Twin Cities PBS (TPT) has awarded a total of $165,000 in grants to 10 PBS stations, including WNMU-TV PBS, to create suicide prevention initiatives in their communities in collaboration with the national PBS broadcast of Facing Suicide. The grants, funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), are part of a national Facing Suicide initiative that will harness the power of public media to destigmatize the topic of suicide and equip friends and family to take appropriate action when someone close to them may be at risk. Major funding for this project comes from CPB and PBS. 

The initiative includes the primetime PBS documentary Facing Suicide, airing this September, with aligned resources that public television stations nationwide will employ to engage and support their communities around this critical public health topic. At the local level, grant recipients will share suicide prevention practices and will amplify the documentary’s messaging around awareness, help, and hope. Informing various aspects of the project are leading suicide prevention organizations including the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the Jed Foundation (JED), and Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE).

"Sadly, suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 130 Americans dying every day from suicide," said Patricia Harrison, CPB president and CEO. "We know one of the best ways to prevent suicide is to promote awareness about this issue in our local communities and equip friends and family to take appropriate action. These grants from CPB will help local public media stations collaborate with partners on essential suicide prevention initiatives in their communities."

WNMU-TV will be airing Facing Suicideon Tuesday, September 13 at 9/8c, as well as hosting an expert panel discussion featuring area mental health professionals. The discussion will be available to stream live for those who cannot attend in person. In addition, we are producing special episodes of Media Meet and What's U.P. focusing on area mental health professionals, stories and resources. Those programs are available to stream on the Facing Suicide Resources page of our website, as well as WNMU Passport and the PBS App.