Kansas groups work together to curtail rise in state’s suicide rate
Leading advocate cites K-State Extension as valued partner
At a glance: A leading advocate for mental health and suicide prevention in Kansas credits the state’s extension service for building connections within communities to curb a disturbing trend in the state.
Related: Kansas Lemon Aid | Six Feet Over | Sound Living
Listen to an interview by Jeff Wichman with Josh Boydston on the weekly radio program, Sound Living, produced by K-State Extension.
Sept. 21, 2026
By Pat Melgares, K-State Extension news service
MANHATTAN, Kan. – A leading advocate for mental health and suicide prevention in Kansas credits the state’s extension service for building connections within communities to curb a disturbing trend in the state.
“From 2011 to 2024, we’ve seen a 30% increase in our state in terms of the number of suicide losses,” said Josh Boydston, a client advocate for Kansas Lemon Aid, a program that provides emotional support and assistance with financial costs associated with death and dying.
“And, you know, suicide prevention efforts are vital, but postvention is part of that because sometimes we’re stabilizing families so that we don’t end up with another suicide loss in the (same) family.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports nearly 18 deaths by suicide per 100,000 people in Kansas, or more than 500 deaths per year. In addition, state prevention plans estimate that 135 people are deeply affected by a single suicide loss.
“We’re seeing more and more evidence of the impacts of suicide in communities,” Boydston said. “We know at this point that people are impacted by the suicide where (that person) lives, works and plays. If you think of the daily interactions that folks have, it reaches much further than your immediate and extended family.”
Kansas Lemon Aid is a statewide program operated by the nonprofit, Six Feet Over. Supported by a grant from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services, the program offers support for survivors, including long-term support for anniversaries or unexpected legal or financial hurdles.
“Postvention as a concept is something that is still relatively new to many people,” Boydston said. “It really is about mitigating the risks associated after a suicide loss. We tend to think about the standard funeral (arrangements) and cards and casseroles, but then that slows down. There are so many more nuanced pieces to what postvention includes.”
He notes that Kansas Lemon Aid is working to establish more teams in Kansas to help survivors work through their loss.
“Those are the people that are going to work hand-in-hand with those directly impacted and start helping them remember the basics that they can work through, because it can be so overwhelming.”
He notes that K-State Extension, with offices in every Kansas county, is a valued partner in reaching those who need help.
“I can tell you firsthand that that some of the activities that we’ve been invited to with extension – whether those are at the sale barn or a school or any type of social service awareness fairs – are incredibly helpful, and have a direct impact,” Boydston said.
“Extension has always had a strong presence in Kansas, and knows a lot of really great resources,” he adds. “And I think we’re just one more of those to add to the toolbox.”
More information on mental health and resources available can be found at local extension offices across the state.
Boydston recently spoke at length about the services provided by Kansas Lemon Aid on the weekly radio program, Sound Living, produced by K-State Extension. More information regarding help available in Kansas can be found online at https://sixftover.org.
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K‑State Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the wellbeing of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.