Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium

The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Program will implement regional prevention and early intervention strategies and culturally respectful activities through collaboration with community and tribally based organizations and oriented towards strengthening the youth, families and communities in Southeast Alaska. There are a total of 73,302 residents, consisting of 45 communities ranging in size from 30,711 (Juneau) to 19 (Port Alice, on Prince of Wales Island. Alaska Native people make up 20% of the population. The target population for this project will be the over 12,370 Alaska Native/American Indians and 6,000 non-Natives that SEARHC serves, for a total of 18,370 people. It is anticipated this program will directly serve 12,498 people the first year and 17,781 people throughout the lifetime of the project. Unintentional injury is the 3rd leading cause of death Alaska Native people, suicide is the 4th leading cause of death and chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis is the 7th leading cause of death.? SEARHC will address these related causes of and youth suicide prevention as follows:

Goal 1-Increase awareness and discussion among youth, families and the community members about the risks of suicide.
Objective 1.2 Develop a suicide prevention task force in each community that is made up of youth, parents, teachers, service providers, elders, traditional leaders and others.
Goal 2-Increase the promotion of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and conduct a media campaign concerning suicide prevention.
Objective 2.1 SEARHC will distribute written advertisements, radio and newspaper public service announcements, regular press releases, and print ads promoting hotlines.
Goal 3-Increase awareness of suicide and teach various appropriate responses to those at risk of suicide by strengthening the traditional and cultural values.
Objective 3.1 Raise regional awareness about depression and suicide by conducting a thorough and culturally competent social marketing media campaign.
Goal 4-Increase the number of persons in youth serving organizations such as schools, foster care systems, juvenile justice programs, trained to identify and refer youth at risk for suicide.
Objective 4.2 Work with youth serving organizations to select and provide the appropriate culturally competent identification and referral Evidence Based Practice for use in training staff.
Goal 5-Increase the number of SEARHC staff from the health, behavioral health, dental, optical and substance abuse divisions that are trained to assess and treat or refer youth at risk for suicide.
Objective 5.2 Provide on-site training to SEARHC health care providers on the implementation of the culturally competent Evidence Based management and treatment practices aimed at identifying, assessing and treating or referring at risk youth.