Montana governor signs suicide prevention bill

HELENA – Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has signed a bill that allocates $1 million for suicide prevention over the next two years.

The Independent Record reported the bill includes elements of several suicide prevention bills introduced during the 2017 Legislative session. Montana’s suicide rate has been at or near the top in the nation for nearly four decades.

The bill allocates $250,000 to implement efforts to reduce Native American youth suicide and $250,000 in grant money to help schools implement suicide prevention programs.

Another $500,000 would help fund ongoing efforts to prevent suicide including those carried out by veteran organizations and Native American groups.

For efforts to qualify for grants, they must be based on peer-reviewed research or recommended by the Montana Suicide Review Team.