Monday, September 8, 2025 – Finding effective suicide prevention as federal support fades
Suicide numbers are lower in places with higher incomes, better access to broadband internet, and good health insurance coverage (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7337e1.htm) . Unfortunately, those are all factors that are statistically lacking for many Native Americans and Alaska Natives. Development of the nationwide 988 Suicide and Lifeline has improved the persistently high Native suicide rate, and efforts to introduce culturally sensitive prevention (https://gender.stanford.edu/news/rates-suicide-native-american-youth-increase-culture-key-prevention) and intervention methods are showing promise. As the federal government dissolves much of its support for mental health services and suicide prevention efforts, we’ll highlight some of the work that is making a difference for Native populations.
GUESTS
Rachael Bogacz (https://www.poncatribe-ne.gov/services/health-services/behavioral-health/mental-health-services/) (Ponca and Omaha), director of Integrated Care for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
LuAnn Even (https://www.poncatribe-ne.gov/) , chief behavioral health officer for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
Stephanie Pasternak (https://www.nami.org/advocacy/crisis-intervention/988-reimagining-crisis-response/) , director of State Affairs for National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Kim Farris (https://okcic.com/) , director of Behavioral Health for the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic
Break 1 Music: Hindsight 20/20 (song) Cris Derksen (https://soundcloud.com/cris-derksen) (artist)
Break 2 Music: Rodeo Song [Skip Dance Song] (song) Sweethearts of Navajoland (artist) From the Heart of Diné Nation Traditional Songs of the Navajo (https://canyonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/from-the-heart-of-din-nation-traditional-songs-of-the-navajo) (album)
