Suicide Prevention Resource Center Suicide Prevention in Indian Country Cortney Yarholar 1/15/14

Four Functions 1.Resource Center 2.Training Institute 3.Technical Assistance (TA) Center 4.Leader and influencer of science, policy, and practice

SPRC’s History Working with Tribes Garrett Lee Smith signed into law in Cohort 1 - One Tribal grantee 2013 Cohort 8 – Fifty Seven grants to Tribes & tribal serving organizations

Youth suicide in Indian Country Second leading cause of death for ages Suicide rate for this age group is per 100,000 people (2.6 times higher than national average) 1 4 young men for every young woman 1 Youth ages 15 to 24 make up 40 percent of all suicides in Indian Country 2 A note on data and surveillance… 1 CDC, NCIPC, WISQARS data. 2 Carmona, RH. (2005). U.S. Surgeon General’s testimony on suicide prevention among Native American youth, before the Indian Affairs Committee, U.S. Senate, June 15,

Indian Country Challenges Large mental health burden Limited mental health services and resources Reluctance to access resources/stigma Large untapped human and community capacity Challenges to coordinated care between state and tribal resources and services Crisis response systems are lacking

You share… What questions or concerns do you have about youth suicide prevention in your community? Speak up or Type into the Chat Box

A Big Picture “Comprehensive suicide prevention programs are believed to have a greater likelihood of reducing the suicide rate than are interventions that address only one risk or protective factor, particularly if the program incorporates a range of services and providers within a community.” Source: National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (p.36)

Protective factors Cultural continuity and connectedness Religious and cultural beliefs Family and community support Access to health and mental health care Restricted access to lethal means Effective problem solving skills Healthy coping strategies

Innovative Strategies Peer to Peer Mentoring Using paraprofessionals Storytelling (Digital)Storytelling Culturally Strengthening Life Promoting strategies Laughter Understanding & Healing from Historical Trauma

Programs that work Life skills development American Indian Life Skills Development Awareness / Gatekeeper training Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) Native H.O.P.E. (Helping Our People Endure) QPR Gatekeeper Training Sources of Strength Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program

Programs that work Counseling and support services CARE (Care, Assess, Respond, Empower) Attempt response Specialized Emergency Room Intervention Protective factors – more general in nature Gathering of Native Americans (GONA) Project Venture *See the Best Practices Registry and related resources for additional programs that can be adapted for AI/AN communities*

Tending to One Another

Bigfoot & Martinez Storytelling Offerings/gifts Ceremonies Blessings Rituals Vision seeking Sweatlodge Old Wisdom Meditation Drumming Listening/watching/ doing Talking Circle Extended Family Singing Honoring, Songs Smudging, Prayers Dancing Historical rides/walks Naming Ceremonies Society/clans/bands Humor/teasing Spirituality Therapeutic Indigenous Practices Humility Acceptance Generosity Respect Acknowledge ment BigFoot 2008

Bigfoot & Martinez Traditions today in the Creator’s Way Ceremony and rituals Prayer Offerings Circle Songs Simple Acts of giving Our charge as helpers is to guide or assist others in finding this way of health that the Creator intended for them and us. That is the Creator’s work that we are blessed with and can be seen in the use of rituals and ceremonies..

Resources To Live to See the Great Day that Dawns: Preventing Suicide by American Indian and Alaska Native Youth and Young Adults SPRC’s American Indian / Alaska Native Suicide Prevention Pages www2.sprc.org/aian/index www2.sprc.org/aian/index - Getting started- Best practices & local efforts - Sustainability- Resources - Publications- Data sources

practices Best Practices Registry (BPR) for Suicide Prevention  Section I: Evidence-Based Programs  Section II: Expert and Consensus Statements  Section III: Adherence to Standards

On-line Library: Collection of resources and publications Grantee Pages State web pages: Each of the 50 states have contacts, data, and state suicide prevention plans available The Weekly Spark e-newsletter Webinars: Provides interactive presentations, lectures, workshops or seminars over the web. Training Institute: Provides a broad range of core suicide prevention competencies available to prevention professionals, mental health clinicians, community organizers, and others. SPRC Resources

Suicide Prevention Lifeline Number: TALK (8255) National Domestic Violence Hotline: SAFE (7233) or TTY National Child Abuse Hotline: A-CHILD Crisis Hotline Numbers

Thank you! Cortney Yarholar, MSW Senior Tribal Prevention Specialist