Until last year, Wyoming led the nation in suicide death rates since 2018, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Its a question of life or death ; and as a pro-life legislator, I have joined many members of the Wyoming Legislature who understand that we can no longer, in good conscience, continue to impose the obligation of this crucial issue of Wyoming lives on feet of families, churches and non-profit organizations. and volunteers.
A life saved is worth it, and that’s why many members of the Legislature voted to support the state’s suicide prevention efforts – a successful vote that allowed Wyoming to join the national system 988. This system is similar in concept to the 911 emergency system, except that it is specific to suicide.
Now, anyone who dials 988 on their phone in Wyoming will have their call answered 24/7 by someone at a suicide call center in Wyoming who can help them with the hope of avoiding the tragedy of someone committing suicide. life. Ensuring this hotline has the necessary funding should be a top priority for all lawmakers in the upcoming session.
In addition to key suicide prevention efforts, the Legislature this year used funding from its budget surplus to improve funding for children’s psychiatric services by community providers like St. Joseph’s in Torrington and the Wyoming Behavioral Institute in Casper.
Lack of funding, coupled with increasing staffing and operating expenses in recent years, has forced St. Joseph Hospital to leave beds empty while children in crisis and their families wait for urgent care.
Additionally, under the leadership of House Speaker Albert Sommers and Senate President Ogden Driskill, the Legislature has worked with families and providers across the state to address gaps in our mental health services.
This initiative led to the creation of the Mental Health Task Force, charged with developing policy that better defines the state government’s role in combating and preventing mental illness.
This important work involves the Governor, the Supreme Court, and state agencies responding daily to people facing intellectual, developmental, psychological, and emotional challenges.
This means addressing the lack of services and policies for our state’s older population and for adolescents with high behavioral needs who may find themselves sitting in a county jail or hospital waiting room because that there is no provider capable of taking care of them. .
These efforts continue the work started with the redesign and construction of the new state hospital in Evanston and the Wyoming Life Resource Center in Lander.
The mission of these two facilities and state policy were changed to share resources with the goal of providing people with mental health issues the types of services that would eventually see them return to live in their communities.
Work at the new state hospital and Life Resource Center led to the behavioral health overhaul carried out by the Legislature, Executive Branch and community mental health centers.
Scheduled to be implemented next July, it will create a new policy to prioritize public funds for mental health services to priority populations most in need of mental health services, with consistency across the State.
These are complex subjects, with many obstacles and few ready-made solutions. Mental health and suicide in Wyoming are difficult for many Wyoming residents to talk about.
That’s probably because most people in Wyoming felt the harsh impacts in one way or another. It’s certainly easier to look away from these vulnerable populations, but we must confront Wyoming’s suicide prevention and mental health issues head-on because every life has inherent value.
Rep. Lloyd Larsen serves House District 54 and serves as Chair of the Mental Health and Vulnerable Adults Task Force.
