ALBANY — The state announced last week that rural counties will receive grant money to help fund suicide prevention programs.
Wayne and Yates counties, among others, were chosen to receive funds from a four-year grant through the state’s Office of Mental Health. The Rural Suicide Prevention Initiative to Strengthen Community-led Prevention and Resiliency Efforts will disperse $1.6 million over a four-year period.
The Oct. 8 announcement follows on the heels of a two-day conference on rural suicide prevention hosted in Ithaca last week. It was presented by the Suicide Prevention Center of New York.
“Each of the 1,700 New Yorkers who die by suicide annually represents an incalculable loss,” said Dr. Ann Sullivan, the state’s Mental Health commissioner. “They were our colleagues, our friends, and our family members — our loved ones. At OMH, we have an unwavering commitment to reducing the tragedy of suicide by reducing isolation and removing barriers to care, especially in our high-risk rural communities.”
Lisa Principio, director of Community Services for Yates County, said that the funding supports county-level activities help bolster outreach efforts concerning suicide prevention and mental health.
“As an identified committed partner, Yates County will serve as a subcontractor and collaborative partner under the grant and receive $50,000 per year over the course of the grant cycle to support implementation of the ROOTS-NY initiative,” Principio said. “Partner counties will work collaboratively with state and community partners to identify local needs, develop and implement strategies responsive to those needs, and strengthen sustainable community systems that promote mental health and prevent suicide.”
“Yates County is excited to partner with OMH SPCNY to advance upstream approaches to suicide prevention and mental health promotion in our rural county,” Principio continued. “The initiative will bring together community organizations, service providers, local leaders, and individuals with lived experience to identify local needs and develop sustainable strategies that promote mental wellness and help prevent suicide.”
Sharon MacDougall, director of Community Services for Wayne County, also expressed gratitude.
“NYS Office of Mental Health and their Suicide Prevention Center of New York was awarded the Federal SAMHSA Grant: Adult Suicide Prevention. Then they reached out to key rural counties, including Wayne, which matched this funding intended to support rural county-level activities that strengthen community-based suicide prevention,” MacDougall said. “Wayne County Mental Health Department has lead the Wayne Suicide Prevention Coalition and was honored that NYS OMH & SPCNY reached out to partner for this award implementation. We have upcoming planning meetings with them for the County implementation of this grant.”
“Anything we can do to help someone in crisis we want to ensure we are doing,” added Wayne County Administrator Dr. Mark Humbert. “Life is precious. The loss of life is tragic, especially to suicide.”
The OMH reported that between 2022-24, counties participating in ROOTS-NY had a combined suicide rate of 12.23 per 100,000 population — significantly higher than the statewide rate of 8.77.
“About half of suicide deaths in these counties were by firearm,” the OMH wrote, “compared to 29%, highlighting the opportunity available to promote lethal means safety as part of the initiative.”