Do you ever notice someone who looks like they may be having a difficult moment, but don’t know how to start the conversation?
Have you known someone who had a recent loss, but weren’t sure how to support them?
The Ko’l Ho Koom’ Mo Project was created to help bring supports and resources to our UIHS clinics and community that address moments of mental health crisis and implement important suicide prevention approaches to our client care.
Translating to “working together” in English, this team was formed in the UIHS Health Promotion & Education (HPE) department and has been moving toward the common goals of client and community care since its inception over a decade ago. This youth suicide prevention and intervention project has brought trainings and education to UIHS regarding safer approaches to crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
Whether it is delivering mental health and wellness care kits for clients and community members; conducting team trainings for suicide prevention, intervention or postvention services; or walking through Weitchpec or the Arcata Plaza for suicide awareness campaigns, this team has continually supported suicide education and prevention in our local community.
At this time, we are overjoyed and honored to announce that SAMHSA has awarded UIHS another five-year Garrett Lee Smith Grant to continue this important work through 2031!
Through this funding, we will be able to strengthen infrastructure that supports UIHS staff, clients and communities to open up healthy conversations, assess mental health needs and connect clients to appropriate supports.
As the HPE team expands to include this grant team, you can expect to receive more tailored trainings on safe and aware approaches to mental health crisis support and suicide prevention.
We will also strengthen assessment and care pathways throughout UIHS to help connect clients to referrals and care.
Youth voices will play an important role in shaping suicide prevention efforts and helping us reach young people in meaningful ways.
Working together with our communities, we will continue developing approaches to suicide prevention and mental health support that are grounded in culture and tradition.
Through this grant project, UIHS will continue working together to support the evolving needs of clients, staff, tribes and our local communities in the Ko’l Ho Koom’ Mo way.
