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Natrona County Suicide Prevention Task Force Volunteer Lance Nyberger displays a bookmark of children with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline emergency number 988 and talks about mental health and suicidal awareness.

Most people know each other in Santa Clara Pueblo in northern New Mexico. So, if a tribe member needs help with mental health services or substance abuse, calling the tribe’s office may lead them to an aunt, cousin, or other relative.

Confidentiality is important, Pueblo Governor Michael Chavarria said shortly after federal officials visited to discuss new grants available to tribes to spread the word about a national mental health crisis hotline. told to

“It’s hesitant, but they have to be strong enough to want that help,” Chavarria said on Friday. is here.”

988 Lifeline went live in June. Like 911, it’s designed to be an easy number to remember. Instead of dispatchers dispatching police, firefighters, or paramedics, 988 connects callers with a trained mental health counselor. You can also text her a number or chat online with a counselor.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday announced $35 million in grants to Native Americans and Alaska Indigenous tribes to ensure callers receive culturally sensitive support and follow-up care when needed. The deadline for applications is October 25th.

Reach is limited. This is a fact often criticized by tribes who say they are forced to compete with each other for limited resources. Any of the 574 federally recognized tribes are eligible to apply with a tribal organization. Up to 100 grants will be awarded.

The funding is part of the $150 million set aside for the 988 hotline in the bill President Joe Biden signed into law in June to address gun violence and mental health. Overall, the federal government provided his $432 million to expand the crisis counselor network and phone infrastructure, and to help educate the public about the 988 hotline. Some of it was available as grants to states and territories.

Chavarria said the tribal police chief will soon meet with other tribal departments to discuss the grant application and what it covers.

“For now, we don’t know,” he said. “That’s the planning stage that we’re working on right now. At least it’s possible. It’s a matter of how we leverage that with other resources and fill in the gaps.”

Chavarria feels the need because of the social isolation brought on by COVID-19 and Pueblo’s location in New Mexico, some of the states with the highest alcohol and drug overdose death rates . Federal data shows that Native Americans and Alaska Natives are also disproportionately affected by violent crime and suicide.

“It takes a balanced and collaborative effort to curb this,” said Chavarria. “Sometimes it’s just expanding that family or extended family to the community, local, regional, national[level]. It’s a challenge for all of us.”

Miriam Delphine Littmon, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use at the Department of Health and Human Services, was among federal officials who visited Santa Clara and Jemez Pueblo, Albuquerque, New Mexico this week.

Some of the challenges she hears from tribal leaders about accessing funds include lack of resources to apply for grants, unreliable internet and cell phone service, mental health professionals and cultural said to include a widespread lack of adequate care.

“What we valued was the frank discussion,” said Delphin-Rittmon. “We encourage them and thank them for pushing us. It helps. I think having an understanding really helps.”

988 is allocated through Congress, Delphin-Rittmon said, so there is no guarantee that funding will be available to raise awareness of 988 in the future. There are also opportunities to fund through other federal grant programs for training in

Anecdotal evidence from the tribe, she said, isn’t the only measure of whether fundraising works as intended.

The 988 system builds on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a network of crisis centers whose counselors respond to millions of calls each year. The 1-800-273-8255 number still works with 988 installed.

The first full month of data from 988 Lifeline in August showed an increase of 152,000 calls, chats and texts compared to August 2021, according to Health and Human Services. The average time to respond to these contacts has decreased from 2.5 minutes to 42 seconds.