By close of business today the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is seeking additional information, stories, or trends from tribes regarding youth suicide. This information will be incorporated into a briefing for congressional staff tomorrow. The briefing is in advance of the June 24, 2015, Senate Committee on Indian Affairs oversight hearing titled: “Demanding Results to End Native Youth Suicides.” A link to NIHB’s short survey is here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13RbJf_Oiu5GoSzkneckj_HQseDNY3bemQsbedyz9d7U/viewform
The survey asks the following questions:
- Please provide any information or trends about youth suicide at your Tribe or Area. What is being done in your community to address this crisis?
- What challenges do you have when addressing suicide or mental health issues in your communities? What additional resources do you need to be more effective?
- Are there specific issues related to response to youth suicide by the Indian Health Service or Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that you think Congress should know about?
- Please provide any additional information on mental health / suicide in your community.
Please let us know if we may provide additional information regarding the National Indian Health Board’s request for information on Native youth suicide or may provide assistance drafting comments to be submitted for the hearing record.
