DULUTH, MN (KDAL) – The number of people who have died by suicide in Minnesota has increased by 40 percent in the last 20 years; and the rate in St. Louis County is more than one and a half times that of in the Twin Cities metro area.
In rural areas, such as northern St. Louis County, people needing mental and substance abuse care can face barriers including lack of providers, stigma and lack of financial resources.
To try and counter this, the Minnesota Department of Health has awarded a grant to St. Louis County to fund a series of suicide prevention efforts. The grant, worth $80,000 per year for each of the next four years, will support “Thrive Range.” The multi-prong initiative to deliver sustainable mental health and substance misuse resources to the Iron Range and northern St. Louis County was announced on Wednesday.
Thrive Range will be coordinated by St. Louis County Public Health and Dr. Ursula Whiteside, a Hibbing native and nationally recognized leader in suicide prevention research. Efforts will focus on three areas:
Healthcare: Thrive Range will work with area health systems on “Zero Suicide”, a national initiative that is proven to reduce suicides within healthcare systems.
Schools: St. Louis County Public Health will offer support and leadership with Iron Range schools through a program called Hope Squad. This approach provides prevention and intervention for mental health and substance-related problems within the school setting.
Community: ThriveRange.org will provide access to free, confidential mental health and substance use resources 24/7. A landing page connects visitors to suicide prevention, mental health, and substance use computerized online interventions.
Particular focus will be to provide help for men and military veterans, two groups with higher rates of suicide in the region. Free cognitive behavioral therapy also will be offered through this website.
ThriveRange.org
