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Suicide Prevention Newsletter - May 2024 |
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View this as a webpage
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH TOOLKIT 2024 NOW AVAILABLE
May is Mental Health Awareness month. While mental health is important to address year-round, Mental Health Awareness Month provides a dedicated time for people, organizations, and communities to join their voices to broadcast the message that mental health matters. The toolkit has ideas, resources, and messages to share to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and suicide prevention, and includes key messages, social media content, and shareable graphics. The toolkit is designed for individuals, organizations, and communities to use as a starting point, with content that can be tailored as appropriate to best engage and meet the needs of specific communities. Themes and key messages were created for each week:
- Week 1: Let’s talk about mental health
- Week 2: Connecting with yourself
- Week 3: Connecting with others
- Week 4: Connecting with nature
- Week 5: Connecting to resources and support
Download the toolkit: Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit (PDF)
Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit (Word)
 Grygla Fire & Rescue recently attended a safeTALK training in Grygla, Minnesota delivered by the North Central Regional Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Destiny Tinnes. Grygla Fire Chief Bob Thompson said he requested the training because, “we live in a very rural community, and we are often the first on the scene when paged.” The team wanted to learn how to appropriately respond to someone in a mental health or suicide crisis, what language to use, and how to handle situations being in a small town where everyone knows each other. Some attendees shared that as a result of the training they felt like they had learned enough to recognize and help someone in crisis. Luke Nordvick from Nordvick Arms, LLC said he attended the workshop because as a firearms instructor, he believes it is his responsibility to do what he can to educate his clients on the responsibilities of owning firearms and the importance of safe storage (Make Minnesota Safe & Secure). He also wants to provide awareness of suicide prevention strategies and correct information for who to contact in case of a crisis. Luke stated, “I encourage everyone to take this class, as it is useful for anyone.”
For more information about the Regional Suicide Prevention Coordinator in your area, contact Jenilee Telander at jenilee.telander@state.mn.us
The Biden Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and accompanying Federal Action Plan. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in partnership with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, led the development of these critical deliverables which support the Biden-Harris Administration’s priorities to address the overdose and mental health crises, key pillars of the Biden-Harris Unity Agenda. An Interagency Work Group, comprised of over 20 agencies in 10 federal departments across the government contributed to the development of the National Strategy. Suicide is an urgent and growing public health crisis. More than 49,000 people in the United States died by suicide in 2022. That’s one death every 11 minutes. Addressing this crisis requires a bold new strategy, and the first-ever Federal Action Plan to put the strategy into action and drive results. The National Strategy is a comprehensive, whole-of-society approach to suicide prevention. Biden-Harris Administration Releases National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and First-Ever Federal Action Plan
The data: Adverse Childhood Experiences and suicidal ideation
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic experiences that occur in childhood, including abuse, neglect, or living in a household with substance use problems, mental health problems and/or caregiver incarceration. Results from the 2022 Minnesota Student Survey show that students with a higher number of ACEs are more likely to say they had thoughts of suicide in the past year. Students reporting one ACE were three times more likely to report suicidal ideation compared to students with zero ACEs. Students with four or more ACEs were 10 times more likely to report past year suicidal thoughts compared to students with no ACEs.
 The resource: Erika’s Lighthouse suicide prevention programs for schools
Erika’s Lighthouse is a national nonprofit organization that provides mental health education, depression education, and suicide prevention programs and resources to all elementary, middle, and high schools at no cost. Their vision for the future of mental health is that every child in every school has a knowledgeable, trusted adult available which can help mitigate the impact of ACEs. Their programs and resources raise awareness, reduce stigma, promote good mental health, encourage help-seeking, and educate students, families, and staff.
The action: Sign up to access free programs and resources to use in your school
Join 10 other Minnesota schools and make a Resource Portal account today to access these Erika’s Lighthouse programs and resources, and prioritize mental health in your school.
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Classroom Education: Programs for students in grades 4 through 12 that focus on mental health, depression, and suicide available to download for teachers, school social workers, and school counselors to teach.
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Empowerment Clubs: Mental health clubs to empower young people to change the world. Programmatic and financial support up to $500/year for schoolwide activities is offered.
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Family Engagement: Workbooks, workshops, and resources so families can be ready and prepared to be mental health partners.
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Staff Training and School Policy: Staff training and program implementation modules, staff well-being activities, and policy recommendations for a positive climate.
Questions? Email Ilana Sherman, Director of Education, at ilana@erikaslighthouse.org
If this brought up painful feelings for you, help is available. Call or text 988, or visit the 988 Lifeline (988lifeline.org) to chat online with a trained counselor.
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Events, resources, opportunities
safeTALK suicide prevention trainings
Learn how to support someone’s desire for safety by recognizing the warning signs of suicide, identifying people who are at risk, and applying the TALK steps (Tell, Ask, Listen and KeepSafe) to connect a person to suicide first aid resources. Listed on the national best practice registry, safeTALK allows time for both practice and discussion. safeTALK is based on research that shows people experiencing thoughts of suicide often send out subtle invitations to help them stay safe. This four-hour class is for members of the community over the age of 16 who want to learn and practice the basic best practices in suicide prevention. There is no charge for the training. The class been approved by the Board of Social Work to provide 4 CEU’s and a certificate of completion with be provided.
Thursday, May 30, 2024
- 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Bemidji Regional MN Dept of Health Office, 705 5th St NW, Suite A, Bemidji, MN 56601
- Registration link: safeTALK registration link
- Space is limited - the first 22 people to register will be accepted.
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Tuesday, June 18
- 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Bemidji Regional MN Dept of Health Office, 705 5th St NW, Suite A, Bemidji, MN 56601
- Registration link: safeTALK registration link
- Space is limited - the first 22 people to register will be accepted.
Suicide prevention and mental health training
2BContinued will host several mental health and suicide prevention trainings during their 2024 Mental Health Training Day on June 12. An ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) workshop will begin on June 11 and continue through the 12. Participants wishing to attend only on June 12 can receive training on Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), SafeTALK for Agriculture, Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA), Naloxone administration, as well as attend a Suicide Survivor’s Club Story Portrait workshop. Register here: 2024 Mental Health Training Day
- June 12, 2024 (June 11 and 12 if planning to attend ASIST training)
- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Glencoe City Center, 1107 E 11th St, Glencoe, MN 55336
Kognito mental health training reminder
The end of the school year is quickly approaching but there is still time to take one of the FREE Kognito courses available for school staff and students. New options were added this school year and you have until June 30, 2024 to check them out. After that time the courses will no longer be available. There are also three different training options for students 6-12th grade. Kognito Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Trainings for Schools Contact Stephanie Downey at stephanie.downey@state.mn.us with any questions.
Creating a Culture of Health webinar series
The Minnesota Department of Health Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) is introducing a six-part series to share the U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being. This framework lays the foundation for workplaces to examine and take action to change culture within their organizations.
Join MDH for one hour every two weeks this spring and summer to learn more about the framework and each of the foundational elements. You’ll receive an overview of each element, learn practical steps to introduce this information to your wellness committee and/or leadership team, and a leader’s guide with six PowerPoint presentations.
2023-27 Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Plan: East Metro presentation
The 2023-27 Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Plan was written in collaboration between the Minnesota Suicide Prevention Taskforce and the Minnesota Department of Health Suicide Prevention Unit. The plan outlines two main goals: to improve, expand, and coordinate the suicide prevention infrastructure in Minnesota, and to prevent Minnesotans from having suicidal experiences and improve the lives of all those who are struggling and let them know they are not alone, help is available, and healing is possible. People who work and live in Scott, Dakota, Goodhue, Washington, Anoka and Ramsey counties are invited to attend to hear about what was learned during the community engagement process, and the collaborative workplan to continue to enhance and promote suicide prevention and mental health promotion efforts in Minnesota. Additional presentations will be scheduled for the Southwest, South Central and North Central regions in the state. Watch for dates and times in future newsletters.
Youth Suicide Prevention Learning Collaborative Grant Request for Proposals
The Minnesota Department of Health is requesting proposals for a lead organization to develop effective systems for identifying and responding to youth with a potential mental health concern or suicide risk, and connecting youth to the most appropriate services and supports as early as possible. They will do this through creating a Mental Health Referral Pathway to Care: a series of actions or steps taken after identifying a youth with a potential mental health issue. Grantees and community partners will assess and build community capacity to identify gaps in services ensure more seamless access to mental health supports for youth and their families. Proposals will be accepted for the grant period September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2026. The department will award up to $60,000.00. It is anticipated that up to $60,000.00, and up to 6 grants will be available for each year of the grant period. All applications must be received by MDH via email no later than 4:30 p.m. Central Time, on Friday, June 7, 2024. For more information or to view the full RFP, please visit Youth Suicide Prevention Learning Collaborative Grant Request For Proposals
988 Minnesota Lifeline
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! The 988 Minnesota Lifeline can assist you in a mental health crisis in addition to providing support when you or a loved one are experiencing thoughts of suicide. In 2023, emotional support made up roughly 49% of contacts to the Lifeline in Minnesota. Everyone needs support sometimes. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 9-8-8 or visit 988lifeline.org.
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Email us at health.suicideprev.mdh@state.mn.us to contribute to the suicide prevention newsletter.
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