2023-08 FirstLink September Newsletter

WE’RE HERE FOR YOU

UPDATE CARE PACKAGE

PROJECT

Hello everyone! I’m Laila Kantarevic, a Philanthropy & Youth (PaY) intern that is working with FirstLink for the summer. I’m from Fargo, ND but attending school as an upcoming junior at the University of North Dakota, studying Medical Laboratory Science and Psychology/Behavioral Health in hopes to become a Physician Assistant. I’m so glad that I partnered with FirstLink as a nonprofit to work with this summer. It has expanded my knowledge of health from a different perspective focusing on providing care for those that struggle with mental health.

This summer, I’ve been tasked with providing resources regarding difficulties with mental health and coping with loss by suicide. It involved days of research, training, and lots of questions being asked of staff about the difficult conversations conducted over the phone. This led to the development of the Care Package. The package was designed for individuals that have difficulties with mental health or the loss of a loved one by suicide and are unsure how to respond to the death. This package has resources filled with social media usage, safety action plans, self-care items, journals, resource cards, and access to the virtual care package. The package will become available by the end of the month for those that are interested or in need! I’m excited to have had this opportunity to make an impact with this project in the local area during this summer and in the future.

If you have any interest in the care package, please reach out to the Outreach team at FirstLink by email at outreach@myfirstlink.org

2023 has already proven to be one of the most ambitious years for FirstLink’s Outreach team! We were tasked with two grants to train communities across the state of North Dakota on Mental Health First Aid. While these trainings will continue through the fall, we have already trained community members across every region of North Dakota!

By July 1st, over 1,500 individuals attended a FirstLink training. This includes those that attended Mental Health First Aid, as well as all our other education offerings such as safeTALK and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). 97% of those screened following a training responded that their skills and awareness increased!

As we continue to reach new communities and populations to deliver life-saving skills, we are reminded about the importance of starting such conversations. One participant mentioned commented that “it can be overwhelming to support someone in need of mental health help. This training provides an easy process that is going to help me make a difference when supporting others.”

FirstLink is always available to those in need. If you’re also ready to be able to help a neighbor in need, consider attending a FirstLink training!

You can learn more or register at www.myfirstlink.org/trainings

A letter from Executive Director

JENNIFER ILLICH

It is a good time of year to increase awareness of the stigma and taboo around the topic of suicide. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. We use this month to spread hope, link people to support, and come together to help make our communities safer from suicide.

FirstLink wants to ensure that individuals, friends, and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and feel comfortable seeking help. We work to ensure that we are ready to answer the 988 Suicide and Crisis phone, chat, and text line 24/7/365 to support people where they are at.

Suicidal thoughts can plague anyone regardless of age, gender, or social status. Commonly linked to depression, there is no foolproof indicator of suicidal tendencies. Many people suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts cover them up quite well.

Care and Support PROGRAM

The FirstLink Care and Support team has gone through some recent changes. Our previous Care and Support Coordinator, Hannah, is leaving FirstLink to pursue a higher level of education. In August, Trinity took over the role of Care and Support Coordinator. Trinity has worked at FirstLink for nearly a year and is excited to take on this new role.

Our Care and Support program has had a steady increase in referrals this year. From January to May our total Care and Support referrals increased 45%.

With this increase in referrals comes an increase in caring cards. Our caring cards are handwritten with care for those that are struggling and need extra support. We send a caring card to every person referred to the Care and Support program. Our participants are grateful to know that there are people that care for them. One participant expressed this by saying, “Thank you so much for the card, that was really nice, I appreciate knowing people care.” Our team hopes to continue to expand with new partnerships so that we can help impact more people with the program.

We look forward to supporting our current participants and anyone referred to us in the future as the Care and Support program grows!

How can we work together towards zero suicide? We can look for changes in behavior of those around us. We can listen for talk about feeling hopeless or having a loss of purpose. If these invitations to suicide thoughts are present, we can provide listening and support, connection, and encourage those we know to dial 988. If our friends and loved ones are not ready to reach out for help, you can call 988 to request that we call them to check in with support. If you are reading this and have been struggling with your mental health, now is the time to reach out. Dial or text 988. Share a lifeline. Use a lifeline. Be a lifeline.

Respectfully,

Jennifer Illich

Jennifer Illich Executive Director FirstLink

We look forward to continuing to support and empower our clients and watching the Care and Support Program continue to flourish.

It has been over a year since the 988 dialing code for mental health and suicide was launched across the country in July 2022. Nationwide, 5 million contacts were answered in the first year. That is nearly 2 million more than in the previous 12 months. Also, in this first year of 988 service, The Lifeline has added specialized phone, chat, and text services for LGBTQI+ youth and young adults and added Spanish text and chat services to compliment the already existing Spanish call service.

At FirstLink, the first half of 2023 has been very busy. January 2023 - June 2023 saw a 55% increase in calls on 988 compared to that same period in 2022. From January 2023 - June 2023 FirstLink handled 817 988 chat and text interactions.

HOW TO HELP SOMEONE YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT

From the most recent statistics from the CDC in 2020, an estimated 1.2 million suicide attempts were made and over 45,000 deaths occurred by suicide in the same year. Although conversations regarding suicide and suicidal ideation are becoming more acceptable discussions to have, there is still a lot of stigma that surrounds the topic.

In North Dakota, our suicide rates have increased from 2019 to 2020 ranking us 16thin the nation. This rate is too high. The fact of the matter is that there are strategies available to all of us that can help our communities prevent suicide.

September is National Suicide Prevention month. A challenge from us at FirstLink to the state of North Dakota is to make suicide prevention a priority, not only during this month of awareness, but every month for the good of our communities.

One of the greatest services we can provide to someone who we believe to be at risk is listening to them and providing them support. It is okay to be upfront and ask someone, “Are you thinking about suicide?” Contrary to popular belief, asking someone if they are feeling suicidal will not encourage them to attempt suicide. If you don’t feel comfortable having this conversation, reach out by call or text to FirstLink at 9-8-8. Our trained call specialists provide free and confidential support 24/7 for people in distress. 9-8-8 is available nationwide if you’re thinking of suicide, are concerned about a friend or loved one, or just need emotional support.

#BETHE1TO:

• Ask: Research suggests that acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce suicidal ideation.

• Keep Them Safe: Reduced access to lethal means

Those suffering are more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed and more hopeful after speaking to someone who listens

Helping someone at risk create a network of resources and individuals for support and safety can help them take positive action and reduce

Studies show that brief intervention and supportive, ongoing contact may be an important part of

FirstLink is excited to once again be a part of the North Dakota Suicide Prevention Coalition Annual Conference on Thursday, September 14 from 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.

The theme for this year’s conference is “With Help There is Hope: Providing Hope Across Generations” The conference is being held in Bismarck, ND. Virtual registration is also available. Full conference description, agenda, and registration is available at ndspc.org

ANNUAL CONFERENCE