Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Plan Focus Groups and Regional Listening Sessions

Please join us at one of these opportunities to help shape the next state suicide prevention plan!

Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Plan Focus Groups

The Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), in collaboration with the Minnesota Suicide Prevention Taskforce, are inviting Minnesotans to join a small group conversation, often called a focus group, to help shape the next Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Plan and how we work together to support mental health and suicide prevention in Minnesota.

Focus group details

Focus groups are small, structured conversations with people from a specific community or group. We will ask about what supports for mental health and suicide prevention are working well in your community, barriers to getting mental health support, and needs to prevent suicide and promote mental health.

A trained facilitator will guide the questions to create a safe space where all perspectives all welcome.

The feedback you share will be summarized without using names or identifying details, so you remain anonymous. We will not ask about anyone’s direct experiences with suicide or mental health services. The information will be used by the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Suicide Prevention Taskforce to help shape priorities for suicide prevention strategies, funding, and training.

Focus group dates and times

NOTE: There are also additional focus groups being held that aren’t listed here, including for immigrant and refugee communities, Tribal communities, and youth and young adults. Participation in those focus groups is being managed by other means, including outreach through community organizations that work with specific populations.

Service Members, Veterans and Their Families Focus Groups

• March 18, 9-11 a.m. Registration: Supporting Service Members, Vb. 23eterans, and their Families Mental Health & Well-Being: Small Group Conversation 
• April 8, 3-5 p.m. Registration: Supporting Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Mental Health & Well-Being: Small Group Conversation

Supporting Men’s Mental Health Focus Groups

• March 31, 9–10:30 a.m., Registration: Supporting Men’s Mental Health & Well-Being: Small Group Conversation March 31
• April 17, Noon–1:30 p.m. Registration: Supporting Men’s Mental Health & Well-Being: Small Group Conversation April 17
• April 29, 3:30–5 p.m. Registration: Supporting Men’s Mental Health & Well-Being: Small Group Conversation April 29

Individuals with Lived Experience of Mental Health Struggles and Suicidal Experiences Focus Group

• April 8, 1:30-3 p.m. Registration: Insights from Lived Experiences: Small Group Conversation

American Indian and Tribal Communities Focus Group

• March 23, 2-4 p.m., Registration: Supporting American Indian and Tribal Communities Mental Health & Well-Being: Small Group Conversation

LGBTQIA2S+ Focus Groups

• March 5, 12:30-2 p.m., Registration: Supporting LGBTQIA2S+ Communities Mental Health & Well-Being: Small Group Conversation March 5
• March 18, 9-10:30 a.m., Registration: Supporting LGBTQIA2S+ Communities Mental Health & Well-Being: Small Group Conversation March 18
• April 10, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Registration: Supporting LGBTQIA2S+ Communities Mental Health & Well-Being: Small Group Conversation April 10

Black Minnesotans Focus Groups

• March 10, 9-10:30 a.m., Registration: Supporting Black Minnesotans Mental Health & Well-Being: Small Group Conversation March 10
• March 18, 1-2:30 p.m., Registration: Supporting Black Minnesotans Mental Health & Well-Being: Small Group Conversation March 18

Loss Survivors Focus Groups

• March 9, 5:30-7 p.m., Registration: Suicide Loss Survivors: Small Group Conversation March 9
• March 10, Noon-1 p.m., Registration: Suicide Loss Survivors: Small Group Conversation March 10

Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Plan Regional Listening Sessions

The Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit of MDH and the Minnesota Suicide Prevention Taskforce are also inviting community members to participate in regional listening sessions to help shape the next Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Plan.

Regional listening session details

Listening sessions are open community conversations held in different regions across the state designed to gather input from a wide range of perspectives about mental health and suicide prevention. Each listening session discussion will be guided by a facilitator and focus on community priorities, needs, strengths, and ideas.

We welcome participation from community members and leaders; people working in public health, healthcare, mental health, social services, education, faith communities, youth programs, and other sectors; and people with lived experience related to mental health challenges or suicide (personal or through loved ones).

Participants will be invited to share priorities for suicide prevention in their community and across Minnesota, barriers and challenges to getting support, and Ideas for how the Taskforce and partners can build community capacity to strengthen prevention efforts.

The feedback will be summarized without names or identifying information and used by MDH and Minnesota Suicide Prevention Taskforce to inform planning, and strategies moving forward.

Where and when are the listening sessions?

• Northwest: February 24, 2026 | 10 a.m. – Noon, Sanford Health, 116 3rd Street NW, Bemidji, MN 56601
• Northeast: February 25, 2026 | 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Duluth Public Library (Gold Room), 520 W Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802
• West Metro: March 4, 2026 | 9 -11 a.m., SAVE (Suite 1350), 7900 Xerxes Ave South Bloomington, MN 55431
• Southeast: March 5, 2026 | 9 – 11 a.m., Olmsted County Community Services (01 161 Multipurpose Room), 2117 Campus Drive SE, Rochester, MN 55904
• East Metro: March 6, 2026 | 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Pleasant Hill Library, 1490 S Frontage Rd, Hastings, MN 55033
• East Central: March 24, 2026 | 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Great River Regional Library (Bremer 104), 1300 West St. Germain Street, St. Cloud, MN 56301
• Southwest: April 7, 2026 | 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., Lyons County Government Center (Commissioners Room), 607 West Main Street, Marshall, MN 56258
• Metro: April 27, 2026 | 1 – 3 p.m., Stillwater Public Library (Margaret Rivers A&B), 224 3rd Street N, Stillwater, MN 55082

Draft agenda

• Welcome, introductions & group agreements
• Purpose, use of information
• Overview
• Small-group conversations (Rounds 1–4)
• Break
• Small-group conversations (Rounds 5–8)
• Reflection & key takeaways
• Closing & resources

Learn more and register

• Learn more about the current Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Plan.
• Register here Regional Listening Session Registration Form

Contact

Questions? Contact health.suicideprev.taskforce@state.mn.us.