Situation Assessment

Suicide is complex and has many varied risked factors. Attempts are most common between the ages of 16-18 [2]. Females are more likely to attempt and contemplate suicide, but males are more likely to complete suicide attempts [2]. Native Americans suffer from the highest rates of suicide [2]. Besides the secular characteristics of suicide, there are some

These prevention interventions would start at 3rd phase and throughout 5th phase. I would enroll the collaboration of

The rate of suicide, the act or an instance of taking one's own life voluntarily and intentionally, increases each year. “More adolescents die each year from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined” (Preventing Teen Suicide, 2016, p.2). These facts show suicide is a serious problem among teens. Last year, teen suicide became the second leading cause of death in the United States confirming the significant increase in teen suicides.

According to Fowler, Crosby, Parks, and Ivey (2013), suicide and nonfatal suicidal ideations are significant public health concerns for adolescents and young adults. While the onset of suicidal behaviors is observed as young as six years of age, rates of death and nonfatal injury resulting from suicidal behavior are moderately low until 15 years of age (Fowler et al., 2013). According to Fowler et al (2013), the most current available statistics in the United States (U. S.) reported suicide as the third leading cause of death among youth aged 10-14 and 15-19 years, and it was the second leading cause of death among persons aged 20-24 years.

Over a quarter of the Arizona State is reservation land and it is the home to the majority of the Native American population with over 20 reservations. Some of the most notable reservation is the Hopi, whose villages are at the base and the top of three mesas. Other popular tribes in Arizona are the Tohono O’odham nation, San Carlos Apache, White Mountain Apache, Hualapai, Gila River, Colorado River, Havasupai and Kaibab Paiute Tribe (Nevada Indian Commission).

The first short-term goal is to decrease obesity. Interventions for this goal are nutrition education, weight loss programs, and increasing physical activity. The second short-term goal is to decrease the incidence of hypertension. Interventions for this goal are regular blood pressure screenings, treatment of people with hypertension, and improve medication access. The third short-term goal is to decrease cholesterol. Interventions for this goal are regular cholesterol screenings, diet education regarding high risk foods, and treatment of people with high

Native Americans have a staggering forty percent rate from suicidal incidents in the ages fifteen through twenty-four. For young adults, it occurs between eighteen and twenty-four. Surprisingly, Native Americans have the highest rate of suicide than the general population, ethnicities, and races. In the year 2014, a report found that suicide happened to be the second leading cause of death, other than unintentional injuries. It is believed that in many occasions, Native Americans do not like to speak about suicide. In the case it was brought up, they will eventually kill themselves. They Native American culture struggles to receive mental-health funding to save anyone they can. Health issues like Diabetes and depression are very common.

Due to various socio-cultural factors that impede First Nations/Native Americans’ usage of mental health programs and services, their particular needs and characteristics will influence the way assessments, goal setting, and interventions will be utilized when working with a First Nations client. For example, Grayshield, et al., (2015), discuss the historical trauma that Native Americans/First Nations populations have experienced here in the United States. This includes prohibiting Native Americans/First Nation individuals from speaking their language and practicing their spiritual and cultural traditions. Historical trauma also includes the impact of Native Americans/First Nations children being sent to boarding schools and away from their families and cultural traditions. By forcing Native Americans/First Nations communities to assimilate, this caused trauma their mental health and that can also be seen in present time.

American Indians have the highest suicide rates in Montana and make up 7% of the population (Uken, 2012, p. 3). The high unemployment and substance abuse is shown to be a major factor (Uken, 2012, p. 3).There is a shortage of employment all over Montana, not just pertaining to the reservations. This shortage and not having enough mental healthcare professionals to cover all of the small towns in Montana, limits people being seen and treated (Uken, 2012, p.4,para.6).

While the Native American population encounters many health disparities; of growing concern, is the rates of suicide among these communities. The U.S. National Library of Medicine defines health disparities as “the variation in rates of disease occurrence and disabilities between socioeconomic and /or geographically defined population groups”. When looking at the Native American population of the northeastern United States, there are many factors that contribute to these alarming numbers. These include gun availability, rural locations of communities and reservations, privacy of Native people, distrust of outside help, alcoholism, depression, lack of resources, and acculturation stress. Many of these factors are a way of life for the Native American population. Guns are in most homes and used for hunting and sport. The rural locations are a way of being surrounded by all that is living and therefore, well-being of the people. Alcohol abuse is a learned and shared behavior among many families and throughout the generations. The high rates of depression are often self- medicated and contribute to the substance abuse issues already abundant within the community. It is a difficult situation to realize the very culture of a people may be the conduit to the problems they encounter. This can make the health care provider’s jobs even more difficult. As Paquin (2011) explained, “When nurses focus

The Navajo Nation is the largest Indian tribe in the United States. Their reservation extends into the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. According to the 2010 Census, 5.2 million people identified as American Indian or Alaska Native, and of this 180,000 people were Navajo. The 2010 Census also showed that 43% of that Navajo population live below the poverty rate. Today while many Indian reservations do not allow alcohol to be sold on their lands, few

They have had their land stolen from them. They have been victimized again and again by colonists. Today, they face deep systemic racism. Native Americans face unprecedented amounts of adversity that is resulting in a suicide epidemic. In this review, I present solid information on the reasons that a suicide epidemic is affecting the Native American community. Suicide and mental health are not often subjects that make headlines. However, Native Americans have been facing a silent mental health crisis for decades. The rate of suicide in Native American communities is disturbingly high compared to other races. Stigma, abuse, mental illness, and a lack of federal assistance are all factors that contribute to the alarming statistics. I will be looking at the various reasons for why the suicide rates are so high in these groups and what can be or has been done to combat this problem.

According to an article in The Washington Post, Sari Horwits states that sexual assault, unemployment, drug addiction and depression within the nation’s 326 Indian reservations leads to three times the national average of young Native American suicides based on statistics in 2014.( The hard lives — and high suicide rate — of Native American children on reservations - The Washington Post) With this in mind, 19th century promises made to uphold an adequate environment in Indian reservations were never fully established, so the lack of stability within these Native American Preserves continues to plague the present and future generations of American Indians. Because of the mental diagnosis of depression that has continuously lead these young

I will be researching and writing about American Indian health issues. When I was searching for a topic, I came across a fact sheet about the mental health and population of American Indians. And I found out that there are about 1.5% American Indians in the United States.2 I did not know that there were so many issues in their society. I would like to focus on why they are having so many health issues, what are the major issues occurring, and who is helping them get rid of these issues.

While suicide is highest among males, suicide attempts are higher among females and youth suicide among males are highest in rural / remote areas. 1 This essay will examine some of the issues of youth suicide. The focus will be to view the underlying factors and the strategies employed to intervene and prevent a potential