Anthropology

ANTHROPOLOGY

Native Americans have faced displacement , poverty , neglect and forced assimilation for many generations . Their physical , environmental social , economical and psychological conditions have become much worse since the arrival of Europeans to the Americas . The American Indian youth suffers from health problems , unemployment , alcohol , substance abuse and suicide . There are very few and under funded mental health and substance abuse services offered to them

This is a fundamental reason why suicide has reached alarming rates amongst Native American youth . There are fewer trained professionals who can offer help and more

people who need this help . This crisis can only be avoided if the correct preventives are taken immediately and maladaptive behaviors are altered

Suicide in American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI /ANs ) emerged 15 years ago and became the second leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds . In 1998 , the other races had a suicide rate of 13 .0 per 100 ,000 individuals but for American Indians and Alaska Natives it reached a staggering 31 .5 per 100 ,000 people . It was even more disturbing that the rates for completed suicide were higher for AI /ANs as compared to the general population

In the period from 1988 to 1997 , 118 persons had committed or completed suicide in the AI /AN communities . Almost 54 .2 of the 118 persons had exhibited suicidal behaviors previously . Majority of suicidal acts had alcohol use involved . 15 people completed suicide out of the 118 persons and all of them were males . They were more males involved in suicide in general as compared to females

The communities Zuni Pueblo of Arizona and Standing Rock Reservation in Dakota have experienced by far the highest rate of suicide . Suicide is usually the end result of depression , alcoholism , and domestic violence These problems are widely prevalent in these tribes . In addition to this 80 AI /ANs from age 16 onwards were unemployed in 1998 . Unemployment can trigger emotional problems which can later on lead to hopelessness and suicide

The cost of an attempted suicide is 5000 or more than 10 ,000 depending on geographic isolation and transportation costs . These costs can all together be avoided if the right prevention programs are introduced Indian psychologists and many governmental agencies including the Indian Health Service and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration are researching the exact factors that lead to suicide and the preventive measures that could help those most at risk

Culture of these communities is taken into account while organizing the Suicide prevention programs . According to the APA Congressional testimony on Suicide five suicide prevention programs have already been implemented . They include the Zuni Life-Skills Development Curriculum which develops mentors within the AI /AN community and hones the social skills of teenagers . Another notable program known as Wind River Behavioral Health Program studies the risk factors of unemployment and alcohol and drug abuse

These preventive programs have been successful in the last few years and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ) recently announced the...