HELENA – Shodair Children’s Hospital held a Youth Suicide Prevention Summit at their facility on Tuesday.
A select group of professionals and those who work within the mental health field were invited to the summit where the conversation focused on ways to address Montana’s high teen suicide rate.
There were large easels that had a list of questions that officials asked each other about their community’s mental health status within public schools and youth groups.
Speakers talked about collaborations with foundations around the state, legislatures and more.
“To bring all these minds and passions together is such an important and huge step moving forward,” said Funk, Democrat Representative for Helena.
“The more networks that we can develop today with other community members, the stronger we will be as a group, and the better services we will be able to deliver, not only to children but all people in our community,” said Ron Whitmoyer, Superintendent for East Helena Public Schools.
An Out of The Darkness Campus Walk for suicide prevention will start at East Helena City Hall parking lot on April 28 at 2 p.m.
Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death overall in the state of Montana, and ranked 3rd in the highest of suicides nationally. According to 2015 data from the US Centers for Disease Control there have been a total of 272 number of deaths by suicide in Montana.
If you are in crisis and want help, call the Montana Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 24/7, at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or text “MT” to 741-741.
