Tribal Organizations and Federal Agencies Talk Suicide Prevention

October 26, 2011|By Christine Kim | Channel 2 News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — It's a tragic problem that takes the lives of Alaskans each year. Our state suffers the highest suicide rate in the nation. To try and find a solution and to strengthen suicide prevention programs, federal agencies and tribal organizations sponsored a 3-day summit, starting on Tuesday at the Hilton Hotel in Anchorage.

The Alaska Area Action Summit for Suicide Prevention is the result of 10 regional listening sessions held across the country.

Megan Gregory knows more than anyone that suicide prevention starts with her generation. On Wednesday, she told summit participants about the Southeast Alaska Youth Ambassador Program which she launched in August to give kids the support they need from their peers.

There are currently six youth ambassadors. Gregory hopes to expand that to all southeast communities, and eventually the whole state.

“It's a known fact that youth turn to their peers more than adults,” said Gregory. “Our youth are struggling because I feel that they are isolated in these areas, and they don't have much opportunity.”

There were about 200 people at the summit. Alaska's suicide rate is twice the national average and the highest rates are among Alaska Native youth. But many believe youth hold the key to prevention.

“Look what they're doing, and they're holding their head up, their eyes are forward their shoulders are up, and they're coming up with the courage we needed a long time ago,” said Barbara Franks, who lost her son to suicide more than a decade ago. “A couple years ago there was a time we couldn’t say the word [suicide], and last week I ended up going to 13 sessions in Anchorage on suicide prevention. Are we making an impact? I think so.”

Next door, presenters shared a cultural intervention model that gives the community the responsibility to create activities. Those activities, would work to protect youth from suicide and alcohol abuse by building reasons to live.

“Impact of historical trauma, poverty, lack of education. All of those contributors we see in suicide, we see in many of our isolated communities,” said Rose Weahkee from the Indian Health Service. “I think what's different here is just the amount of isolation and how difficult it is to access services.”

“Youth should not feel like their lives should result in suicide. We need to make sure there are opportunities out there for them, and they are becoming successful young people,” said Gregory.

Many said it'll take time to eliminate a problem that has taken the lives of so many, but hope that through their efforts, they can make a difference.

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