The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services hosted a healthcare providers and citizens from across the state as to call attention to record-high suicide deaths.
Among the information shared, approximately 45% of people that died by suicide last year saw a primary care physician within 30 days of death. 83% who died by suicide received health care services in the year prior to death, with over 40% receiving a mental health diagnosis.
“Less than 1% of people seen at one of our Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) died by suicide this last year,” said ODMHSAS Commissioner Carrie Slatton-Hodges. “We are proving that mental health matters and that our trained providers know what to look for, how to listen and intervene when it matters most. We are connecting consumer to evidenced-based treatment services.”
ODMHSAS launched the 988 Mental Health Lifeline to help provide immediate resources to anyone who is in crisis, or is just having a bad day and need someone to talk to. Nearly 4,000 Oklahomans call for help every month and within 10 seconds a trained behavioral health professional answers their call.
54,000 kids report major depression and 1 in 10 Oklahoma students attempt suicide. ODMHSAS has launched several School System Improvements.
- 250 school have implemented frameworks and plans.
- ODMHSAS has helped train more than 35,000 teachers in suicide prevention training annually.
- Behavioral Intervention Services and Supports in Schools (BISSS).
- Advancing Wellness And Resilience Education (AWARE).
ODMHSAS is also educating Oklahomans about community led initiatives.
- Supports for Service Members, Veterans and their Families:
- Cohen’s Veteran Network.
- Eagle Ops focused on lethal means safety and “Just for Now.”
- Focused initiatives to better serve at risk communities:
- Ask For Backup – targeted toward Law Enforcement Officers.
- Warriors Rest Foundation’s peer and crisis support for first responders.
- Business Community Outreach:
- Faith-Based Community Engagement:
- Suicide prevention training facilitated through the Oklahoma Faith Network.
