- Identifying Risk
- Higher-Risk Populations
- American Indians
HIGHER-RISK POPULATIONS
Suicide Among American Indians
Suicide has long been and remains a devastating, all-too-frequent event among American Indian families and communities.
From high rates of poverty to unemployment, people living on reservations face several challenges that can lead to substance use and mental health-related challenges, including suicide.
In South Dakota, suicide was the 5th leading cause of death for Native Americans in 2023.
American Indian communities also uphold distinctive cultural traditions that can serve as protective factors against the risk of suicide: a sense of belonging and community, a strong tribal, familial and spiritual bond and frequent opportunities to discuss issues with family and friends. For many Native individuals, their culture can help ground them and provide support to help navigate emotional trauma.
Reach for Life
The Reach for Life campaign was created to form a stronger connection with American Indian communities in order to remove stigmas and promote support services.
Resources
- South Dakota American Indian Suicide Infographic
- Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board
- Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board Resource Guide
- Tribal Mental Health Social Media Kit
- Best and Promising Practices for the Implementation of Zero Suicide in Indian Country
- Crisis Services Indigenous People’s Directory
- Indian Health Services Suicide Prevention
- We R Native
- Connection to Culture: A Look at Mental Health on the Reservation