1st Annual Walk to Raise Awareness about Suicide among Native Americans
Written By: Larke Huang, Director Office of Behavioral Health Equity
Several Tribal groups, as part of the National NNEDLearn 2012 Training sponsored by SAMHSA’s Office of Behavioral Health Equity, have organized the nation’s 1st Annual Walk to Raise Awareness about Suicide among Native Americans for Wednesday, September 12, 2012 in conjunction with National Suicide Prevention Week (September 9-15). The theme for this year’s Tribal walk is Tribal Communities Connecting Together to Prevent Suicide. The organizing Tribes represented among the planners are:
- Bishop Paiute (California)
- Choctaw (Mississippi)
- Creek (Oklahoma)*
- Little River Band of Ottawa Indians (Michigan)
- Pueblo of Laguna (New Mexico)
- Spokane (Washington)
- White Mountain Apache (Arizona)
Tribes are invited to join this effort by holding local walks or other activities on this day or during this week. By coming together in unity during this time Tribes will raise awareness about this important issue in their local communities as well as nationally. Write to info@nned.net for more information on the walks.
*The Creek (Oklahoma) have planned a walk for Monday, September 10, 2012 from 4-6 pm at the Mound Auditorium (HWY 75 and Loop 56) Okmulgee, OK. For more information please call: 1-888-756-4333 Download walk flyer (pdf).
Logo Contest: We are holding a contest this year to design a logo that all tribes can use for next year’s walk. Let us know what you are doing in your community and submit your entries for the logo contest at info@nned.net.
National Suicide Prevention Week is Sunday – Saturday, September 9 -15, 2012. Download toolkit (pdf).
No matter what problems you are struggling with, hurting yourself isn’t the answer.
Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to talk to a counselor at a Lifeline crisis center near you.
This is a wonderful idea! This would be great for the tribes East of the Mississippi to also unify to bring about this awareness!
Thank you for supporting this important event!
Our Communities First Annual HOPE WALK
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Behavioral Health program hosted its First Annual Hope Walk, September 12, 2012. It took place in the evening at Creek Nation’s complex. We would like to thank all citizens who participated in the walk this year. The event promoted worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) network works with suicide prevention crisis centers throughout the nation. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, and chronic disease combined.
More than 100 people gathered at Okmulgee and 8 organizations were represented at the event. Also in attendance, were special guest Second Chief Roger Barnett, Becky Kruse and Alfred Berryhill who led us in a song and prayer. Becky Kruse guided the citizens in the walk and Roy Crandell conducted the lily remembrance ceremony for the survivors of loved ones who died by suicide. This event is designed to offer support and healing to survivors. Each attendee received a bag with information to access resources available to them and shirts to remind them that it’s OK2ASK…For Help.
The highlight of the event was the extraordinary guess speaker, Becky Kruse, representing her son Adam, who took his life by suicide. Kruse hopes to educate others that suicide is preventable, depression is treatable, encourage the public to learn the warning signs of suicide, be watchful, and kind. She is reaching out to communities and providing hope to those in crisis. She warns that “most suicidal individuals give some warning of their intentions” and that “the most effective way to prevent a friend or loved one from taking his or her life is to recognize the factors that put people at risk of suicide, take warning signs seriously, and knowing how to respond.”
Behavioral Health Director, Daley Tearl, was pleased with the turn out and quality of guest speakers and contribution from all participants. “We hope to continue what we have accomplished today.” Suicide is the 8th leading cause of death for American Indians/ Alaska Natives for ALL ages. Please help us spread the word that suicide is preventable by participating in these events like Hope Walk.