Thursday, June 8, 2023
6/8/2023
Alaska has one of the highest suicide rates of any state, more than double the national average. Unfortunately, in 2019 Alaska had the highest number of deaths by suicide on record for a single year. Although the overall numbers of deaths by suicide are small, the numbers of attempts are often underreported, especially if the person is not hospitalized. The impact a single suicide has in a small village is very significant. The number of attempted suicides is just as important as completed suicides. Attempted suicides are a strong indicator of unresolved mental health issues. Suicide is a devastating health problem in Southeast Alaska and is the fourth leading cause of death among Alaska Natives. AI/AN populations have the highest rate of suicide in Alaska. The overall goal for the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention (SPIP) Program is to address the prevalence of suicide in rural Southeast Alaska Tribal communities by increasing access to culturally appropriate and evidence-based treatment, including improving care coordination, expanding behavioral health care services, and developing early intervention strategies for Alaska Native/American Indian (AN/AI) youth at risk for substance abuse disorder. SEARHC Behavioral Health will utilize evidence-based model practices for suicide screening using the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) to educate and train community members to recognize and respond to the warning signs of suicide and prevent and intervene in suicides and suicide ideations. Both practices provide easy, simple to use skills for anyone to initiate help and support for someone in crisis. The SEARHC SPIP Program will also focus on implementing early intervention strategies by developing and expanding the Generation Indigenous (Gen-I) Initiative activities for both adults and youth at risk for suicidal behavior. SEARHC will promote early intervention strategies and implement positive youth development programming to reduce risk factors for suicidal behavior by effectively blending evidence-based practices and Alaska Native wisdom to reduce the incidence of suicide in Southeast Alaska.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
