The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

Jason DeShaw performed before two audiences of students in Blaine County. Last Wednesday, in the Chinook High gym, he sang and spoke to about 350 students gathered from Chinook, Harlem and Turner. The next day he did a similar performance at Hays-Lodge Pole High. His performance was a combination of country music, singing several songs he wrote himself, and conversation about his own challenges of mental illness and alcoholism.

Jason DeShaw grew up in Plentywood, Montana and after college began pursuing his dream to be a country music singer and songwriter. Of college he said, "I majored in premed for about a week, then got seriously into country music." He said his favorite artist and someone who influenced his style greatly was Johnny Cash.

Jason's lifestyle as a performer was going well until a dark moment on a Canadian tour in 2010. He said, "My mind and body was going so fast it was like a freight train trying to come out of me. I was trying to slow it down with alcohol." He landed in a psych ward of a Canadian hospital but was soon released. It took two more 'crashes' and hospitalizations before a doctor finally shared an explanation for his problems-type one bipolar disorder and alcoholism.

DeShaw began sharing with his challenges of dealing with serious mental illness, the bipolar disorder, and his addiction to alcohol. A friend said, "Jason is a great role model for those suffering with mental illness, especially in Montana where the stigma associated with it is particularly bad." The friend added, "He's a cowboy and he's confronting his mental illness." Now he's using his story and music to bring hope to others. He calls his program "Serenity in the Storm."

How "Serenity in the Storm" came to Blaine County students

Shawna Billmayer first heard about Jason DeShaw through the singer's business agent. She asked Jason to come sing and share his story during the first memorial walk for Tristan Billmayer, Shawna and Adam's son who took his life while a senior in high school. Shawna believed every teen in Blaine County should hear Jason's story, and when she learned that the Montana Primary Care Association (MPCA) was sponsoring Jason to speak and sing before a variety of groups, she worked with the MPCA, the schools and Sweet Medical Center to bring him to this area.

Courtney Buys, a staff member with MPCA, was traveling with Jason. She said he had already done two performing tours of Montana, speaking at 21 schools as well as to several veterans' groups and gatherings of professional health workers. Just before coming to Blaine County, he had presented to Cascade County mental health professionals. From here his tour will head to Miles City, Helena and conclude at the Flathead Community Health Center in the Kalispell area. Dana Pyette, CEO of Sweet Medical Center, said she was very pleased that the MPCA had scheduled and sponsored the free performances in Blaine County. The local medical provider is a member of MPCA.

Jason DeShaw shares his story of hope and recovery

Speaking to local students, he said, "I grew up doing a lot of the same things I'm guessing many of you do-working on farms and ranches, living in the cowboy culture." He said, "When someone is facing a serious mental illness, they can't just "cowboy up" and solve their problem. And, unfortunately, asking for help is one of the toughest things a person can face." He described mental illness as a disease, with physical as well as emotional pain. He said, "Mental illness is a disease just like a heart attack, you can't just ignore the problem and expect it to take care of itself."

He described his bipolar disorder as "a disease about energy." He explained, "When you're manic it's like you have an overabundance of energy. When the depression sets in, it's often hard to even move." One of several songs he wrote and sang was called "Under the Rainbow," written after a particularly rough bout with depression.

Jason also talked about the difficulties of staying sober and being a traveling musician. He said, "Wherever I sing, there's likely to be alcohol served. I learned early on that alcohol and mental illnesses do not mix. Living a sober life is the foundation of my sanity."

The representative of the Primary Care Association said, "Once a program is scheduled, Jason speaks with the organizers to get a feel for who will be in the audience. He tailors each performance to the listeners." It was obvious the 36-year old could still relate to teenagers as he described the difficulties of asking for help and why teens often would not ask.

He thanked the Primary Care Association for their support and closed the program with a rendition of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues," the first line of which is "I hear the train a comin,' rollin' round the bend..." His message and music must have resonated as the entire audience stood up during that last song to applaud and cheer him.

Paxton McCann, a freshman at Chinook High, was sitting next to me during the performance. At the conclusion of the program I asked him what he thought of the presentation. Paxton said, "It was awesome. I just hope kids who are having problems will take his advice and ask for help. My sister was a good friend of Tristan Billmayer. She was devastated when he died. Jason is right, mental illness affects everyone around. That's especially true in these small communities where we all know each other."