New York is launching a four-year rural suicide-prevention initiative that includes Broome County and four other counties across the state.
The Office of Mental Health’s Suicide Prevention Center of New York will lead ROOTS-NY, short for Rural Outreach, Organizing, Training, and Suicide Prevention–New York. The $1.6 million initiative also covers Genesee, Orleans, Wayne, and Yates counties.
State and federal program descriptions say ROOTS-NY will build long-term prevention capacity in both community and clinical settings. Plans include creating a regional suicide-prevention task force, developing a shared strategy, expanding local partnerships, conducting public-awareness campaigns, and training community members, health-care workers, and clinicians.
The program is focused on adults 18 and older, with targeted outreach to groups that can face higher risks or barriers to care, including older adults, veterans, farmers, firearm owners, and people affected by isolation, economic pressure, or limited access to behavioral health services. Participating counties will adapt the work to local conditions and existing community resources.
ROOTS-NY also calls for stronger care transitions, greater social connection, and voluntary lethal-means safety work. The project’s federal performance period runs through September 2030, with the goal of leaving a sustainable regional prevention network in place after the grant ends.
Project details are listed in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services award record. Anyone in emotional distress or worried about someone else can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any time.
