During the 2018 Wyoming Legislature’s budget session, the lobbying efforts being presented by Rhianna Brand, a member of the local suicide prevention organization under the name of Grace for 2 Brothers, brought the return of nearly $1.5 million to state funding.
The previous year, funding was cut for the suicide prevention organization, but through passionate advocation from Brand, her organization and other groups like it, the legislature has restored the funding. It is now up to the discretion of the 23 different counties in Wyoming to divide up where the funding goes through their health and welfare departments.
“In Wyoming, suicide is a major issue and it’s something that affects us and keeps us fairly high in the standards, as far as the United States is concerned,” Dan Hendrick, Laramie contact from Grace for 2 Brothers, said.
This suicide prevention nonprofit is based in Wyoming and was originally organized for those experiencing loss from suicide. Members of this organization are focused on offering support and resources to those in need.
In 2016, Wyoming held one of the highest suicide rates in the U.S. at 27.5 suicides per 100,000 people, according to the United Health Foundation.
“We live in an individualist society,” Spanish and secondary education major Collin MacArthur said. “Before, people would worry about their neighbor and be aware of what’s going on. [Now,] if it doesn’t have anything to do with us, it doesn’t matter.”
However, what the lobbying efforts and goals of organizations similar to Grace for 2 Brothers are trying to accomplish is raising awareness of the problem that exists in Wyoming. Substance abuse and issues such as the genetic makeup of a person can be contributing factors to suicidal ideation and actions, but the prevention of these happenings are paramount to the state.
Hendrick described one of the educational options that could be funded through the new budget – QPR (question, persuade, refer) training. This kind of program can be used to talk to people having suicidal thoughts and ideations and then walk them through the thought process of slowing them down and seeing the good in the world around them.
“Suicide in Wyoming is tough because we have so many problems getting to mental health professionals,” Hendrick said. “We have so much distance in between towns. I think the funding is definitely going to help move that forward. It’ll help us get treatment with people being in the state, where we can get mental health professionals that can help us with suicide prevention to help society run a little smoother.”
The hope held by those in support of suicide prevention efforts, programs and groups is that there will be lives saved through the help of state funding that allows for the continuation of their efforts. This restoration of funds will likely be well received across the state as the year goes on.
“We need to be informed so that we can know how to identify symptoms and problems leading up to suicide, as well as ways to prevent it from actually occurring,” psychology major Meagan Barnes said. “If we start now, we can help society as a whole to understand the importance of suicide awareness and ways we can prevent it. Change starts with us.”
