Phil Drake

pdrake@greatfallstribune.com

HELENA – Members of the Indian community on Friday urged lawmakers to support a plan to combat Native American suicides and also said that a Medicaid expansion plan passed in 2015 has helped bring them much-needed health services.

The House Health and Human Services subcommittee held a work session regarding the 98-page Montana Native Youth Suicide Reduction Strategic Plan as it reviews the state’s appropriations act. The plan, released this month, includes statistics on suicides, an action plan, a survey and resources.

“When I look at the statistics I don’t see the numbers,” said Erin Irvine, who served as one of 30 people on the coalition that worked on the report and is a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation. “I see the cousin who slit his throat. They aren’t numbers, they are faces.

“I feel so hopeful with this plan,” she said and then asked lawmakers to support it.

Montana has been at or near the top of the nation for the rate of suicides for nearly 40 years. For the past 10 years, the Treasure State has had a suicide rate of 22.33 per 100,000 compared to 12.22 per 100,000 for the rest of the country, according to a DPHHS report.

The highest rate was among American Indians (35.5 per 100,000) followed by whites (28.1 per 100,000).

According to the coalition’s report, the rate of suicide of Native American youth 15-24 is 3 1/2 times higher than non-Native youth.

In 2015, the 64thstate Legislature, at the request of Gov. Steve Bullock, appropriated $250,000 to have the Department of Public Health and Human Services oversee the project.

Jon Ebelt, public information officer said there is $123,000 from those funds left to spend. He said in the governor’s budget there is a proposal to invest $1 million in new funds to help address the youth suicide epidemic in Montana. He said this $1 million proposal is separate from the DPHHS budget.

The plan has four strategic pillars: launch a statewide Zero Suicide Initiative, support local community healing, empower Native youth and reinforce frontline offenders.

Loren Bird Rattler of the Blackfeet Tribe said Friday this is an issue that crosses lines in Montana.

“This is a plan you can measure,” he said.

Jace Killsback, president of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, said Kauffman and Associates Inc., which worked on the plan with the coalition, had provided a guide.

“Funding gets us one step closer to handling or own health disparities,” he said. “We look to all parties to help us take care of the ‘first’ Montanans.”

Much of the discussion turned to Medicaid expansion which was approved by the state Legislature in 2015 as part of the Affordable Care Act.

Lynn Cliff Jr. of the Fort Belknap Tribe told the panel that Medicaid cuts would hurt the community.

“I encourage you to look at the people out there,” he said.

Daryl Wright II of the Chippewa Cree Tribe told the panel that the Legislature gave “the gift of hope” last year when they passed Medicaid expansion.

“Substance abuse is expensive to treat but more expensive not to treat,” he said.

He asked members to the support the strategic plan.

“We are losing too many of our youth to suicide,” he said.

Rep. Nancy Ballance, R-Hamilton, a member of the House panel, said she wants to see how the report fits in with the other pieces of suicide prevention legislation that are out there.

“There’s a lot of time to figure it out,” she said.

The plan comes as the state is considering other suicide prevention bills. House Bills 117 and 118 would each be allocated $500,000.

HB 117 will provide grants to local agencies to provide funding for grants for local efforts to prevent veteran suicides in Montana. HB 118 will be used for statewide, multimedia suicide prevention campaign for all ages, ethnic groups and occupations.