Wyoming Institute of Population Health
Let’s talk about organizations that are helping to make our communities better! This week our #featurefriday is focused on the Wyoming Institute of Population Health.
What is the Wyoming Institute of Population Health?
The Wyoming Institute of Population Health is a division of Cheyenne Regional. Its purpose is to help Wyoming communities and their healthcare providers develop a more proactive approach to patient care and population health management. This is done by reaching out to the residents of communities across Wyoming, beyond the traditional four walls of a hospital or a clinic to address the challenges of caring for frail or vulnerable populations, rising chronic disease rates, and delivering evidence-based preventive health services.
The Institute plays a key role, in partnership with the Laramie County Community Partnership, to integrate community resources in order to meet the healthcare needs of the community. Goals and strategies are set, and thereafter completed by focused action teams.
For this #featurefriday we are focusing on the suicide rates right here in Wyoming. Did you know that Wyoming’s suicide rate is consistently higher than the US suicide rate and has increased over the last 10 years?
We also learned from the Institute of Population Health that the highest rates of suicide deaths are in middle age individuals and those at the end of life. In Wyoming, men have higher suicide rates, and women have higher self-harm rates. So the real question …
How can we help someone we think may be considering suicide?
- Ask. Ask them if they are thinking about suicide. This communicates to them that you’re open to speaking about it in a non-judgmental and supportive way. Asking in this direct, unbiased manner, can open the door for effective dialogue about their emotional pain and can allow everyone involved to see what steps need to be taken. Other questions you can ask include, “How do you hurt?” and “How can I help?”
- Be there. Show support and show up for the person at risk.
- Keep them safe. The more steps and pieces of a plan that are in place, the higher their severity of risk and capability to enact their plan.
- Help them connect. Connect them with ongoing supports like the ones listed below.
- Follow up. Make sure to check-in with them and see how they are doing.
As a community, we can help to prevent suicide by learning to help ourselves and others. We can seek consultation from trained professionals and hospital care when necessary!
Important Resources
If you or someone you know wants to learn more check out these resources…
- Risk factors and warning signs: https://afsp.org/risk-factors-and-warning-signs
- When someone is at risk: https://afsp.org/when-someone-is-at-risk
- Help someone else: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-someone-else/
- #Bethe1To: https://www.bethe1to.com/bethe1to-steps-evidence/
- National Suicide Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
- Zero Suicide: https://zerosuicide.edc.org/
Local Resources and Hotlines
- Call 911
- Peak Wellness: 307.634.9653 or Mobile Crisis Response Team: 307.426.4700
- Healthworks: 307.635.3618
- CRMC BHS: 307.633.7382
- Suicide Lifeline: 1.800.273.8255 (TALK)
- Wyoming Crisis Text Line: 1.800.273.8233, press 1
- Grace for 2 Brothers: www.gracefor2brothers.com
As a community, we can help to prevent suicide by learning to help ourselves and others. We can seek consultation from trained professionals and hospital care when necessary. If you or someone you know is struggling, please call the National Suicide Lifeline at 1.800.273.8255 or text 741 741.
Where can you learn more about the Wyoming Institute of Population Health?