Strike Out the Stigma
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among North Dakotans aged 15 to 44, and yet nearly the entire state is designated as a mental health shortage area.
Teaming up to improve access to mental health services
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota is partnering with The Village Family Service Center to raise awareness about mental health resources this summer. For every strikeout thrown at July home games by the Bismarck Larks, Minot Hot Tots and Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, BCBSND's Caring Foundation will donate $50 to The Village Family Service Center. All donations will be given directly to The Village.
Mental health services available in North Dakota
If you or someone you know needs mental health support, there are many ways to reach out for help.
Dial 988
If you are thinking about suicide
or worried about another
Dial 911
In other cases of emergency
Dial 211
For free, confidential resources,
listening and support.
Or text your zip code to 898‑211.
The Village
Non-emergency. Help of many kinds
can be found through The Village by calling 1‑800‑627‑8220
Join the summer of strikeouts by donating
The BCBSND Caring Foundation will be accepting donations through July where 100% of the proceeds will go directly to The Village Family Service Center.
Your donations help support the following:
- $60 =Therapeutic toy so a child can process their trauma
- $65 = A toy kit for in-home therapists
- $150 = 1 hour of child behavioral health therapy
- $300 = 1 session of intensive outpatient work
Final Strikeout Scoreboard
$14,526.25
Grand Total Donations
287
Grand Total Strikeouts
$4,150
Bismarck Larks
$4,400
Fargo-Moorhead
RedHawks
$5,800
Minot Hot Tots
$176.25
Community Donations
State of the stigma
Mental and behavioral health are vital elements of overall well-being. Unfortunately, many people feel shame or reluctance with talking openly about it.
Data shows mental health issues are a major concern in North Dakota. The recent Social Determinants of Health report, by the BCBSND Caring Foundation and the NDSU Center for Social Research, offers key details:
As of August 2022, over 355,000 North Dakotans lived in an area with a shortage of mental health providers and support.
Counties with the largest percentage of adults reporting poor mental health are in largely rural central parts of the state and reservation areas.
The percentage of ND adults reporting two weeks or more of poor mental health each month is increasing, while the percentage of high schoolers feeling sad and hopeless doubled over the past decade.
About The Village Family Service Center
Founded in North Dakota in 1891, The Village provides well-being services to over 80,000 people a year from locations across North Dakota and Minnesota.
- Counseling for depression, anxiety and other mental health concerns
- Addiction treatment
- In-home family therapy
- Debt management
- Mentoring
- Adoption
- Pregnancy options counseling
