Author: jacquelyn United Way

Building Connections. Fostering Hope. Saving Lives.

Every September, communities across the country observe Suicide Prevention Month. For some, it is a time to honor and remember someone they have lost. For others, it is a reminder of a difficult season they survived, or an opportunity to find hope in one they’re currently facing. And for many, it is a reminder that a simple conversation, a caring connection, or a moment of compassion can help change the course of someone’s life.

Although suicide affects every state and every community, Montana continues to experience one of the highest suicide rates in the nation. Behind every statistic is a family member, a friend, a coworker, a classmate, or a neighbor.

While Suicide Prevention Month shines a light on the challenges we face, it is equally a reminder that suicide is preventable and that every one of us has a role to play in creating a more connected, compassionate community.

So, what do we hope people will do differently this September and continue doing in the months ahead?

Notice one another. Check in with someone and simply ask how they are doing. If you are concerned about someone, don’t be afraid to ask directly about suicide. A conversation will not put the idea into someone’s head. Instead, it can open the door to honesty, connection, and help.

Listen. We don’t need to have the perfect words or know how to fix someone’s problems. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is listen without judgment, stay present, and let someone know they do not have to face a difficult moment alone.

Know where to turn. Become familiar with the warning signs of suicide and the local resources available to people who may be struggling. Learn about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline so you can share this resource with those in your circle. You don’t need to be in crisis to contact 988, it is free, confidential, and available 24/7.

Keep the conversation going. Suicide prevention is not just a September activity. The connections we build and the conversations we begin this month can continue throughout the year.

Project Tomorrow Montana works year-round with organizations and partners across Missoula County to strengthen suicide prevention and help build a community better prepared to recognize and respond to suicide risk. During Suicide Prevention Month, several opportunities will bring that work directly into the community.

– August 31: Project Tomorrow Montana will address the Missoula City Council as September 6–12 is proclaimed Suicide Prevention Week.

–September 3: Project Tomorrow Montana will address the County Commissioners’ Public Meeting as September 6–12 is proclaimed Suicide Prevention Week.

–September 8: An event for members of the service industry, Suicide Prevention and Nervous System Regulation, will provide an opportunity to learn, connect, and strengthen skills for supporting one another and the people you serve. 11 AM-1 PM at the Missoula Public Library Cooper Room.

–September 22: Free community QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training. Open to anyone 16 and older wanting to learn more about suicide prevention. 3:30-5:00 PM at Missoula Public Health, 301 W Alder, Room 210.

–September 27: Community members will come together for the Out of the Darkness Walk, an opportunity to remember those we have lost, support those affected by suicide, and continue building hope and connection.  www.afsp.org/fivevalleys

Most importantly, Suicide Prevention Month is a reminder that thoughts of suicide don’t have to be faced alone. What feels hopeless today may feel different tomorrow. Your willingness to notice, ask, listen, and help connect someone to support can make a difference, and can help someone reach their tomorrow.

Suicide Prevention Month is more than a date on the calendar. It is an invitation to notice one another, to have conversations that matter, and to remind people they are not alone. Every act of kindness, every conversation, and every connection strengthen the community we all share.

If you are concerned about yourself or someone you know, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 988 is free, confidential, and available 24/7.

In Montana, we know the importance of looking out for one another. Whether it’s checking on a neighbor after a storm, helping a friend move cattle, or bringing a meal to someone going through a hard time, community care is part of who we are.

One way we can care for one another is by creating safer homes.

When people hear the phrase “suicide prevention” or “overdose prevention,” they often think about counseling, treatment, or crisis services. Those resources are incredibly important. But there is another prevention strategy that is simple, practical, and effective: reducing access to potentially dangerous items during times of crisis.

During periods of intense stress, emotional pain, substance use, or mental health challenges, people may act quickly or make decisions they would not otherwise make. Creating time and distance between a person and a potentially lethal item can help prevent tragedy and allow time for support, recovery, and healing.

Just like wearing a seatbelt or installing a smoke detector, household safety is one way we can reduce risk and protect the people we care about.

What Does Household Safety Look Like?

Household safety isn’t about fear or taking away independence. It’s about making thoughtful choices that can help keep everyone safer, especially during difficult times.

Some examples include:

-Storing firearms unloaded and locked.

-Storing ammunition separately from firearms.

-Locking medications out of sight and out of reach.

-Properly disposing of unused or expired medications.

-Keeping naloxone (Narcan®) available and knowing how to use it.

-Checking in regularly with friends and family members who may be struggling.

These small actions can create valuable time for someone to connect with help and support.

Firearm safety: creating time and distance

Many Montana households own firearms. Safe storage is an important part of responsible ownership.

Consider storing firearms:

1) Unloaded

2) Locked with a gun lock or in a gun safe

3) Separate from ammunition

During a mental health crisis, some families choose to temporarily remove firearms from the home or store them with a trusted person in a way that prevents access. Creating time and distance between a person in crisis and a lethal means can save a life. Gun locks are available for free at the Missoula Public Health Immunization Clinic or by request via projecttomorrowmt.org/give-us-a-minute-missoula/.

Medication Safety Matters

Many households contain medications that can be harmful if taken incorrectly, accidentally, or in large amounts.

Safe medication practices include:

-Taking medications only as prescribed.

-Keeping medications locked or secured when possible.

-Asking a pharmacist about blister packaging.

-Safely disposing of unused medications through local disposal programs.

-Having conversations with family members about medication safety.

These practices can help prevent accidental poisonings, misuse, and overdose. Missoula Public Health has free medication lock boxes that can help with safe storage and medication disposal bags that can also be used at home. In addition, in Missoula County, medication disposal boxes are available in several locations (https://live.mph.missoula.co/people/mental-behavioral-health/medication-safety/).

Naloxone Saves Lives

Naloxone (often known by the brand name Narcan®) is a medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. It is safe, easy to use, and works on fentanyl and other opioids.

Having naloxone available is similar to keeping a fire extinguisher or first aid kit nearby. You hope you never need it, but if an emergency happens, it can save a life.

In Missoula County, free naloxone is available from several community partners, including Missoula Public Health, Open Aid Alliance, Missoula Public Library, Western Montana LGBT+ Community Center, All Nations Health Center, and United Way’s Dose of Hope vending machines at the Mountain Line Transfer Center and Missoula Food Bank.

Fentanyl awareness 

Fentanyl can be present in pills or powders without someone knowing. Even tiny amounts of fentanyl, comparable to just a few grains of sand, can be dangerous. 

Fentanyl test strips are another overdose prevention tool that can help people check substances for fentanyl and reduce overdose risk. These can be found at Missoula Public Health, Open Aid Alliance, All Nations Health Center, and United Way’s Dose of Hope vending machines.

Talking About Mental Health

Sometimes the most important safety tool is conversation.

Checking in with a friend, family member, coworker, or neighbor can make a meaningful difference. Asking someone how they’re doing, listening without judgment, and helping them connect with support are simple acts of care that strengthen our communities.

It’s also important to remember that seeking help is a sign of strength. Mental health challenges, substance use concerns, and periods of crisis can affect anyone.

What You Can Do Today

Here are a few simple actions you can take this week:

-Review how firearms are stored in your home.

-Lock up medications and safely dispose of those you no longer need.

-Pick up naloxone and learn how to use it.

-Create or update a personal safety plan.

-Reach out to someone you haven’t heard from in a while.

-Learn about local mental health and substance use resources.

-Have a conversation with your family about household safety.

Small changes can have a big impact.

If You or Someone You Know Needs Help

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Trained counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If someone is in immediate danger or experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

No one has to face a crisis alone. Help is available, and recovery is possible.

Creating safer homes isn’t about eliminating risk completely. It’s about taking practical steps that give us and the people we care about more time, more support, and more opportunities for recovery.

Because every life matters.

If a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, a lack of knowledge can be absolutely disastrous. Even with improved medications, treatments, and resources for people with mental illnesses, those illnesses remain widely misunderstood, as do the individuals affected by them. Misunderstanding leads to stigma, which is best addressed by raising awareness and by replacing myths with accurate information. Advocacy efforts over the past several decades have discouraged stigmatizing language and negative stereotypes about individuals with mental illness; although progress has been made, there is still a long way to go.  

In 1949, Mental Health America designated May as “Mental Health Awareness Month”. Since then, that designation has been adopted nationwide; groups such as Mental Health America and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) have been leaders in promoting this month as a time to advocate, to educate, and to support our family members, friends, and neighbors who struggle with mental health issues. We need more than awareness, though, if we want to help improve lives; as Edward Abbey wrote, “Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul.” Here are some actions you can take in Missoula for Mental Health Awareness Month 2026: 

– Attend the free “In Our Own Voices” reading on Saturday, May 9 at Missoula Public Library (and encourage others to attend as well) 

-Attend the free public forum “Your Community. Your Voice.” on Tuesday, May 12 at Missoula Public Library (and encourage others to attend as well)  

-Borrow and read a book on mental health (Missoula Public Library will have them on display!)

-Host a fundraising event—yard sales and garage sales are always popular—and donate the proceeds to a local mental health group  

-Register for a class in Mental Health First Aid and/or suicide prevention (Project Tomorrow | Montana Suicide Prevention) 

-Volunteer with NAMI Missoula, the Missoula County Local Advisory Council on Behavioral Health, or Project Tomorrow 

-Post (and share relevant posts) on social media  

-Write a letter to the editor about mental health (Missoulian, Montana Free Press, Missoula Current) 

-Talk to your pastor or the leaders of your faith community and ask them to highlight mental health issues in May. Remind them that speakers are available at no charge from the MLAC and from NAMI Missoula. 

-Attend the May meeting of your neighborhood council and talk about mental health issues. Contact the MLAC for handouts and informational sheets to share. 

-Talk to your children about mental health issues; find out what they know and what they don’t know. If you can’t answer their questions, contact the MLAC or NAMI Missoula; or go to the national NAMI website: www.nami.org  

Many local groups, agencies, and organizations can provide you with information about mental illness. NAMI Missoula offers an excellent list: Community Resources – NAMI Missoula

Mental illnesses by themselves are difficult to live with, but they are often complicated and exacerbated by substance use disorders. People sometimes turn to street drugs, prescription drugs, or alcohol to help them cope with stress, trauma, or mental distress. Drug overdose is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44, and substance abuse is often a factor in suicides. The week of May 10-16 is National Prevention Week; get information at National Prevention Week | SAMHSA

Combating stigma and working to improve the lives of individuals living with mental illness and/or substance use disorders should not be limited to one month of the year. Make mental health awareness (and action) part of your life all year around!  

IN CRISIS? Call or text 988 (available 24/7)

No judgment. No blame.

Your Tomorrow Matters!