“Togetherness:” the role of intergenerational and cultural engagement in urban American Indian and Alaskan Native youth suicide prevention

ABSTRACT

In a collaborative study with an Urban Indian Health Organization (UIHO) and a University, we conducted six talking circles over three years with American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) elders, adults, and youth to examine perceptions of suicide and suicide prevention strategies within their community. Results of a thematic analysis indicated that normalization of suicide, stigma, and historical trauma were barriers to suicide prevention. Consistent themes of elders, adults, and youth over all three years reflected the need for intergenerational engagement and cultural connectedness as suicide prevention strategies. Implications for culturally-grounded social work practice with AI/ANs are presented.

KEYWORDS:

• American Indian/Alaskan Native youth
• elders
• suicide prevention
• cultural engagement
• intergenerational

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Acknowledgments

Miigwetch, thank you, to community member participants and this UIHO’s Suicide Prevention Team. This study is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Garrett Lee Smith State and Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Grant #U79 SM061738-01. The views, opinions, and content does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of the Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Center for Mental Health Services [U79 SM061738-01].