The goal of the COVID-19 ERSP project is to create a healthy and empowered community by providing culturally-based, trauma-informed suicide intervention, treatment, and prevention across the Oneida healthcare system as well as the entire community. The objectives are: (1) develop and implement a plan for rapid follow-up of adults and adolescents who have attempted suicide or at high risk for suicide; (2) Establish follow-up and care transition protocols to help ensure patient safety among high risk community members in health or behavioral health care settings who have attempted suicide or experienced a suicidal crisis; (3) Provide, or assure provision of, suicide prevention training to community and clinical service providers and systems serving adults at risk; (4) Work across Tribal community departments and systems to implement comprehensive suicide prevention plan; (5) Provide suicide screening, assessment, referral and appropriate clinical treatment services; (6) Provide community recovery supports to assist individuals and household members who have attempted or are at risk for attempting suicide; (7) Provide telehealth options given the current pandemic situation; and (8) Provide enhanced services for community members experiencing domestic violence and their dependents.
The Oneida Nation is a federally-recognized tribe located on a semi-rural reservation outside the city limits of Green Bay in northeastern Wisconsin. The City of Green Bay, WI is located at the Reservations' eastern border and lies diagonally in two counties, as well as several local municipalities. The Native American population living on or near the Oneida Reservation is one of the largest in the state of Wisconsin. As of April 2020, there are 17,386 enrolled Oneida members with 7,927 members living on or near the Oneida reservation.
For many Native American communities throughout the United States, including Oneida Nation, suicide is a significant health and social concern. According to the Suicide Prevention Research Center (2013), the suicide rate for Native Americans is much greater than the overall U.S. suicide rate. The 2018 National Center for Health Statistics reported that in Wisconsin, suicide is the eighth leading cause of death among American Indian/Alaskan Natives and the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34.
The Oneida Nation Comprehensive Health Division is a tribally run organization comprised of Medical, Dental Pharmacy, Behavioral Health, Optical, Employee Health, Public Health, Environment Health, Skilled Nursing Facility and Purchased and Referred Care. Oneida Comprehensive Health employs 343 staff. Oneida Behavioral Health (OBH) data from April 2018 showed that 66% of OBH patients have co-occurring medical issues and seek services at the Oneida Community Health Center (OCHC).