WASHINGTON – Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., recently announced that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has released $476,000 to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe for the Wiconi Wakan Health and Healing Center. The funds will be used to provide suicide prevention services and counseling for children and youth aged 10 to 24.

“Suicide is a tragedy that devastates families and communities,” Thune said. “The high rate of youth suicide in the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and other tribal communities in South Dakota is disheartening, but I am grateful for programs like the Wiconi Wakan Center that can help save lives and families.”

The Wiconi Wakan center will provide counseling, screening, and monitoring services. The funding was requested by Thune in the Fiscal Year 2009 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.