Wyoming Behavioral Institute began an internal initiative in 2024 to create a trauma specific environment of care, where people want to work, and people experiencing mental health crisis want to pursue recovery. All staff, including administrators and physicians, were trained to understand trauma specific care. New employees are taught to use trauma informed methods before interacting with other staff and patients. Benchmarks that indicate care is trauma specific include lower employee turnover rates, higher patient satisfaction scores, and zero utilization of hands on intervention.

WBI’s nursing team is so impressed by the ways trauma informed care has changed the way patients and staff interact that they are taking their learning experience into the community. Nursing Supervisor Mitch Schoenwolf, Staff Development Facilitator Lance Richardson, and Pathways Program Supervisor Shannon Heaton believe that being trauma informed in human interactions in all settings may be one key to reducing the community’s high rate of suicide. In 2024, 32 people died by suicide in Natrona County, and nine of the were younger than 30.¹ Statewide, between 2010 and 2020, 40 young people ages 10 to 24 died by suicide, according to the Wyoming Department of Health.²

“It’s a pandemic,” Mitch said recently when presenting trauma informed strategies in Casper. He quoted a World Heath Organization statistic at 700,000 people die annually worldwide³ and said that equates to a suicide death somewhere every 45 seconds. “We came together around the world to help each other through the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mitch said. “For example, auto manufacturers built medical equipment, and personal protective equipment was gathered and distributed to keep healthcare workers safe. Why aren’t we treating suicide the same way? What are we doing to stop the suicide pandemic?”

Mitch, Lance and Shannon are helping patients, staff, and now the community understand that people learn to use maladaptive behaviors like threats of violence, acts of violence, verbal aggression, and self-harming as the means to getting their needs met – and specifically, comfort. Trauma informed responses to behaviors can create a shift in the dynamic between adults and youth and reduce or eliminate power struggles. When the power struggle ends, the healing begins, they report.

WBI is also a partner in Project AWARE, a Wyoming Department of Education-led initiative to increase access to mental health and substance abuse services for school-aged youth. Another Project AWARE goal is to develop student stills that will promote resilience, prosocial behaviors and prevent youth violence through outreach, engagement, and training. In Sweetwater County School Districts, trauma-informed support services are offered by WBI in collaboration with the districts to increase student awareness of mental health and wellness while decreasing stigma and stigmatized language. The partners work to increase student resilience through skill building while teaching self-awareness, self-management, relationship skills, social awareness and responsible decision making.⁴

¹ https://www.natronacounty-wy.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9629/Suicide-Report-2024
² https://health.wyo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Adolescent-Suicide_2021.pdf
³ https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240026643
⁴ https://www.wyomingnews.com/rocketminer/scsd2-provides-trauma-informed-support-services-for-students/article_a4e9e90c-5270-11ee-bbda-f333604d5f74.html

WBI is offering community education in trauma-informed interactions for any adult working with youth, including law enforcement officers, teachers, school support staff, parents, and teen programs. For more information about free, two-hour trauma informed education presentations, please call Emily Genoff, Director of Business Development, 307-472-2201, or email Emily.quarterman-genoff@uhsinc.com.

Inpatient and outpatient mental health services are offered by WBI for children, teens and adults. Located in Casper, WBI has specialized in helping people experiencing mental health crises for more than 25 years. No cost, confidential level of care assessments, and information about programs and services are available by calling 800-457-9312. More information about treatment options can also be found online at www.wbihelp.com.

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