ND Thrives Fights Youth Suicide Crisis

ND Thrives, a suicide prevention initiative, is in its fourth year of operation and works to integrate its programs into communities. Funded by the Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention grant, the program supports states and tribes in implementing youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategies for individuals up to 24 years old. It provides up to $735,000 annually for projects lasting up to five years.

The program partners with NORC at the University of Chicago and Northland Health Centers, initiated due to a significant rise in suicide rates among North Dakota's rural and tribal youth. ND Thrives aims to build a robust ecosystem for suicide prevention by strengthening relationships within schools, community organizations, and tribal nations. Programs like Hopeful Connections are being piloted to improve access to services and information.

Additionally, ND Thrives offers the STARS program, providing free suicide prevention training to schools, and the Thriving Together series for rural healthcare providers. Upcoming initiatives include the Thriving Within series to support healthcare providers and first responders. The project also incorporates an evaluation component with SBIRT-SC, which has screened over 1,500 youth during sports physicals. ND Thrives is actively sharing its strategies for building state and tribal partnerships to enhance prevention efforts nationwide.