DPHHS to host suicide prevention panel Thursday, February 14

Mental health experts to provide information on current suicide prevention efforts in Montana

HELENA – The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is hosting a panel of suicide prevention experts to provide information on current evidence-based suicide prevention programs currently being implemented in Montana.

The presentations are scheduled for Thursday, February 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Old Supreme Court Chambers at the Capitol in Helena.

The panel will consist of officials from DPHHS; Billings Clinic; The Center for Children, Families, and Workforce Development (University of Montana); Center for Mental Health Research and Recovery, Department of Psychology, and Extension Office (Montana State University); Helena Indian Alliance; and Missoula Public Schools.

The panelists will present on programs each organization is currently implementing with state funding from the 2017 Legislative session. Each will focus their presentations on program implementation and evaluation measures.

Since the 2017 session, DPHHS has distributed $1 million from HB 118, with $250,000 allocated to Tribes and Urban Indian Health Centers for continued implementation of the Montana Native Youth Suicide Reduction Strategic Plan, and the remaining $750,000 to support schools, veterans, healthcare providers, and other organizations working on suicide prevention.

The event will also be streamed live through the Legislative Branch website at http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00309/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20190214/-1/35839