TXT4Life and Suicide Prevention

1. TXT4Life and Suicide Prevention September 17, 2013

2. Need and motivation • 3rd leading cause of death for youth and young adults nationally (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-CDC) • Between 2000-2005, Minnesota’s rate increased by 15.7%, while the national rate increased by only 4.2% (Minnesota Department of Health-MDH) • NE MN – higher than state average for suicides (MDH)

3. Need and Motivation • Prior State Suicide Prevention Grant • Seven-county Arrowhead Region has the highest rate of suicide in Minnesota • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call vs. Text • Kids connected to social media and technology • Traditional interventions with education and suicide prevention trainings may have had a great enough impact

4. Need and motivation • Took hard look at what we were doing and notdoing • Kids are isolated in many ways –rural and urban "We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them."    Albert Einstein

5. What we were doing wasn’t enough, additional approaches were needed

6. TXT4Life • SAMHSA Grant • 24% of area, 6% of population • 7-County Arrowhead Region

7. Partners • Crisis Connection (Canvas Health) • Seven Counties, Four Tribes • Four Mental Health Centers • Lutheran Social Services • GLBTQ Youth Focus • UMD-Medical School’s Center for Rural Mental Health

8. Support • Tribal Nations – Fond du Lac, Bois Forte, Grand Portage, Red Lake, White Earth, Lower Sioux • Minnesota Social Service Association • Minnesota Local Public Health Association • National Alliance for the Mentally Ill – MN Chapter • Minnesota Association for County Social Service Administration • Communities of Faith • Minnesota School Counselor’s Association (President, and regionally) • Community members, organizations, and businesses.

9. Use of emerging technologies • 82% of Americans own some kind of cell phone. • Text messages sent per month by age group: • 13-17: 3,417 • 18-24: 1,914 • 25-34: 928 • 35-44: 709

10. Work plan: Texting Services • Text messaging process • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_H7fBpf45w Text ‘LIFE’ to 839863

11. Crisis Connection Set-up and staffing • Location • Staffing • Process

14. Automated Messages

15. Lessons Learned (text line) • Carefully plan rollout – limit the exposure of the number • If kids use a crisis number, there needs to be an immediate, trained response • Methods to deliver information to the texter need to be well thought out and managed within the limited characters available in the text message. • The texter needs to be engaged quickly in the process or they will end the session.

16. WORKPLAN: School Outreach • Presentations • Education • Information about the text service and how to use it • Resources for contacting the line (bracelet, entering it into their phones, posters, etc.) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x9QoEeCbtg

18. Workplan: school outreach • Student Groups • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hjyvL1hVug • Video Development: • http://www.txt4life.org/studentsstartagroupatyourschool.php • Student Leadership Training

19. Workplan: Trainings

20. Workplan: Marketing

21. SOCIAL Media

23. Workplan: Other • Advisory Committee • Tele-mental Health for Crisis Response • Communities of Practice (GLBTQ2-S, Military Servicemen/women and their Families, Rural Populations)

24. Lessons Learned (outreach) • Robust Approach: • Text Service • Training/Education • Outreach and Awareness • New paradigm “Counselor in their pocket” • Planning for sustainability starting right away • Support people/organizations • Education to stakeholders • Relationships with organizations that will help with legislation to make it available for all

25. National Suicide Prevention • 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action • 2013 Online Event: Everyone Plays a Role in Suicide Prevention: Turning Strategy into Action • http://actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org/NSSP

26. Sustainability • Refer to local resources • Identify and train “kid trusted” adult resources • QPR, ASIST • Student groups • Introduction of tele-mental health in schools • Integration with area Crisis Teams, School Linked Mental Health Services, etc.

27. SUSTAINABILITY • MN Department of Human Services, announces formation of task force: • “New Technology in Crisis Prevention Services” • Support from state, local departments and organizations for legislation • With bipartisan authors and support, bill expanding text message interventions developed

28. Sustainability • Passed on May 17, 2013 for the next legislative biennium ($1.25 Million)! • Statewide expansion to middle & high schools, colleges & universities through continued text services, training within the schools and encouragement of communities to use the program

29. Statewide Expansion • Department of Human Services will oversee funding and plans • Demand statewide from Counties, Tribes, Schools, Universities, Military, etc.

30. Lessons Learned (overall) • We can universally screen students, but unfortunately their mental health status changes quickly • Students need to be able to immediately self refer to a resource that can help • Knowledge of what is available • Make if very, very easy to use • Remember that kids are in a compromised state of mind when in crisis – preprogram as much as possible in their phone • “Emotional vaccination” by preparing them for the possibility of a crisis and how to respond – for themselves or friends • “Counseling On Demand” – immediate mental health service – we don’t expect people with diabetes to wait for insulin

31. “We need to meet young people where they are at, when they find themselves at the end of their hope”

32. CONTACT Information Sierra Beckman Health Educator, TXT4Life Local Coordinator 218-878-2592 sierra.beckman@co.carlton.mn.us

33. Questions