Promoting Connectedness in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities through Culture
The third webinar of the ICRC-S 2018-19 webinar series, Preventing Suicide by Promoting Social Connectedness: Promoting Connectedness in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities through Culture, took place on April 22, 2019. The Qungasvik (kung-az-vik) ‘Toolbox’ is a multilevel strength- based intervention developed by Yup’ik communities to reduce and prevent alcohol use disorder (AUD) and suicide in 12-18 year old Yup’ik Alaska Native youth. The intervention aims to increase strengths and protections against AUD and suicide by promoting culturally meaningful ‘reasons for sobriety’ and ‘reasons for life.’ During this webinar, Dr. Stacy Rasmus, Associate Research Professor and Director of the Center for Alaska Native Health Research (CANHR) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Dr. James Allen, Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and BioBehavioral Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth campus, described the Qungasvik intervention and the research leading to its development, reviewed the research on which and how social connectedness concepts are addressed in American Indian/Alaska Native cultures, and presented on the path taken by Alaska Native communities to adapt and implement the intervention to their local cultural context.
Additional resource:
Suicide Surveillance Strategies for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities | SPRC