CONTENTS

About This Course

Table of Contents

1. The Nature and Scope of Suicide
2. Recognizing the Progressive Development of Suicide
3. Substance Abuse as a Major Contributor to Suicide
4. Suicide Across the Life Span
5. Special Populations and Suicide Risk
6. Prevention and Early Intervention for Suicide and Substance Abuse Problems

Supplements
References
Resources

Holding the Lifeline
A Guide to Suicide Prevention

American Indians and Alaska Natives

American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) experience higher suicide rates than any other group in the United States. (Although suicide rates vary among tribes) Suicide is:

1. The second leading cause of death for males aged 15-35
2. The third leading cause of death for males aged 10-14 ref

When only violence-related deaths are considered, suicide was the leading cause of all violence-related deaths among AI/AN populations aged 15-64. Most of the violent deaths were firearm related, except for those in the 25-34 year old age group, who used suffocation methods. ref

The One Sky Center

The One Sky Center (www.oneskycenter.org) was created in 2003 as the first national resource center dedicated to improving the prevention and treatment of substance abuse and mental health among the AI/AN population. This center's mission focuses on assessing the needs and strengths of Native communities, and developing strategic plans.

Much of the research done by The One Sky Center identifies domestic violence and childhood sexual abuse as part of the systemic transmission that continues problems from one generation to the next. AI/AN females ages 25-34 have a homicide mortality rate about 1.5 times that of the general population of females in that age group. ref

Factors associated with high rates of abuse and neglect include:

• Overcrowding in homes
• Lack of employment
• Other socioeconomic difficulties

More American Indian and Alaska Native families live below the poverty level than the general population. All of these factors contribute to high rates of physical and mental health problems and a high rate of alcoholism and substance abuse.

The One Sky Center has an American Indian Community Suicide Prevention Assessment Tool that can help those in Indian Country in internal program assessment and planning and in providing background material for grant applications. ref