September is National Suicide Prevention Month. During this time, ConnectUs Therapy strives to make extra efforts in raising mental health awareness in western North Dakota with the goal of bringing attention to suicide prevention, mental health awareness, reducing stigma, and promoting positive connections.
Rural mental health care in North Dakota presents unique challenges. The state's vast rural landscape, characterized by small, tight-knit communities, poses significant barriers to accessing mental health care. The stigma associated with mental health challenges is often more pronounced in small communities, where privacy is limited, and individuals may fear being judged by their neighbors. This stigma can prevent people from seeking the help they need, leading to untreated mental health conditions and contributing to unacceptable rates of suicide in these communities.
Over the last three years, Tioga Medical Center has partnered with several mental health professionals to expand services in the community, bringing specialized therapy and medication management services to the area. Collaboration and integration of mental health services to complement primary care services has helped to ensure community members receive comprehensive care. This collaboration has succeeded in reducing stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment locally.
Efforts to reduce stigma and increase awareness are essential in ensuring that individuals feel comfortable seeking the help they need. With targeted interventions and a commitment to addressing these issues, rural mental health care in North Dakota can be significantly improved and suicide rates reduced.
We would like to invite all our community members to join our efforts in reducing stigma and preventing suicide. Here are some ways you can help:
· Connect – Open the conversation. Talk to your friends and family about the “tough stuff.”
· Confirm – Ask if they have thoughts of suicide, death, or dying.
· Protect – Speak up. If someone is struggling, offer support and encourage a plan. Do not keep it a secret or “sweep it under the rug.”
· Act – The Tioga Clinic offers resources and referrals for local mental health services. For mental health emergencies, call or text 988 to be connected with someone locally who is available to help 24-7.
To anyone out there who’s hurting: asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength and you are not alone.
- ConnectUs Therapy Outreach Clinic
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