American Indian/Alaska Native Settings
Suicide prevention is a high priority for people working to promote wellness and reduce health disparities affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Drawing on strengths within Native traditions, community leaders and experts are developing models that are culturally based to promote mental health and prevent suicide for future generations.
Why Address Suicide Prevention
- Many AI/AN communities experience an elevated suicide rate.1
- AI/AN communities may lack access to suicide prevention programs that meet their cultural needs.
How AI/AN Communities Can Take Action
The best way to prevent suicide is to use a culturally relevant, contextually driven, comprehensive approach that includes these key components:
- Promote culturally competent practices that increase protective factors and reduce risk.
- Connect the community’s resources to create a shared vision of wellness.
- Gather information from Elders and community members to gain knowledge and understand the issue of suicide in the community where you are working.
Reference
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Fatal injury reports, national and regional, 1999–2014. Retrieved from http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_us.html.
Learn More
- See the Recommended Resources below selected by SPRC personnel.
- See All Resources Related to American Indian/Alaska Native Settings for a full list of materials, programs, trainings, and other information available from SPRC. Use the filters on the left to narrow your results.
- For more on other settings and groups, see our Settings and Populations pages.
Recommended Resources
These brief webinar clips feature expert advice on addressing the root causes of suicide and mental health issues in tribal communities.
This guide is designed to help AI/AN communities and those who serve them develop effective, culturally appropriate suicide prevention plans.
These resources provide information on how to assess, understand and measure how ready a community is to address issues like suicide, and how to use...
This guide highlights the work of the 14 Healthy Indian Country Initiative tribal grantee programs, including suicide prevention programs.
This directory of resources is designed to assist AI/AN communities in developing their own suicide prevention programs.
This manual describes the Adolescent Suicide Prevention Program, conducted from 1989 to 2005.