Amber Martinsen-Blake

Founder and CEO

In rural Montana, youth mental health and suicide is a very real crisis. After experiencing the epidemic up close and seeing the barriers to care and services in her hometown of Big Timber, Amber Martinsen-Blake founded Catalyst for Change. The organization created a revolutionary mental healthcare system giving small rural communities instant access to mental health professionals working to turn the tide on the mental health stigma across the state.

What will the Stanley Creators Fund grant make possible for Catalyst for Change?   

One of the biggest challenges we face is the limited access to mental healthcare services in remote rural communities. With Stanley’s grant, we can provide ongoing mental healthcare services in even more communities by supporting Community Health Workers and crisis intervention, along with preventative and follow-up care.

Stanley Creators Fund celebrates the creators, builders, and inventors among us. What does it mean to you to be a creator, builder, and inventor? 

Being a creator means being able to take an idea and turn it into a tangible solution that can make a difference. Having the ability to envision something that doesn’t exist yet and then having the skills and knowledge to bring that vision to life. To me, the Stanley Creators Fund is recognition of the importance of creativity and innovation in our society, supporting those working to make the world a better place through their ideas and inventions.

What is something that you discovered through your work?  

I’ve discovered that most people are more powerful than they know. We all have the power to make a change. Catalyst’s work started with kids. And as the adults saw kids addressing their mental health and getting better, they wanted to participate, grow and heal, too. It’s been a generational and cultural shift.

What about Stanley makes you excited for this grant and partnership?

Stanley is known for durability and strength which reminds me of the people of Montana. We want to create a legacy of good mental health practices. We want to protect the mental health of men, women, and their families to ensure their optimal performance in this world.

“As kids start proactively addressing their mental health, they are the catalysts to help adults and to change communities.”