Grant funding to improve suicide prevention services
courtesy photo
Circle of Trust staff includes, from left, Jenny Fowler, youth activities coordinator; Melinda Smith, outreach trainer/ data coordinator; Roxana Colman-Herak, program manager/ASIST master trainer; Kayla Keplin Ridgley, administrative assistant.
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News from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
PABLO — In September, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Social Services Department received grant funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in the amount of $736,000 each year for five years.
Constance Morigeau, head of TSSD, said the grant will help bridge much needed services, including hiring three mental health specialist/case managers who will be stationed at different locations throughout the community providing counseling, assessments, referrals and follow-up on services received.
Circle of Trust Youth Suicide Prevention Program, through TSSD, will also be partnering with the Salish Institute and Kootenai Culture Committee to help develop year-round youth activities specific to their unique traditional values, customs, language and community needs.
Variations in suicide rates by age and gender provide a wide array of opportunities for prevention and intervention activities. There are many aspects to adolescent development that heighten suicide risk. One of the most significant is “peer relationships” and the need to “fit in” which can put pressure on adolescents to not disclose suicidal thoughts and feelings they may be dealing with. Fragmented families, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual identity issues, bullying and toxic influences all contribute to the increased risk of suicide in adolescents and young adults.
Another area of concern is military veteran suicide attempts. Data continues to show that an average of 950 suicide attempts occur each month by veterans who are receiving some type of treatment from the Veterans Administration. Seven percent of those attempts are successful and 11 percent of those who don’t succeed on the first attempt try again within nine months.
It is the vision, mission and goal of TSSD to be able to offer healing retreats for younger soldiers who suffer with PTSD and bring in experts who can provide insight, understanding and healing to our returning soldiers.
Roxana Colman-Herak, Circle of Trust program manager, is no stranger to suicide. She has been impacted by suicide up close and personally and has seen the toll suicides have on family, friends and loved ones left with that haunting question: why? Colman-Herak is happy that this grant will include veterans, particularly Afghan/Iraqi soldiers and their families.
“While the targeted age group is between 18-24 years of age, we are hopeful that the entire community can participate and support our efforts and education surrounding the challenges and obstacles facing our returning soldiers,” Colman-Herak said.
Colman-Herak said she is honored to have a wonderful staff that wants to help and be a part of something meaningful and needed. Together they will soon be launching a wide array of activities, support networks, services and follow-up to insure services are received when needed, according to Colman-Herak. They will also be inviting the community to help fill some of the cracks and gaps, particularly community members who have completed the ASIST two-day suicide prevention training. Outreach, early intervention, prevention and intervention are all integral components of the program.
The Tribal Social Services Program will continue working to ensure that suicide prevention, intervention and education continues to be prioritized throughout our tribal and non-tribal populations.
