Montana is facing a suicide crisis - and budget cuts are making the mental health crisis even worse

Montana has the highest suicide rate in the U.S. - and extremely limited resources to take on the problem.

With nearly 26 suicides for every 100,000 residents, Montana's suicide rate has increased 38 percent since 1999 - and far surpasses the national average of 13.5, NBC News reported.

Residents of the rural state who struggle with mental health have the odds stacked against them. Montana has less than 25 percent of the mental health providers necessary to care for the more than 1 million people who call the state home, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Many residents have guns - and outdated stigmas about mental health. Alcohol consumption is high and winter daytime hours are short.

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