A grassroots group in Cortez is organizing community leaders and citizens to address bullying and suicide prevention.
Organizer Marinda Harrison says the group convened in November as a response to teen suicides in the community, but does not yet have a formal name. About 50 behavioral health professionals, social workers, school administrators, tribal members, and other community members attended a meeting organized by the group on Tuesday night. They discussed how to share ideas and resources to increase awareness and communication about bullying, suicide, and the factors that surround those issues. The group hopes to organize suicide-prevention trainings in the community and possibly work with schools to implement anti-bullying programs in the future. Their next meeting is planned for February.