The governor on Thursday signed a law to support funding efforts for around-the-clock local suicide prevention services in Wyoming, a state with one of the highest suicide rates per capita nationwide.

The Senate on Wednesday voted in favor of a bill that establishes a trust fund to back 24/7 local suicide prevention services, which mental health advocates believe are critically needed in a state with one of the highest suicide rates per capita.

A Wyoming legislature committee on Monday approved a bill that would establish a trust fund as a sustainable means of funding in-state 24/7 suicide lifeline coverage – a call to action many stakeholders in the mental health community have advocated as Wyoming reached a new record high suicide rate for 2021.