Initiative will address mental health, suicide

by David Boyle
News Director
A broad coalition of local government, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and nonprofit organizations has launched a comprehensive initiative in San Juan County to address escalating mental health issues and suicide rates.
The effort aims to move past cultural stigmas and provide immediate resources to the region.
San Juan County Commissioner Jamie Harvey shared that the initiative was born out of a “hard year” where the number of local deaths by suicide continued to rise. Harvey highlighted that even avoiding the word “suicide” has been a significant barrier, particularly within Native American communities.
“We want to stand up and say it’s time to start talking about suicide,” Harvey said, adding that “enough is enough” regarding the culture of denial. The goal is to create a “safe space” where residents feel empowered to seek help rather than shying away from the topic.
As part of the effort to address mental health issues and suicide in the county the coalition has planned several different approaches to education.
A key one being the Strengthening Communities through Healing and Hope conference happening this Saturday, January 31 at USU Blanding.
The free conference is intended to help community members, particularly faith leaders, educators, service providers, tribal members, youth advocates and others learn how to help survivors of sexual abuse.
The conference keynote speakers include child safety advocate Elizabeth Smart, Utah Women and Leadership project founder Dr. Susan Madsen and local mental health advocates.
The event going from 8:30 to 4:30 on Saturday includes lunch and will create a safe, trusting space for open conversations while promoting upstream prevention and empowerment of survivors of sexual abuse and their families.
In addition to the conference, the coalition is providing information and education via a series of conversations on the Red Rock Radio 92.7 FM Morning Show.
During that first conversation Utah Navajo Health System Behavioral Health Director Rick Hendy shared the reality of higher risk for suicide in the intermountain west.
“In these states we’ve had the highest rates of suicide in the country. So Utah’s at higher risk and San Juan County itself is even a higher risk than the rest of Utah. It’s important to say the numbers are relatively low, but the issue is we care about those numbers because those numbers are people and those numbers our family and we want to do everything we can to in this effort get the word out.”
Hendy said that professional training is not always required to save a life saying that even just talking to your loved ones can be a deterrent for suicide.
“It can be scary being the one listening to somebody at risk. We get anxious. We think, ‘What if we say the wrong thing?’ We think, ‘How can I help them?’
“We can get ahead of ourselves thinking we need to help solve their problems. But the truth is, when somebody’s going through a really tough time in their life; a relationship breakup, educational problems, lost a job, or just not feeling well for a long time with health issues, maybe even depression.
“What they need is somebody to listen to them. Just listen.”
While Hendy says being a good listener is a key step for those supporting those in crisis, “for those folks that may be at risk or have been at risk at times in your life, look who’s around you. Look who maybe you can talk with and share. You can tell them. ‘You don’t need them to fix everything for you, but hey, can you just listen to me?’”
Additional resources exist, Hendy notes that UNHS has training to bolster community skills, including the Applied Susicde Skills Intervention Training (ASSIST). Described as a two-day ‘gold standard’ course for teachers, officers and the general public.
San Juan County Sheriff Patrol Sergeant Corey Workman also highlighted law enforcement’s evolving role in helping those in mental health crisis. Workman said law enforcement is given training on deescalation to help those in crisis.
“We’re very compassionate towards people. Our job is to help people. I know it’s scary for people who are in crisis that we’re going to come in and we’re the big bad scary guys. We got a firearm on us, all that. But we’re there to help the situation. We’re not there to take you away, to take you to jail. We’re there to get you help and to get you the best help that we can. We want to see people be successful and we want to help people.”
Part of that effort includes cross-collaboration including monthly meetings with the San Juan Counseling Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT).
Workman said MCOT is available to respond to a scene alongside law enforcement.
“To help that individual in their home, at a hospital setting, at their office, just they’ll come to us so we don’t have to take the individual away. It’s been a very successful operation that’s helped law enforcement and bridge that gap between mental health and law enforcement.”
Workman added that one key is eliminating stigma around talking about your problems.
“Because of shame or it makes you look weak and that’s a wrong mindset to have. We’ve got to change that mindset and it’s slowly starting to change. It’s good to reach out and get help. I bottled a lot of stuff up inside. I pushed a lot of stuff down for a lot of years going through my career and it comes out at some point and when it comes out it affects the people that you love the most and we can’t have that.”
Workman added that everyone needs someone to talk to whether it be a mental health professional, a friend or family member.
If you or someone else is in crisis you can call 988.
If there is immediate danger call 911
The San Juan County Domestic Violence Crisis Line is 435-678-2445
Additional resources are available at UtahSuicidePrevention.org
Services are also available through Utah Navajo Health Services, San Juan Counseling, you can also talk to your primary care physician.