EBS STAFF
Montana has one of the nation’s highest rates of suicide and self-harm among adolescents, and local data shows Bozeman’s rate is higher than the Montana average, according to recent research by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.
An Oct. 23 press release from the Bozeman Schools Foundation announced the creation of a fund to combat this challenge in Bozeman schools. The Walker J. Nelson Youth Resilience Fund is named after a 2022 Bozeman High School graduate who died of suicide in 2022. The fund seeks to be proactive, and was created using memorial funds donated at the time of Nelson’s passing.
“Our family is committed to addressing the current crisis head-on by equipping our young people with the resilience they need to overcome life’s challenges,” Walker’s father, Erik, stated in the release. “We are grateful to all who will join us in this effort. Together, we can provide hope and create a safer, stronger community for our youth.”
DPHHS research shows that Montana residents aged 11 to 17 have a suicide rate of 17.5 per 100,000, more than triple the national rate for the same age group, per 2022 data. According to the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 15% of Montana high school students had attempted suicide in the 12 months before being surveyed.
Bozeman School District Superintendent Casey Bertram said the goals of the new foundation align with BSD’s prioritization of student well-being.
“Our most recent Long Range Strategic Plan calls for establishing measurable goals concerning student well-being,” Bertram stated. “To this end, we have convened faculty, staff, students, and community mental health experts to assess Bozeman-specific data and identify the conditions that positively or negatively contribute to our youth’s well-being and mental health.”
In December, BSD’s working group on student well-being plans to recommend policy changes and potential school programming.
“Supporting student wellbeing and addressing Bozeman’s youth mental health crisis requires the attention of the entire community,” stated Jenn Lammers, executive director of Bozeman Schools Foundation, who serves in the district’s working group. Lammers said the Nelson family “provided a catalyst” to support efforts by the Bozeman School District.
For the past 30 years, all age groups of Montanans have ranked in the top five for suicide rates in the nation. As of 2022, the National Vital Statistics Report showed Montana now has the highest rate of suicide in the nation, with 28.9 suicides per 100,000 residents. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S., but according to Suicide Prevention Now, 91% of Americans think it can be prevented. Efforts like the Walker J. Nelson Youth Resilience Fund will aim to prove it.
