American Indian/Alaska Native Settings
Suicide prevention is a high priority for people working to promote wellness and reduce health disparities affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Drawing on strengths within Native traditions, community leaders and experts are developing models that are culturally based to promote mental health and prevent suicide for future generations.
Why Address Suicide Prevention
- Many AI/AN communities experience an elevated suicide rate.1
- AI/AN communities may lack access to suicide prevention programs that meet their cultural needs.
How AI/AN Communities Can Take Action
The best way to prevent suicide is to use a culturally relevant, contextually driven, comprehensive approach that includes these key components:
- Promote culturally competent practices that increase protective factors and reduce risk.
- Connect the community’s resources to create a shared vision of wellness.
- Gather information from Elders and community members to gain knowledge and understand the issue of suicide in the community where you are working.
Reference
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Fatal injury reports, national and regional, 1999–2014. Retrieved from http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_us.html.
Learn More
- See the Recommended Resources below selected by SPRC personnel.
- See All Resources Related to American Indian/Alaska Native Settings for a full list of materials, programs, trainings, and other information available from SPRC. Use the filters on the left to narrow your results.
- For more on other settings and groups, see our Settings and Populations pages.

Recommended Resources

Transforming Tribal Communities: Indigenous Perspectives on Suicide Prevention
These brief webinar clips feature expert advice on addressing the root causes of suicide and mental health issues in tri...

To Live to See the Great Day That Dawns: Preventing Suicide by American Indian and Alaska Native Youth and Young Adults
The purpose of this guide is to support AI/AN communities and those who serve them in developing effective, culturally a...

Walking Softly to Heal: The Importance of Community Readiness
These resources provide information on how to assess, understand and measure how ready a community is to address issues ...

Healthy Indian Country Initiative Promising Prevention Practices Resource Guide
The purpose of this resource guide is to highlight the work of the 14 Healthy Indian Country Initiative Tribal grantees...

Adolescent Suicide Prevention Program Manual: A Public Health Model for Native American Communities
This manual describes the Adolescent Suicide Prevention Program, conducted from 1989 to 2005....
All Resources Related to American Indian/Alaska Native Settings
Displaying 68 results. Refine results using the filters on the left.
Webinar/Training
2011 Garrett Lee Smith State and Tribal Suicide Prevention Grantee Meeting
2023
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Webinar/Training
2010 Garrett Lee Smith State and Tribal Suicide Prevention Grantee Meeting
2023
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Webinar/Training
2009 Garrett Lee Smith State and Tribal Suicide Prevention Grantee Meeting
2023
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
“I Want to Help My People”: Tribal Nations in Oklahoma Focus on Mental Health Treatment
2022
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Webinar/Training
Reviving Traditions to Bring About Balance- Cultural Based Programming
2022
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Webinar/Training
Tribal Suicide Prevention Codes: A Community Based Approach (Tribal Learning Collaborative)
2022
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Webinar/Training
AI/AN Suicide Prevention Programs - Lessons Learned with White Mountain Apache & Johns Hopkins University
2022
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Webinar/Training
Drawing on Local Wisdom and Personal Relationships to Prevent Indigenous Youth Suicide and Promote Wellness
2022
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Webinar/Training
Garrett Lee Smith State and Tribal Suicide Prevention Welcome to the Community Orientation Webinar
2022
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Webinar/Training
Welcome to the Community: Orientation Webinar for Cohort 10 S/T GLS Grantees
2022
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Introduction to Grants Management Webinar for Cohort 10 GLS S/T Grantees
2022
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Webinar/Training
Garrett Lee Smith Cohort 10 Tribal Grantee Training Series: Finding data to demonstrate your success
2022
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Webinar/Training
Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention and Intervention Pre-Application Webinar
2022
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Webinar/Training
New State/Tribal GLS Grantee (Cohort 13) Training: Overview of Required SPARS Indicators and Setting/Entering Annual Goals and Budget Estimates
2022
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Webinar/Training
Jumpstarting Your Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Suicide Prevention Grant for Cohort 14
2022
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Webinar/Training
New State/Tribal GLS Grantee (Cohort 14) Training: Overview of Required SPARS Indicators and Setting/Entering Annual Goals and Budget Estimates
2022
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
WASHINGTON: A First-in-the-Nation 988 Line for Native People Goes Live in WA
2022
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Joint Statement from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention about New Federal Report on Use of Indian Boarding Schools
2022
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
INTERNATIONAL: The Effects of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Indigenous Communities
2020
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
The Qasgiq Model for Alaska Native Suicide and Alcohol Abuse Prevention
2019
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
Honoring Indigenous Voices: Suicide Surveillance from a Tribal Perspective
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
CANADA: New Suicide Prevention Project Targets High-Risk Nunavut Residents
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
ALASKA: Research Highlights Northwest Alaska's Suicide Prevention Work
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
ALASKA: Alaska Native Youth Find Strength, Resilience in Ancient Traditions
2018
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
MONTANA: Governor and Tribal Governments Uniting to Reduce and Prevent American Indian Youth Suicide
2017
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
MONTANA: Millions More Available to Tribes for Preventive Health Care, Suicide Prevention
2017
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
CANADA: Searching for an Indigenous-Driven Approach to Suicide Prevention
2017
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NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
ARIZONA: Community Prevention Plan Slashes Apache Tribe’s Suicide Rate
2016
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