Wyoming PBS is hosting a special screening of Miner’s Light, a documentary that highlights the mental health struggles faced by coal miners in Wyoming, Sheridan Media reports.
The screening will take place on Thursday, December 5, at Presentation Hall on the Gillette College campus, followed by a panel discussion on mental health support in the mining community.
Event Details:
- Date: Thursday, December 5
- Time: Refreshments at 5:30 PM, Screening at 6:00 PM, followed by a Panel Discussion
- Location: Presentation Hall, Gillette College, 300 W Sinclair St
- Admission: Free and Open to the Public
The film is part of Wyoming PBS’ A State of Mind series, which focuses on raising awareness about mental health issues across Wyoming. Miner’s Light takes a deep dive into the depression and suicidal tendencies affecting coal miners in the Powder River Basin. However, the documentary also offers a message of hope, showing how miners in Gillette, along with their employers and mental health professionals, are working together to bring more resources to the region and address these pressing issues.
Judd Rogers, Executive Director of the Wyoming PBS Foundation, expressed the importance of the event.
“Mental health is a vital issue, especially in industries like mining where workers often carry heavy emotional burdens. We hope this event will help foster understanding and encourage conversation about how we can better support those who contribute so much to our community,” Rogers said.
The evening’s program will begin at 5:30 p.m. with refreshments, followed by the film screening at 6:00 p.m. After the film, a panel discussion will be held, featuring individuals from the film as well as local healthcare providers. The panel will delve into the mental health challenges miners face, as portrayed in the documentary, and explore strategies for improving mental health support in the mining industry. Judd Rogers will moderate the discussion.
The event is free to the public and is presented in partnership with Gillette College Counseling Services, which is sponsoring the event in an effort to promote mental health awareness within the community.
A State of Mind is an award-winning documentary series in its second season, with episodes like “The Battle Inside” earning a National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Heartland Chapter Emmy Award. In 2023, the series won three Heartland Emmys for episodes “The Lone Wolf – Addiction,” “The Pickup Man,” and received a nomination for “The Cowboy Code.”
For more information about the A State of Mind series, visit Wyoming PBS.
