Suicide Prevention

The Boise School District is helping their kids with their mental health.

Researchers with the Trevor Project analyzed data from 61,000 transgender and nonbinary young people. They found that after states passed anti-LGBTQ+ laws, young people in those states were more like to attempt suicide.

It’s been two years since Idaho, and the rest of the nation, launched the three digit emergency number 988 for mental and emotional health emergencies.

Boise School District Board members and families met Monday evening to talk about expanding student mental health. The board has been working with Communities for Youth to start suicide prevention programs and curriculum throughout the district.

When it comes to our well-being, maintaining good mental health is crucial. Across the nation though millions of people are struggling with this very thing.

In Idaho, suicide is the 9th most common cause of death. In 2020 alone, 421 Idahoans died by suicide, according to the Department of Health and Welfare.

Last year a few hundred crisis call centers across the country replaced their 1-800 numbers with a simpler three-digit code. Since then that number, which is the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, has answered over 12,000 calls, texts and chats from people in Idaho experiencing a mental health crisis.

In July, the nation got a new three-digit suicide prevention number – 988. A new analysis found the hotline’s call volume jumped 45% in August compared to August 2021, with the number of callers roughly doubling in two states in the Mountain West.

The AgriStress Hotline is staffed 24/7, similar to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. The difference is, if a farmer or rancher calls, they’re going to get a response from someone who’s trained to help agricultural workers.

Anyone in the US experiencing emotional distress can now text or call one three digit number to get help.