Gallatin adult suicide prevention program - the gallatin city-county health department (gcchd) will implement the gallatin adult suicide prevention (ASP) program to build the county's first dedicated,…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded $400,000 to the County of Gallatin on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) to implement the Gallatin Adult Suicide Prevention Program.

The County of Gallatin, serving as fiscal agent, will establish the county's first dedicated, countywide upstream suicide prevention infrastructure for adults in partnership with the Gallatin Behavioral Health Coalition, Mental Health Local Advisory Council, and a newly formalized Community Suicide Prevention Task Force. The program will train an estimated 525 adults annually in suicide risk awareness and gatekeeper practices, expand lethal-means safety outreach and practices, and strengthen crisis-to-follow-up referral systems for adults at elevated suicide risk. Over the four-year performance period, the program aims to expand crisis-to-follow-up referrals to reach up to 1,638 adults annually and 6,552 cumulatively, building on Help Center's 988 follow-up model.

The program serves Gallatin County, Montana (approximately 127,000 residents as of 2026), a second-most populous and fastest-growing county in the state spanning 2,631 square miles. The service area includes approximately 102,897 adults ages 18 and older. The program will prioritize adults with unmet mental health or substance use needs, those experiencing social isolation, adults in firearm-owning households, adults recently discharged from crisis care, mid-life adults, veterans (6,495 residents), and rural and frontier residents.

Performance runs through September 29, 2030, with place of performance in Bozeman, Montana.

Gallatin adult suicide prevention program - the gallatin city-county health department (gcchd) will implement the gallatin adult suicide prevention (ASP) program to build the county's first dedicated, countywide upstream suicide prevention infrastructure for adults. This program closes a documented GAP between that strong crisis-response system and the county's current volunteer-driven, episodic prevention efforts. Led by gcchd in partnership with the gallatin behavioral health coalition (gbhc), mental health local advisory council (LAC), and a newly formalized community suicide prevention task force, the program will train community members in suicide risk awareness, expand lethal-means safety outreach and practices, and strengthen crisis-to-follow-up referral systems for adults at elevated suicide risk. Over four years, the program will train an estimated 525 adults annually through gatekeeper and community education, and aims to expand crisis-to-follow-up referrals to reach up to 1,638+ adults annually and 6,552+ cumulatively, building on help center's 988 follow-up model. The program serves gallatin county, montana (2026 population approximately 127,000), the second-most populous and among the fastest-growing counties in the state, spanning 2,631 square miles at 48.3 people per square mile. The service area includes 102,897 adults ages 18 and older (about 81% of residents). The program will focus efforts towards adults with elevated suicide risk including: those with unmet mental health or substance use needs, adults experiencing social isolation, adults in firearm-owning households, adults in crisis or recently discharged from crisis care who need follow-up support and connection to care, those in mid-life, veterans (6,495 residents, 5.1% of the county), and rural and frontier residents. The program will implement a comprehensive set of strategies, including convening a multidisciplinary community suicide prevention task force; developing and implementing a countywide upstream prevention strategic plan; delivering evidence-based gatekeeper and community trainings; expanding lethal-means safety through firearm storage partnerships and distribution of medication lock bags and drug-disposal kits; running coordinated public-messaging and safe-messaging campaigns; and strengthening referral pathways and post-crisis follow-up protocols between partners. The ASP program is centered on four overarching goals aligned with samhsa strategic priorities: (1) build and sustain a coordinated, community-led adult suicide prevention system; (2) increase community capacity to prevent suicide by strengthening protective factors, early identification, and connection to care; (3) reduce suicide risk by increasing adoption of evidence-based lethal-means safety practices; and (4) strengthen coordination, quality improvement, and sustainability of the county's suicide prevention system. Key measurable objectives include establishing a multidisciplinary community suicide prevention task force of at least 15 member organizations within 6 months; delivering at least 15 community and gatekeeper trainings annually; and annually distributing approximately 1,000 medication lock bags and 1,000 drug-disposal kits through at least three high-volume, non-clinical sites. Gcchd is uniquely positioned to lead this work, with an established crisis-response system, deep relationships across the county's behavioral health partners, and the countywide reach to sustain prevention efforts beyond what any single agency or volunteer effort could maintain alone. The ASP program's four goals respond directly to gallatin county's elevated adult suicide burden and its documented GAP in upstream prevention, building sustainable public health infrastructure that strengthens protective factors, reduces risk, improves partner coordination, and enables continuous, measurable improvement.