Nate Chute Foundation

The Nate Chute Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation dedicated to reducing suicide among young people in western Montana.
While the overall suicide rate in Montana remains at or near the highest in the nation, youth suicide in Flathead County has decreased over the past decade. It is impossible to know to what extent the activities and programs of NCF played in this decrease. However, we firmly believe that our focused efforts help individuals and families recognize the warning signs of suicide and know how to get help, and that our efforts have saved lives. If we have kept only one person from attempting or completing suicide, all our efforts are worthwhile.

We are dedicated to offering evidence-based training in mental health, suicide prevention and awareness, and crisis intervention to school districts, health care professionals, clergy, and other invested community organizations.

We focus our efforts on identifying risk factors for suicidal behavior and working with individuals, families, schools, and our community to develop protective factors (skills, strengths, resources, supports or coping strategies) that help people deal more effectively with stressful events with the goal of reducing suicidal risk and behaviors.

We collaborate with other organizations in our Valley to ensure that we know who is playing what role in the complex issue of suicide. This includes law enforcement, county health offices, mental health organizations/therapists, local hospitals, veterans affairs and support groups.

There are three staff members all with specialized training in various aspects of mental health and suicide awareness training.

Our Board of Directors is active in our organization and possesses an array of skills that assists us in using best practice in various aspects of running our organization.

We have created a strong name and local reputation for our organization that results in us being invited to participate in a large community foundation fundraiser, which accounts for >>>>% of our yearly income.

We have built our staff to three individuals who collectively are trained in QPR (Question Persuade Refer), SOS (signs of suicide), Mental Health First Aid, Mental Health First Aid for Youth.

We have contracted with local, licensed mental health therapists who offer us a reduced-rate on counselling for young people who cannot access it on their own.

We have created a network with organizations and individuals who support our cause and collaborate with them to create a solid framework for addressing suicidality in our valley.

We present to local junior high and high school students, typically on a bi-annual basis, and train them on how to look for warning signs in themselves and their peers and how to act should someone present at risk for suicide or suicidality.

We present to school staff, religious groups, health care workers, first responders, local employers, and parents on how to look out not only for the young people in our community but also for our adult peers and ourselves.