Tribal 988 Mental Health LifeLine Summit Returns to Lawton

After a successful first year, the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, in collaboration with the Tribal 988 Workgroup and the Oscar Jacobson Foundation (Jacobson House Native Art Center), are hosting the 2nd Annual Tribal 988 Mental Health LifeLine Summit.

The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Apache Casino Hotel Event Center, 2315 E. Gore.

The two-day event will gather Tribal leaders, public health professionals, mental health professionals, community advocates, and allies committed to advancing mental health initiatives and suicide prevention across Indian Country and Oklahoma, according to Beto Rivas, event spokesperson. Joseph Pratt and Martin Flores are serving as emcees.

“This year’s Summit focuses on building bridges between Tribal Nations and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to enhance mental health care access and crisis intervention services for Native and non-Native communities alike,” he said. “As the need for crisis care expands, many Tribal 988 services have broadened their support to include all Oklahomans in crisis, underscoring the inclusive and life-saving role of the 988 network.”

The Summit aims to not only improve mental health outcomes within Native communities but also foster cross-sector partnerships and community-driven solutions, according to Rivas.

“This unique collaboration reflects a shared commitment to saving lives and improving mental wellness across generations,” he said. “The summit is also offering the ability to receive CEU’s and are being made available by C.A.R.E. Consulting Group within LPN, LMFT, PRSS, and others.”

Rivas said the Tribal 988 Workgroup is comprised of eight tribal nations, two tribal organizations and a number of community partners: Cherokee Nation, Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Comanche Nation, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, Osage Nation, Sac and Fox Nation, Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, Southern Plains Tribal Health Board, American Indian Health Services of Chicago, C.A.R.E. Consulting

HeartLine INC, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Solari INC., and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.

Rivas invites the public to come out “for an opportunity to make a difference in mental health resilience.”

“Together, we can create a healthier future for all,” he said.

To register for the conference and to view the two day agenda of speakers and sessions, visit www.jacobsonhouse.art/tribal988.