Are you or a loved one struggling with suicidal ideation or life after an attempt? Depression? Anxiety? AIHSC is available to provide outpatient counseling to children, teenagers and adults who are struggling with depression, anxiety and/or substance abuse. AIHSC uses evidenced based models while maintaining culturally appropriate trauma care and treatment approaches to substance abuse and suicide prevention. We offer assessments and can connect you or your loved one to available community resources in order to provide a holistic approach. AIHSC Behavioral Health staff are also trained in Mental Health First Aid’s adult and youth curriculum and provide trainings to the community and professionals.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Native youth ages 10-24. Native communities experience the highest rates of suicide amongst all racial and ethnic groups in the Unites States, and suicide rates among American Indian and Alaska Native communities rose by 118% between 1999 and 2017.
Suicide is preventable. 988 is one step in the direction of saving lives. This early intervention can reduce the burden on 911 and hospital services. 988 will move mental health and substance use services out of the shadows and into the mainstream; it will send a message that healing and getting help are normal and important parts of life.
988 is a direct three-digit line to trained National Suicide Prevention Lifeline crisis counselors that will go live July 16, 2022. With an easy to remember 3-digit number, the Lifeline hopes to reach many more people in emotional crisis. This service is provided free of charge to the caller. Any person of any age can call or text 988; services will be available 24/7, year round. They will include a text option, translation services for non-English speakers, accessible options for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and services for minors.
The impact of 988 will vary from community to community. If your community has reliable phone and 911 services, it will now have access to 988 24/7. Community members will be able to receive confidential services during mental health emergencies with minimal involvement of police or hospitals. If you live in an area where connecting to 911 services is difficult, you may experience the same with 988. Please know that chatting via the suicidepreventionlifeline.org website, texting NATIVE to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or texting 988 when available may be the best ways to connect in these communities.
You will be connected with a trained crisis worker from a local crisis center. Wait times are anticipated to be under one minute. The caller can talk about any emotional crisis, not just suicide. The crisis worker will use
active listening to assess risk, determine if a person is in danger, and assist the person in feeling better and
accessing resources. If the crisis worker believes the caller is in danger, they will work with the caller to create a safety plan that does not require calling emergency services. Less than 3% of calls result in dispatching 911 services.
If you are calling about a friend or family member who is in distress, the person on the phone will walk you through how to help and provide resources.
With the passage of the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, the federal government has set aside a 5% Mental Health Block Grant for crisis services and a single time Mental Health Block Grant of $1.5 Billion. States can also exercise their authority to implement a 988 fee, similar to the current 911 fee. In 2018, 911 fees generated $2.6 Billion. Tribes can contact the SAMHSA Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy to discuss possible funding to support 988 in their region, or reach out to the state closest to them to discuss funding partnerships.
In addition to federal efforts, non-profit agencies all over the nation will be disseminating information about 988. For tribal promotional materials or consultation in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho, contact the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board’s THRIVE Suicide Prevention Project Coordinator at [email protected].
• Contact their state’s 988 Implementation Coalition to get involved in the rollout of 988.
• Partner with local crisis service centers to provide culturally appropriate services.
• To get connected or learn more about your local crisis service center, Visit the Lifeline’s Network webpage.
• Establish tribally specific crisis service centers to become part of the Lifeline
• Develop culturally aware mobile crisis response teams for tribal communities.
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