CDC report details suicide rate in Native Americans—Earlier reports may have underestimated risk
November 06, 2015
A recent report by the CDC’s Center for Health Statistics confirms the disproportionately high rate of suicide among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) young adults ages 18–24 compared to other racial/ethnic groups. The report also notes that the suicide rates for AI/AN young adults could easily be underestimated due to the underreporting of deaths by 30% in the overall AI/AN population. According to Indian Health Service (IHS) spokesperson Leonda Levchuk, IHS is using the AI/AN National Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan to address suicide in AI/AN communities and is launching the Zero Suicide program in its health care system. It has also recently committed more than $13,000,000 to tribes and tribal, urban Indian, and IHS organizations through its Methamphetamine and Suicide Prevention Initiative. “IHS is committed to treating suicide similar to a standard of care approach such as (for) preventable diseases and injuries,” said Levchuk.
Spark Extra! Look at AI/AN National Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan 2011–2015 to see the goals, objectives, and tasks for AI/AN suicide prevention efforts.