September is National Suicide Awareness Month and a time to use our voices to remind folks that help is available. We have a collective responsibility in supporting mental health, combating the stigma around mental health, and preventing suicide. It is crucial for every Mainer to have access to mental health care in the state as it is a lifeline for those who may be struggling in silence and I’ve taken my responsibility seriously to address the gap in mental health services.
Here in Maine, suicide is the second leading cause of death among Maine youth ages 10-24 and self-reported suicidal thoughts among high school students have increased between 2017 and 2021. That is why the Maine Legislature has taken significant strides to improve mental health services, recognizing that mental well-being is essential in the overall health and success of our communities. In Gorham, we have strong advocates and mental health providers, like Dr. Kristin Tugman, and her non-profit organization Community Action 4 Mental Health which aims to reduce stigma and improve access to care.
Across Maine, children and young adults are among the most vulnerable populations when it comes to poor mental health. Maine has responded by investing in school-based programs to ensure students get the support they need. In recent years, Maine has moved to destigmatize mental health by passing LD 1024, which requires elementary, junior high, and high schools to include lessons on mental health and the relationship between mental and physical health in the health education curriculum.
Because firearms are used in 54% of all youth suicide deaths in Maine, and the most common method in suicides among men, according to the CDC, I supported the strengthening of our emergency protective order law, LD 2224, “An Act to Strengthen Public Safety by Improving Maine’s Firearm Laws and Mental Health System.” This emergency legislation was part of a suite of bills we acted on quickly in response to the mass shooting in Lewiston almost one year ago. This bill strengthened our state’s mental health system while also establishing crisis receiving centers throughout the state, the first of which was the Maine Resiliency Center which opened in Lewiston. These centers are a proven model of behavioral crisis intervention, allowing any person experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis to get immediate and no-cost care.
Many resources are available to those that may need mental health support. The Maine Crisis Line, 1 (888) 568-1112, is the state’s telephone crisis response hotline for individuals or families experiencing a behavioral health crisis or having thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
Maine’s Peer Support Line, (866) 771-9276, is available toll-free 24/7. It is a mental health peer-to-peer phone support line for adults, ages 18 and older, offering mutual conversations with a trained peer specialist who has life experience with mental health recovery.
Join the Out of the Darkness Community Walk at Fort Allen Park along the Eastern Promenade on Oct. 5 at 9 a.m. in Portland. The Walk is a fundraiser organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. For more information on this event, visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention site. 988 is the 24-hour Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which can be called or texted anytime. For Maine youth, NAMI Maine’s Teen Text Support Line, (207) 515-8398, is for youth between 13-23 years of age. This service is staffed by trained support specialists and is available Monday-Friday 2 p.m. – 10 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.
As always, I am a resource for you, your family, and our community. If you need assistance or have questions for me, please reach out to Stacy.Brenner@legislature.maine.gov or my Senate office at (207) 287-1515. I will do my best to help.
Stacy Brenner is serving her second term in the Maine Senate, representing Senate District 30, which includes Gorham, and most of Scarborough. She is the co-owner of Broadturn Farm in Scarborough and is also a certified nurse-midwife.