Strong Hearts, Strong Spirits: Indigenous Suicide Prevention Initiative - Sacred Path Indigenous Wellness Center (SPIWC) will implement Strong Hearts, Strong Spirits: Indigenous Suicide Prevention Initiative, a five-year, culturally grounded capacity-building project for urban American Indian and Alaska Native youth and young adults from birth through age 24, their families, and communities in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, California. The initiative will integrate Indigenous knowledge and evidence-informed behavioral health practices to strengthen protective factors, mental wellness, suicide prevention, early intervention, and coordinated systems of care. SPIWC will establish a Project Workgroup within 4 months, complete a Community Needs and Readiness Assessment within 6 months, and implement a Strategic Action Plan within 12 months. Strategies also include Indigenous traditional practices, culturally responsive postvention protocols, workforce development, partnerships, and continuous quality improvement. Culturally responsive services will include behavioral health screening and suicide risk assessment, individual and family therapy, case management, referrals, care coordination, and traditional healing for youth experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, and suicide risk. Annually, SPIWC will reach at least 200 youth, families, and community members through outreach and prevention activities, screen at least 50 youth, and link 90% of youth identified as needing services to appropriate behavioral health supports.
