A review of suicide in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities found that successful suicide prevention programs used in these communities generally (1) address risk factors while “building individual self-efficacy and positive self-image,” (2) “are strength-based and culturally sensitive,” and (3) include traditional healing practices as well as cultural/spiritual development. After reviewing the literature, […]
Reservation
Trends in Indian Health: 2014 Edition
Trends in Indian Health contains tables and charts describing the Indian Health Service program and the health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives. Information pertaining to the Indian Health Service (IHS) structure, American Indian and Alaska Native demography, patient care, and community health are included. Historical trends are depicted, and comparisons to other population […]
Emergency Department Utilization among American Indian Adolescents who Made a Suicide Attempt: A Screening Opportunity
A study of White Mountain Apache adolescents who had attempted suicide found that 82 percent had visited an emergency department (ED) within a year before the attempt. Only a minority of these young people had visited the ED because of suicidal thoughts or self-harm (7 percent) or psychiatric problems (26 percent). The authors suggest that […]
Building the Evaluation Capacity of Local Programs Serving American Indian/Alaska Native Populations
This report describes the activities of 34 tribal communities served by the Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT) under SAMHSA’s Science to Service Initiative conducted between 2010 and 2014. The locally-developed programs addressed substance abuse and associated factors both causal (primarily historical trauma) and consequential (primarily suicide). The report discusses evaluation processes, results, challenges […]
Positive Youth Development: Using Strengths to Address Alcohol Abuse and Suicide among American Indian and Alaska Native Youth
This information brief introduces prevention practitioners to the positive youth development framework as an effective approach to preventing alcohol abuse and suicide among Native youth. Prevention practitioners working in Indian Country can use this resource to inform their prevention planning and guide their selection of effective prevention interventions. Population of focus: American Indian and Alaska Native […]
Circle of Life Multimedia Program: Teaching Native Youth Healthy Choices
HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections and hepatitis affect American Indian and Alaska Native communities in disproportionate numbers. Circle of Life, based on the medicine wheel, is a unique interactive middle school curriculum to help Native youth model healthy choices and prevent diseases. The program infuses a multimedia rich format with various skill-building games and activities about […]