H?l DAA s? A y?an?x? X??adudlitseen HAA y?TX?i nothing is more cherished than our children - HEL DAA SÁ a yáanáx_ x_'adudlitseen HAA yátx'i nothing is more cherished than our children is a tlingit…

H?l DAA s? A y?an?x? X??adudlitseen HAA y?TX?i nothing is more cherished than our children - HEL DAA SÁ a yáanáx_ x_'adudlitseen HAA yátx'i nothing is more cherished than our children is a tlingit cultural identity development for emotional well-being and suicide risk reduction initiative by the goldbelt heritage foundation (GHF) serving alaska native youth ages 7-19. The indigenous youth in alaska are growing up in a fractured society, apart from their culture, and suicide is the leading cause of death among alaska native young people ages 15-24. The goals of this project are to (1) reduce and prevent suicidal behavior and substance abuse among alaska native youth from ages 7 to age 19. (2) ease the impacts of substance use, mental illness, and trauma in our community, through a lens of tlingit culture, partnerships, and sustaining safe welcoming spaces for youth. (3) support an/AI youth as they transition into adulthood by providing information and education for mental health and empowerment. (4) teach an/AI youth how to advocate for themselves as we connect them to resources for their mental health and wellness and for them to understand some of the structural-societal factors contributing to mental illness and trauma. (5) provide culturally responsive suicide prevention and awareness training to youth and community mental health providers in collaboration with tlingit & haida (t & h) and the juneau suicide prevention coalition (jspc). (6) celebrate the cultural identities and belonging of alaska native youth through cultural gatherings. To make progress toward these goals, GHF will conduct a community needs assessment (objective 1), community readiness assessment (objective 2), and complete a strategic action plan that encompasses three tiers of suicide reduction and prevention strategies that are universal, selected/targeted, and indicated prevention strategies (objective 3).GHF will partner with local agencies committed to serving on a youth advisory and an/AI students board (YAB) in order to develop a written online manual for suicide prevention and postvention (objective 4). GHF staff will deliver a culturally relevant suicide prevention and self-advocacy curriculum to at-risk an/AI youth. The curriculum will address tier 2 selected and targeted prevention strategies and include empowerment for self-advocacy and information supporting transitions to adulthood and mental health policy (objective 5) to serve 50 an AI youth annually. GHF staff and the juneau suicide prevention coalition (jspc) will CO-develop and deliver culturally informed training for adult responders (objective 6) to serve 50 adult community responders annually. Additionally, GHF staff will promote spiritual and cultural identity development and youth social connectedness by conducting three community events over the award period 1. A goan, 2. The alaska blanket exercise, and 3. A traditional tlingit u.EEX with adoption and naming ceremonies (objective 7) to serve 100 youth during the project award period (and 100 guests for u.EEX GHF has more than 15 years of experience writing and teaching curriculum that is based on our cultural values and supports youth in identity affirming ways forward grounded in tlingit culture. This implementation strategies approach is supported by ntbha, foundational element 1 historical and intergenerational trauma (HIT). The literature shows that an individuals sense of his or her own belonging, and connection to the communities he or she lives in, is a strong protective factor against many behavioral health issues, including suicide, depression, and substance use. This project will serve 350 youth and 250 adults during the project award period.