Home SPRC > Populations and Settings > American Indians/Alaska Natives

Aboriginal conference report: Lifting the silence on suicide
URL: http://www.suicideinfo.ca/csp/go.aspx?tabid=63
This report outlines the findings and presentations from the Lifting the Silence Conference that took place in Edmonton, Alberta on February 6-7, 2002. The document provides information on understanding the problem of suicide, learning about strategies that work and the questions to ask when developing community approaches.
Show Details
 
Aboriginal youth: A manual of promising suicide prevention strategies
URL: http://www.suicideinfo.ca/csp/go.aspx?tabid=144
Revised edition. Presents a model for understanding suicide among Aboriginal youth and for situating the prevention strategies; presents 17 suicide prevention strategies for Aboriginal youth, and provides examples of existing Aboriginal suicide prevention initiative. This manual is being offered for free and was made possible through funding by the RCMP Aboriginal Policing Services.
Show Details
 
Acting on what we know: Preventing youth suicide in First Nations
URL: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fnih-spni/pubs/suicide/prev_youth-jeunes/index_e.html
The purpose of the Advisory Group on Suicide Prevention was to review the existing research and formulate a series of practical, doable recommendations to help stem the tide of youth suicides occurring in First Nations communities across Canada. This report provides an examination of the issues the Group identified, from basic suicide data to specific factors affecting First Nations, and based on this, presents recommendations for action.
Show Details
 
Alcohol and suicide among racial/ethnic populations - 17 States, 2005-2006
URL: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5823a1.htm
MMWR. June 19, 2009; 58(23):637-41. This report analyzes data from the National Violent Death Reporting System in 2005-2006. The overall prevalence of alcohol intoxication was nearly 24% among suicide decedents tested for alcohol, with the highest percentage among American Indian/Alaska Natives (37%), followed by Hispanics (29%) and persons aged 20-49 years (28%). The authors conclude that many populations can benefit from culturally appropriate suicide-prevention strategies that include efforts to reduce alcohol consumption.
Show Details
 
American Indian and Alaska Native Resource Guide
URL: http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/MIO/CDResourceManual.pdf
This manual is designed as a tool to help NAMI state offices and affiliates to better understand what is involved in an American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) outreach campaign and aid in the creation of an outreach plan. Discusses: the need for AI/AN outreach; development of cultural competence; creation of AI/AN outreach plan (NAMI examples); evaluation of efforts; and sharing experience with other NAMIs.
Show Details
 
American Indian life skills development curriculum
Physical Location/Acquisition Information: The curriculum can be ordered at: http://www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress/books/0129.htm
A course for high school students and some middle school students that is designed to drastically reduce suicidal thinking and behavior. Created in collaboration with students and community members from the Zuni Pueblo and the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, this curriculum addresses key issues in Native American Indian adolescents' lives and teaches such life skills as communication, problem solving, depression and stress management, anger regulation, and goal setting. This program is in the SPRC Evidence-based Practices Registry under the name Zuni Life Skills.
Show Details
 
American Indian suicides in jail: Can risk screening be culturally sensitive?
URL: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/207326.pdf
With the help of researchers, the administrator of a jail in a Northern Plains State found out how culture can help identify detainees’ risk for suicide.
Show Details
 
Assessing and planning toolkit for suicide prevention in First Nations communities
URL: http://www.naho.ca/firstnations/english/documents/FNC-SuicidePreventionToolkit-Eng.pdf
This publication has been developed to help individuals and groups interested in addressing the issue of suicide in their communities. It is a framework to guide First Nations in assessing and planning a suicide prevention plan. Communities are encouraged to adapt the tool to meet their own needs. The tool kit also provides information and research on suicide prevention to increase awareness and encourage discussion.
Show Details
 
Assessing suicide and risk behaviors in an incarcerated American Indian population: Investigating culturally sensitive risk assessment instruments and procedures in a border jail
URL: http://www.nicic.org/Library/019845
The overall objective of this research was to address and fill in the gaps in the existing research literature by evaluating a popular suicidal ideation assessment tool, one commonly used within detention centers around the country, for its cultural sensitivity and to modify and, where appropriate, to improve the state, local, and tribal correctional agencies’ ability to more effectively screen for suicide ideation among American Indian detainees. This endeavor involved exploring the connection between American Indian - Northern Plains culture and non-Indian inmates’ responses to suicide screening questions as they are asked within this setting.
Show Details
 
Broken promises: Evaluating the Native American health care system
URL: http://www.usccr.gov/pubs/nahealth/nabroken.pdf
This report discusses the disparities in the health status and outcomes for Native Americans.
Show Details
 
Calling from the rim: Suicidal behavior among American Indian and Alaska Native adolescents
URL: http://aianp.uchsc.edu/ncaianmhr/journal/pdf_files/Mono%204%20Calling%20from%20the%20rim.pdf
In 1990 the National Center for American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research at the University of Colorado called together a group of experts in suicide prevention and Native American issues to examine the current state of research regarding suicide and Native Americans. This monograph includes a series of overviews and position papers prepared for this conference.
Show Details
 
Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (CPES)
URL: http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/CPES/
This project provides data on the distributions, correlates, and risk factors of mental disorders among the general population, with special emphasis on minority groups, through access to three nationally representative surveys: the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R), the National Survey of American Life (NSAL), and the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS). CPES permits the investigation of cultural and ethnic influences on mental health.
Show Details
 
Community Based Participatory Research in a Tribal Community
URL: http://www.sprc.org/grantees/statetribe/2009/PDF/9CCwikGoklishTingey.pdf
Presented at the January 2009 grantees conference, this presentation describes community based participatory research methods were used in a youth suicide on the White Mountain Apache Reservation.
Show Details
 
Culturally Competent Crisis Response: Information for School Psychologists and Crisis Teams
URL: http://www.schoolcounselor.org/files/cc_crisis.pdf
This information sheet, using vignettes on suicide among minority students, discusses crisis response planning and culturally competent response.
Show Details
 
Ensuring the seventh generation: A youth suicide prevention toolkit for tribal child welfare programs
URL: http://www.nicwa.org/YouthSuicidePreventionToolkit/YSPToolkit.pdf
This toolkit is intended for tribal child welfare workers and care providers. It discusses: child and youth suicide risk factors; specific risk factors associated with children served in child welfare; warning signs for caseworkers and care providers to be alert to; suicide prevention and intervention strategies that can be applied in child welfare agencies; and mobilization of support networks around particular children.
Show Details
 
IHS Suicide Prevention Initiative
URL: http://www.sprc.org/grantees/statetribe/2009/PDF/10AWeahkee.pdf
This presentation, delivered at the January 2009 grantee meeting describes how the Indian Health Service Prevention program has partnered with tribes and tribal organizations, federal, state and local agencies and others to develop and implement suicide prevention initiatives.
Show Details
 
Injury mortality among American Indian and Alaska Native children and youth - United States, 1989-1998.
URL: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5230a2.htm
Published as: Morbidity and mortality weekly report / Centers for Disease Control. August 1, 2003/ 52(30);697-701. Injuries account for 75% of all deaths among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children and youth (1), and AI/ANs have an overall injury-related death rate that is twice the U.S. rate for all racial/ethnic populations (2). However, rate disparities vary by area and by cause. To help focus prevention efforts, CDC analyzed injury mortality data by Indian Health Service (IHS) administrative area and by race/ethnicity. This report summarizes the results of these analyses.
Show Details
 
National Center for American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research
URL: http://aianp.uchsc.edu/ncaianmhr/ncaianmhr_index.htm
The National Center for American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research (NCAIANMHR) is the only program of this type in the country focusing specifically on American Indian and Alaska Native populations. The NCAIANMHR has four major program functions: research, research training, information dissemination, and technical assistance.
Show Details
 
Native Youth Suicide Prevention Program (NYSP) Evaluation Update
URL: http://www.sprc.org/grantees/statetribe/2009/PDF/MondayNARALocalEvaluationplenaryMackin.pdf
This presentation was delivered at the State and Tribal Suicide Prevention Grantees Meeting, January, 2009, for the Continuing Grantee Panel on Local Evaluation, Enhanced Evaluation. It describes an evaluation of the impact of the NYSP on awareness and community readiness. NYSP is a program of NARA NW, a coalition of 8 Tribal communities and Portland State University with programming based upon traditional, spiritual and cultural beliefs,integrated with best practices.
Show Details
 
Reported health and health-influencing behaviors among urban American Indians and Alaska Natives
URL: http://www.uihi.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/health_health-influencing_behaviors_among_urban_indians.pdf
This report was released at a symposium titled "Through native eyes: Identity, perception and recognition". The report finds additional evidence that American Indians and Alaska Natives living in urban areas face major hurdles in reaching health status similar to their fellow Americans. Findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a national telephone survey conducted yearly and coordinated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), show American Indians and Alaska Natives living in selected urban areas were more likely to report difficulty accessing health care, had higher rates of risk behavior, and experienced worse health outcomes than the general population. Income differences were shown to play a role in explaining some of the health disparities, but differences in some reported health indicators were not income dependent.
Show Details
 
Research that benefits native people: A guide for tribal leaders
Physical Location/Acquisition Information: The interactive program is delivered as an in-person training for 20-30 tribal leaders, technical staff, and community members over two and a half days. To inquire about training contact Christina Daulton, Program Manager at cdaulton@ncai.org. Further information on the program is available at: http://www.ncaiprc.org/research-curriculum-guide
American Indians and Alaska Natives are underrepresented in many major data collection efforts and statistical analyses, making it difficult for tribes, states, and the federal government to provide policy solutions and social programs that effectively target and benefit Native communities. This 5 module, in-person curriculum and training was developed to equip tribal leaders, Native students, and other Native community members to understand and manage research and program evaluation.
Show Details
 
Restoring balance: Community owned wellness
URL: http://www.sprc.org/library/RestoringBalance.pdf
This manual provides a process for use by American Indian/Alaska Native communities to address wellness, identify their own resources, and use the knowledge and ability of community members to promote change to improve the physical, social, and spiritual environment of the community.
Show Details
 
Services in Native American communities: Summary of the Special Forum held at the 2006 Georgetown University Training Institutes
URL: http://www.mockingbirdsociety.org/files/reference/Mental_Health_and_Foster_Care/Native_American_Services.pdf
Describes basic American Indian issues and service delivery strategies for this population group.
Show Details
 
Suicidality and help-seeking behaviors in American Indian youth
URL: http://www.rtc.pdx.edu/PDF/dt143.pdf
Data Trend #143 May 2007. This fact sheet summarizes research on suicidality and help-seeking behavior in American Indian youth and discusses the importance of culture in determining both outcomes.
Show Details
 
Suicide among American Indians/Alaska Natives
URL: http://www.sprc.org/library/ai.an.facts.pdf
This fact sheet contains data on suicide among the American Indian/Alaska Natives population. The document includes mental health considerations, cultural and ethnic considerations, and strengths and protective factors.
Show Details
 
To Live to See the Great Day that Dawns: Preventing Suicide by American Indian and Alaska Native Youth and Young Adults
URL: http://www.sprc.org/library/Suicide_Prevention_Guide.pdf
The purpose of this guide is to support AI/AN communities and those who serve them in developing effective, culturally appropriate suicide prevention plans. This guide lays the groundwork for comprehensive prevention planning, with prevention broadly defined to include programs that a community can use to promote the mental health of its young. The guide also covers actions community can take in response to a suicide to help the community heal and thereby prevent related suicidal behaviors.
Show Details
 
Tohono O'odham Nation: CMHS Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Project (Presentation)
URL: http://www.sprc.org/grantees/pdf/2006/Latane_Community-basedPrevention.pdf
State/Tribal/Adolescents at Risk Suicide Prevention Grantee Technical Assistance Meeting. December 12-14, 2006, North Bethesda, MD. Describes the project's prevention plan and Tohono O'odham community profile.
Show Details
 
Urban American Indian and Alaska Native health indicator graphs
URL: http://www.sprc.org/library/UrbanAIANHealthIndicatorGraphs.ppt
This PowerPoint presentation includes graphs from select Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI) reports. These are intended to be used by urban Indian health organizations and other partners in grants or presentations of health status and disparities. More detailed information on data sources, study populations and limitations may be obtained by accessing individual reports online at http://www.uihi.org/resources/reports/
Show Details
 
Walking a mile: A first step toward mutual understanding
URL: http://www.publicagenda.org/WalkingaMile/
The research--based on 12 focus groups conducted in 2006 and 2007--explores Indians' perceptions of their own place in contemporary American society and how non-Indians view American Indians, what they know (or think they know), the generalizations they make and stereotypes they hold, how their perceptions were formed and their interest in learning more.
Show Details
 
Walking in beauty on the Red Road: a holistic cultural treatment model for American Indian & Alaska Native adolescents and families
URL: http://www.chestnut.org/LI/downloads/Manuals/Shiprock-Walking_In_Beauty_on_the_Red_Road.pdf
This manual is designed as a foundation for substance abuse treatment programs to develop and replicate residential treatment for American Indian and Alaska Native adolescents. This model was formulated for rural programs that may wish to adapt this model to fit local need.
Show Details
 
Zuni life skills development (SPRC EBPP Fact Sheet)
URL: http://www.sprc.org/featured_resources/bpr/ebpp_PDF/zuni_life_skills.pdf
A fact sheet that describes the Zuni Life Skills Development,aslo called American Indian Life Skills Development, a curriculum that is a culturally tailored intervention that targets high school students. It is based upon social cognitive theory, which proposes that suicidal behavior is affected through the interaction of modeling influences (peer and community), environmental factors, and individual characteristics. Includes a description of the program, evaluation designs and outcomes, the intended audience, and targeted protective and risk factors.
Show Details