media and is sponsored in part by the Hughes Charitable Foundation, Jack and Carole Nunn, the John P. Ellbogen Foundation, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming. For more information about the series, visit wyomingpbs.org/astateofmind/.
“Creating a documentary series on mental health is, in addition to emotional storytelling, a vital step toward empathy, healing, and breaking the stigma around struggles we all face,” says Hames.
Wyoming PBS is a non-profit public broadcasting organization serving the state of Wyoming. With a commitment to educating, informing, and inspiring, Wyoming PBS produces and broadcasts high-quality programming that addresses the unique needs and interests of the Wyoming community.