Suicide in rural North Dakota is a growing issue that warrants increased services and support.

North Dakota (ND) is a vastly rural state with a steadily increasing suicide rate. Among youth ages 10 to 24, the suicide rate increased 46.2 percent between 2004 and 2021, from 11.9 to 17.5 per 100,000 population. In addition, there was a 33 percent increase in suicide ideation and attempts among this age group between 2018 and 2021 alone.

Unfortunately, as a rural and highly frontier state, mental health services are limited in ND, often requiring a two- or three-hour drive to access them. Rural and tribal communities are disproportionately impacted by suicide, and culturally appropriate services for these groups are limited.

UND and NORC received a SAMHSA grant to address youth suicide risk.

The University of North Dakota (UND) and NORC were awarded a five-year Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to implement ND THRIVES.

ND THRIVES provides suicide prevention services, resources, and supports to youth ages 10-24 in a 14-county region in North Central and parts of Northeastern ND. ND THRIVES works with schools, hospitals, clinics, and community-based organizations to implement culturally responsive suicide care practices through training, technical assistance, and evaluation support; develop postvention supports as an upstream means of suicide prevention; and implement lethal means reduction campaigns developed in partnership with the gun-owning community.