Use these culturally appropriate resources to continue suicide prevention awareness

Many communities have spent time during National Suicide Prevention Month to honor the lives lost to suicide, support the millions of individuals who have faced thoughts of suicide, and recognize the profound impact suicide has on families and communities. To continue the awareness beyond September, the Washington State Health Care Authority gathered several culturally appropriate suicide prevention resources for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people.

These resources acknowledge the complex, interrelated factors, including intergenerational trauma that contribute to increased suicide risk and are available for you to use in your communities:

• Hope for Life Day toolkit: Developed by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention's American Indian/Alaska Native Task Force, this toolkit is intended to help community organizers take specific steps to change the conversation about suicide, spread awareness, and foster hope to help address suicide in their communities. View the toolkit page to learn more and access the toolkit and other suicide prevention and mental health promotion resources.
• SAMHSA's AI/AN youth and young adult suicide prevention guide: To Live To See the Great Day That Dawns: Preventing Suicide by American Indian and Alaska Native Youth and Young Adults was developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and lays the groundwork for community-based suicide prevention and mental health promotion plans for AI/AN teens and young adults. It addresses risk and protective factors and describes prevention models for action.
• We R Native campaign: This is a comprehensive health resource for native youth, by native youth, promoting holistic health and positive community growth. The campaign website provides information and resources for various mental health challenges, including suicide.
• Zero Suicide in Indian Country resources and toolkit: Sovereignty, community control or autonomy, cultural identification, language, spirituality, healing ways, kinship models, and family connectedness are identified as important protective factors in preventing suicide among indigenous populations. Visit the Zero Suicide website to access native suicide prevention resources and view the toolkit, Best and Promising Practices for the Implementation of Zero Suicide in Indian Country.