Group seeks help to prevent local suicides

Several local groups and individuals are teaming up to improve local mental health and offer support to prevent suicide.
With recent suicide deaths of Rock County residents and among loved ones of Rock County residents, a coordinated effort is underway to improve conditions for those who are struggling.
Luverne businessman Cary Radisewitz recently joined a group of school administrators and counselors, community counselors and mental health providers, Sanford physicians and staff and chemical dependency counselors.
They’ve working on a local version of the Max Marvin Foundation, started in memory of the 19-year-old Warroad hockey standout who took his life in December 2018.
Marvin is the nephew of Luverne Superintendent Craig Oftedahl, who is an integral part of the local group, which works with other suicide education and prevention programs designed to give kids basic health and wellness tools.
In Warroad, the Max Foundation supported Project 11, named for No. 11 Rick Rypien, a hockey forward for the Vancouver Canucks and the Winnipeg-based Manitoba Moose.
Rypien publicly battled depression and took his own life at age 27, shortly after signing a contract with the Jets in the summer of 2011.
At the start of the 2019-20 school year, some of the programs fostered by Project 11 were incorporated into the Warroad schools, beginning as early as kindergarten.
Programs made possible by the Max Foundation provide lessons in friendship and character development for the youngest students, and progress up to fifth- and sixth-graders, who learn how to communicate feelings and self-reflection.
Local organizers hope to start the Project 11 program in Luverne, especially since studies show suicide becoming more prevalent in America, with the most pronounced increases in rural areas.
Especially after the isolation of pandemic social distancing.
“I feel that in the midst of a very trying year for all people, mental health support is incredibly important,” said Angela Nolz, who is facilitating local group meetings.
“This project is an opportunity for us to check in and support our youth as we transition back to normalcy. Giving our students the tools to be well impacts the health of our families and our community.”
 
Legislative help
The group is encouraged by U.S. Sen. Tina Smith’s re-introduced legislation that would strengthen K-12 school-based mental health services.
Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Health and Education Committee, said schools are an ideal setting to identify students who need mental health services and quickly connect them to help.
“Providing mental health services to students at school — where they spend a significant portion of their time — helps them thrive,” said Smith (D-MN).
“It removes many barriers to access, such as trying to figure out how to leave school in the middle of the day, and promotes behavioral health equity.”
Luverne Elementary School Counselor Marie Atkinson-Smeins welcomes Smith’s legislation.
“I believe it is urgent that the Mental Health Services for Students Act pass,” she said.
“There is an immediate need for schools to hire more school counselors and professionals who provide mental health services in order to meet the needs of all the students.”
She said there’s more need in Luverne than she and the other mental health professionals can meet.
“Counselors teach lessons on social emotional learning, lead small counseling groups and provide individual counseling sessions and collaborate with school staff, parents and community agencies to meet the needs of all the students.”
 
Financial support
As a soon-to-be retired American Family Insurance district manager, Radisewitz learned that his company provides grant support for causes employees designate.
He decided to start a local, Building Bridges JC (Jesus Christ or Just Causes), through the Luverne Area Community Foundation.
He hopes the money will support a new curriculum in Luverne Public Schools to educate students on caring for their mental health and recognizing signs of someone who may be struggling.
“When you look at some of the people who we’ve lost — they’re star athletes and top students,” Radisewitz said. “Who knew they were struggling?”
To support the project financially, contact LACF at (507) 220-2424. For more about the Max Foundation and Project 11, see marvinfoundation.org.