Circle of Strength: A Case Description of Culturally Integrated Suicide Prevention

Abstract

This article presents a case description of an American Indian female at high risk for suicide in effort to document the potential effectiveness of a college student suicide prevention program designed for Northern Plains American Indian students. The program is integrative and culturally grounded within the Medicine Wheel, stressing continuity of care through programming and ongoing communication across support systems. The composite case description presented illustrates the secondary prevention aspects of the model, and how utilizing the model within the framework of continuous care was helpful for a suicidal person and produced a successful outcome over the course of 6 months.

Keywords:

• American Indian
• college students
• continuity of care
• Native American
• prevention
• suicide

Notes

Note: *Suicide risk level was assessed by the American Indian Support Person coordinating Jane's care via face to face interview.