Purpose

• Authorizes the commissioner of health to award grants to fund peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs and programs that train high school students to act as peer mentors. It also expands education, outreach, and referral efforts to reduce suicide risk across schools and communities.

Main Provisions

• Establishes a grant program to fund community-based programs that:

  • educate populations at risk for suicide and educate “gatekeepers” (family members, spiritual leaders, coaches, employers, coworkers) on how to prevent suicide and encourage help-seeking behaviors;
  • provide information on symptoms of depression and other psychiatric illnesses, warning signs of suicide, skills for preventing suicides, and effective referrals to intervention and community resources;
  • deliver evidence-based suicide prevention and intervention education to school staff, parents, and students in grades K–12, and to students at Minnesota colleges and universities;
  • may include peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs for students in grades 9–12 and programs to train those students to serve as peer mentors in such programs (see below for details in subdivision 2a);
  • provide such education and training to public school nurses, teachers, administrators, coaches, school social workers, peace officers, firefighters, EMTs/paramedics, primary care providers, and other relevant professionals;
  • offer postvention (after a suicide) training for mental health professionals and practitioners to help communities respond and prevent suicide clusters.

• Subdivision 2a creates a dedicated peer-to-peer program and training:

  • The commissioner may award grants to school districts, charter schools, contract alternative schools, and nonprofit organizations to fund peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs for students in grades 9–12 and to train those students to serve as peer mentors.
  • Programs must be research-based and supervised by qualified adults. Trained students in grades 9–12 will engage with peers in supportive conversations, identify warning signs of mental health crises, and refer peers to trusted adults when appropriate.
  • Training must be research-based and align with commissioner standards on recognizing suicide risk, active listening, and helping peers connect with trusted adults.
  • Recipients may collaborate with other districts, charter schools, contract alternative schools, nonprofit organizations, and community partners to develop and implement the program.

How It Will Work

• The grants are funded to the extent appropriated by the legislature.
• The commissioner of health administers the program and sets training standards, collaborates with eligible entities, and monitors implementation.
• Eligible grant recipients include school districts, charter schools, contract alternative schools, and nonprofit organizations involved in education and suicide prevention.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a new subdivision (2) to Minnesota Statutes 145.56 to establish a comprehensive grant program for community-based suicide prevention, education, and referral services.
• Adds a new subdivision (2a) to authorize and define peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs and associated training for students in grades 9–12, including eligibility, program requirements, and collaboration provisions.

Impact and Intent

• Aims to broaden suicide prevention education beyond schools to communities, empower students as peer mentors, improve recognition of warning signs, and streamline referrals to help.
• Seeks to create standardized, evidence-based peer interventions and ensure trained supervision and support for student mentors.

Relevant changes anticipated include expanded identification and support for students at risk, stronger involvement of gatekeepers, and improved postvention resources for professionals after suicides.

Relevant Terms suicide prevention, peer-to-peer, peer mentors, gatekeepers, help-seeking behaviors, symptoms of depression, psychiatric illnesses, warning signs of suicide, intervention, referrals, evidence-based, postvention, commissioner of health, grants, school districts, charter schools, contract alternative schools, nonprofit organizations, grades 9–12, high schools, collaboration, training standards, supervision, research-based programs.