NW Portland Area Indian Health Board

Housed at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, the THRIVE project (Tribal Health: Reaching out InVolves Everyone) has worked with the NW tribes to prevent suicide since 2009. The NPAIHB is a tribal non-profit organization that represents 43 Federally-recognized American Indian tribes in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. In collaboration with the NW Tribes, tribal clinics, and regional partners, THRIVE will build regional suicide prevention capacity and prevent suicide among American Indian and Alaska Native youth 10-24 years old. Our approach builds upon a strong tribal network and acquired expertise in culturally-relevant intervention strategies and expands the most effective activities carried out by THRIVE during our prior GLS grant (cohort 9). Our goals are to:

Goal 1.      Improve protective mental health knowledge, attitudes, coping skills, and help-seeking behaviors among AI/AN youth (10-24 years old) nationwide, by delivering evidence-based suicide prevention interventions.

Goal 2.      Promote mental health and the social acceptability of mental health services for AI/AN youth and their families.

Goal 3.      Enhance organizational practices in NW tribal clinics, tribal health departments, and tribal colleges to improve suicide prevention, screening, referral, treatment, and post-suicide services for AI/AN youth (10-24 years old) and their families.

Goal 4.      Improve and expand the delivery of suicide prevention and early intervention strategies in tribal settings, including: tribal clinics, tribal and public schools, tribal colleges, juvenile justice systems, substance use programs, health departments, foster care systems, and other community settings by focusing on youth and returning veterans.

Over 353,000 AI/ANs reside in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, representing 6.8% of the nation’s AI/AN population. Over five years, our project activities will reach: 325 AI/AN youth during THRIVE’s youth conferences; 1,000 AI/AN young adults with mental health skill-building tools delivered via text message and social media; 300 AI/AN youth with caring messages; 120 AI/AN veterans with caring messages; 800,000 viewers with suicide prevention social marketing campaigns (#WeNeedYouHere); 200 AI/AN youth (10-24) with other culturally-appropriate EBIs; 5,000 AI/AN youth (10-24) with screening, assessment, treatment, and case management; and 3,500 youth-serving adults with gatekeeper training. Additionally, our monthly eNewsletters will be sent to 2,000+ contacts throughout the U.S, and our suicide prevention social media messages (delivered via We R Native) will reach 31,000 AI/AN viewers per week across the U.S. Our tribes, clinics, and partners are deeply committed to completing this scope of work, fulfilling elements of the Tribal Behavioral Health Agenda using socio-cultural-ecological approaches to improve adolescent mental health in the Pacific Northwest.