How Wellmark supports the suicide prevention run

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In this episode of the Health Matters podcast, Jen Mentele, president of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota and vice president of sales and retention, John Meyer, runner and CEO of Leadership South Dakota and Janet Kittams, Helpline Center CEO, discuss The 437 Project. Twelve participants ran across the state of South Dakota, approximately 437 miles, to raise money for the Helpline Center, South Dakota’s only accredited suicide crisis center.

The Helpline Center offers mental health support

In South Dakota, suicide is the leading cause of death among 10- to 19-year-olds, but there is only one accredited suicide crisis center in the entire state — the Helpline Center — which means the work they do is critical to the mental health of South Dakotans. The Helpline Center offers a variety of resources, including:

The 211 Helpline

The 211 Helpline is a 24/7 informational hotline offering answers to questions about health care, housing, education, legal matters and more.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

For urgent situations, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers support to anyone experiencing mental health-related distress, substance use issues or suicidal thoughts. The Lifeline is available 24/7 and can be accessed by phone, text message or online chat. Since the start of 2026, the Lifeline has received almost 10,000 calls.

Suicide grief support

In addition to their suicide prevention work, the Helpline Center also offers grief support to South Dakotans who have lost someone to suicide, including support groups, an in-person education series and resources, such as a free downloadable guide, Healing After a Suicide Loss.

Mental health resources from Wellmark

Wellmark is proud to support The 437 Project and Helpline Center. The work they are doing aligns with our vision to improve the health and well-being of all South Dakotans and Iowans. Make sure you know what resources are available from Wellmark so you can support your employees.

Primary care visits

Encourage your employees to schedule an appointment with their primary care provider (PCP) if they have mental health concerns. A PCP has a comprehensive overview of their medical history and can refer them to a specialist if needed.

Mental health help from Doctor On Demand^®

With Doctor On Demand, your workforce has 24/7 on-demand access to mental health care from medical professionals. Make sure to educate your employees on this benefit in case they need help with depression, anxiety, ADHD or other mental health issues.

Case management and myWellmark^®

In the case of severe mental health issues, case management can help. Wellmark’s Case Management Program assigns a clinically skilled registered nurse or licensed social worker to work one-on-one with members who have severe or complex health conditions. In myWellmark, your employees can take a mental health screening for anxiety or depression that can connect them to case management and free mental health resources.

Check in with your employees

We know you care about your employees’ mental health and well-being — make sure they know too. Check in regularly with your workforce and make sure they know where to find mental health resources from Wellmark if they’re struggling.