Suicide Prevention

TEB Announces Transitional Living Unit For Juveniles

As part of their desire to reduce suicides in the area, Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board members have announced the establishment of a transitional living unit in Poplar to assist juveniles.

The facility features eight beds for males, eight beds for females and four flex beds. No timeline has yet been set for how long the juveniles can stay at the transitional living unit.

At the end of March, TEB unanimously passed a resolution declaring a state of emergency in regards to juvenile suicide threats and teen violence. Board members received the information that during an 11day span, seven adolescents on the reservation were clinically identified as high risk for suicide.

“We want to get ahead of it,” TEB member Jestin Dupree said of the amount of suicide related reports. “If they are seeking help, they should be able to get it.”

TEB member Roxanne Gourneau added that schools, emergency rooms and first responders will again be provided with “tool kits” when dealing with such emergencies.

One of the goals is to avoid suicide clusters which occurred in the area in 2008-2009.

A meeting was recently held that featured representatives from the Northeast Montana Health Services, Fort Peck Tribal Health Service Unit, the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention program, Poplar School District, Roosevelt County Health Department, the Fort Peck and Roosevelt County Crisis Coalition and the Fort Peck Indian Health Service chief executive officer to join forces to combat the situation.

“All these people gathered together and worked together for a common goal — protecting these kids,” Dupree said.

TEB is counting on these agencies to provide guidance and supervision at the transitional living unit. There are currently 11 therapists available in various agencies.

“It’s a place to ask for help,” Dupree said of the transitional living unit. “Our job is to find help and provide a location for individuals who need help.”

When people question what TEB does, Gourneau explains providing such a facility is something the tribes can offer.

She feels the unit is a good first step. She said there are many reasons for suicidal thoughts including drugs, poverty and peer pressure.

“There’s a lot of external forces,” Gourneau said. “Don’t allow temptation to distract you.”

Dupree added, “At some point, there needs to be the message that it’s OK to ask for help.”

Gourneau stressed that people should ask what’s the matter when others are looking depressed or possibly suicidal.

“There’s too much sour out there. We want to prevent these situations,” she said.