Adapting a Zero Suicide Approach to Native Communities
July 08, 2022
Native communities are taking an innovative approach to preventing suicide that combines scientific and traditional practices. With funding from the Indian Health Service, eight tribal sites are implementing cultural adaptations of Zero Suicide, a framework for preventing suicide in health and behavioral health care systems. In addition to the original Zero Suicide Toolkit, these communities are using a companion toolkit specifically designed for health care systems serving Indian Country. This toolkit provides guidance on culturally adapting the framework for Native communities to best meet their needs, encouraging the integration of evidence-based practices with local knowledge and wisdom. “It’s not only putting this beautiful framework into these communities, but the creation of this way to bring those two worlds together, those schools of thought together,” Sadé Heart of the Hawk Ali, Zero Suicide Institute tribal lead and senior project associate. “We know that those things work.”
Spark Extra! Check out the toolkit for implementing Zero Suicide in Indian Country.