From Staff Reports by The Cook County News Herald - August 2, 2018

A regional suicide prevention coordination for a Crisis Text Line is now getting under way.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has selected three contractors who will: . Support awareness of suicide prevention and how to access the statewide text message suicide response service. . Maintain local resources in the 211 national databases for Crisis Text Line to access to help connect individuals with trained crisis counselors and access local resources. . Increase knowledge and awareness of the warning signs for suicide and of how to connect individuals in crisis with assistance and care. . Partner with local mental health facilities, medical providers, school counselors, juvenile justice, probation officers, and county providers to provide training, information, and materials. . Promote timely access to high-quality culturally appropriate services for persons at heightened risk for suicide. . Provide postvention training to communities.

The regional coordinator for Northeastern Minnesota is Carlton County, who will serve 30 northern counties including Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, Becker, Beltrami, Carlton, Lake, St. Louis, Cook, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Todd, Wadena, Lake of the Woods, Hubbard, Clearwater, Pine, Polk, Norman, Mahnomen, Kittson, Roseau, Marshall, Pennington, Red Lake.

For more information contact Meghann Levitt [email protected]

Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Tribal Nation is the coordinator for seven tribal Nations including Red Lake, White Earth, Leech Lake, Boise Forte, Grand Portage, Fond du Lac, Mille Lacs.

To learn more contact Joni Cabrera [email protected]