Health Promotion - Suicide Prevention Network
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) National Suicide Prevention Lifeline web page |
- Our goal
- Why is suicide a concern in Missoula?
- Depression screening
- Support Group for Survivors of Suicide
- Who makes up Missoula's Suicide Prevention Network?
- Upcoming events
- Prescription drug disposal
- Links and information
- Missoula Measures topics
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Our goal |
The goal of the Missoula Suicide Prevention Network is to:
- Link community members responding to concerns related to suicide.
- Develop an organized, integrated approach and a common vision.
- Assist and develop projects which improve Missoula's capacity to reduce our high suicide rates.
Our brochure: Suicide Prevention - What You Need to Know
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Why is suicide a concern in Missoula? |
In 2006 (the most recent national report available), Montana had the third highest rate of suicide in the US. The Rocky Mountain region consistently has the highest suicide rate. (Alaska was #1, Wyoming # 2.)
The National rate for suicide deaths is 11.1 per 100,000. Montana's rate is 20 per 100,000.
189 Montanans died by suicide in 2006, the latest year for which statistics are currently available.
The reasons for this include:
- availability of fire arms (2/3 of suicides in Montana are committed with a gun, as compared to 1/2 nationally)
- high substance abuse rate
- social and geographic isolation
- lack of mental health services in rural areas
- lack of financial coverage for mental health services
- culture and attitudes against seeking and accepting mental health services
In 2008, there were 29 suicide deaths in Missoula County. That is the highest ever, which makes our county suicide death rate 275% higher than the national average.
- 7 of these were due to a prescription drug overdose, higher than ever before.
- The number of women was almost as high as the number of men.
- More women used more lethal means, such as guns.
Suicide in Montana: Facts, Figures and Formulas for Prevention - Power point presentation.
Suicide in Montana Handout - from above link.
Regarding prescription drug abuse and suicide:
U.S. emergency department visits for drug-related suicide attempts by young adult males rose 55 percent between 2005 and 2009.
ER visits for drug-related suicide attempts involving antidepressants among young adult males in those four years jumped 155 percent, and cases involving anti-anxiety and insomnia medications rose 93 percent.
Emergency department visits for drug-related suicide attempts involving narcotic pain relievers nearly doubled among men aged 35 to 49, and almost tripled among men aged 50 and older.
These findings are based on data from the 2005-09 Drug Abuse Warning Network reports.
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National Mental Health Screening AssessmentDepression screening |
Access the screening tool/test
Click here to Find a mental health provider in Missoula
Screening and resource information for other communities and other states.
Famous Faces of Depression poster
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HOPE: Support Group for Survivors of Suicide |
(A survivor is someone who has lost a close friend or family member to a suicide death.)
The group is small and led by 2 suicide survivors. Contact Pat Kendall at 543-2890 for more information about the next group.
Books that might be helpful to suicide survivors:
- No Time to Say Goodbye - Carla Fine
- Healing After the Suicide of a Loved One - Ann Smolin & John Guinan
- Silent Grief: Living in the Wake of Suicide - Christopher Lukas & Henry Seiden
List of books for suicide survivors - from American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
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Who makes up Missoula's Suicide Prevention Network? |
Our Suicide Prevention Network is made up of representatives from many organizations, including:
- City Police
- County Sheriff
- Coroner
- County Commissioners
- City Council
- St. Patrick Hospital
- Community Medical Center
- Missoula Public Schools
- Dept. of Corrections
- Mental Health Center
- Missoula Health Dept.
- Partnership Health Center
- Curry Health Services (UM)
- Forum for Youth and Children
- Missoula Veterans Center
- Suicide survivors
- Montana Chapter, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- concerned community members
- area physicians
- area churches
- mental health counselors
- legislators
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Upcoming events |
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Prescription drug disposal |
Missoula safe disposal site
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The Missoula Police Department has a
City Hall - 435 Ryman St. The drop box is inside the south door which is located at the back (parking lot side) of the building, facing the Mountain Line bus transfer area. |
- Drop-offs are confidential and free.
- Items that CANNOT be accepted: needles, chemo/radioactive drugs, non-pharmaceutical waste.
Operation Medicine Cabinet - Montana
Several times each year, Operation Medicine Cabinet sponsors a drug disposal event. Date, time and location will be posted here.
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Links and information |
Find a mental health counselor in Missoula
Reading list - Depression, Suicide, Autobiographies, Children & Adolescents, Grief.
Prescription drugs and suicide
- National Mental Health Screening Assessment
- Western Montana Mental Health Center: 1325 Wyoming Street Missoula MT, (406) 532-9800
- Missoula Substance Abuse Treatment: Turning Point 1325 Wyoming Street Missoula MT 59801 Phone: (406) 532-9800
- University of Montana, Counseling - check out their list of health topics, including suicide prevention and emotional health. Click on CAPS in the heading.
- Reach Out - Get through tough times for teens.
- Montana Suicide Prevention Plan
- Support Group - Bipolar Warmline
- 2000 - 2006 Montana Suicide Rate by County
- Adolescent Health
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- American Association of Suicidology
- CDC - Suicide Prevention
- Mind Your Mind - Teen Mental Health Information
- National Mental Health Screening Day
- QPR Institute - Question, Persuade, Refer - a method of identifying those who may be at risk for suicide. Especially designed for friends, family and community members with no professional training. Training provides information on ways to get appropriate help. To find out about upcoming trainings, or arrange one for your group, contact Maureen O'Malley at the Missoula Health Department, 406-258-3881.
- QPR Training Links
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center
- What a Difference a Friend Makes
- Mental Health and Suicide in the Workplace
- College Health Guide
- Frequently Asked Questions regarding counseling, answered by the American Counseling Association: Why should you seek counseling? What is professional counseling? Who are counselors?
- National Suicide Rates - 2007 - by State
- SAMHSA Mental Health Wellness Campaign
- Lok-It-Up - a campaign to promote safe firearm storage - Washington state
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Missoula Measures Topics |
- Child Abuse and Neglect
- Domestic Violence
- Physical Activity
- Suicide
- Youth Substance Abuse
- Youth Sexual Activity
- Mental Health
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255 (TALK)
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