The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs heard from two panels of experts about why suicide is devastating so many American Indian and Alaska Native lives.
"If we can act together, across tribal governments, states, and communities, I believe there is hope that the tide can be turned and hope restored," said Charles Grim, director of the Indian Health Service, during his testimony.
A previous hearing on the subject took place took place in North Dakota last month in response to a series of suicides on the Standing Rock River Reservation. Both hearings were organized by North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan.
"The hearing is one of the best things to happen so far. Suicide is so horrible, so unnatural, we all get scared by it, but we need to talk about it," said Julie Garreau, director of the Cheyenne River Youth Project, in a phone interview. Since the hearing, Garreau said, her office has received calls from a number of domestic and international organizations wanting to learn more about the problem and to help.
Recommendations from both hearings stressed the need for more funding and federal intervention.
"The purpose of the hearing last week was to bring the issue to Washington. Senator Dorgan is pleased in the sense that the matter is getting more attention," said Rebecca Pollard, a spokeswoman for Dorgan. "Our next step will be to include provisions in the Indian Health Care and Improvement Act for programs, social services, transportation needs."
The most urgent issues, according to the testimonies, are the lack of mental health resources available on reservations and the need for increased funding to the Indian Health Service.
According to the American Psychological Association and a 2004 Center for Disease Control report, American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest youth suicide rates in the nation, with figures increasing exponentially on reservations. Statistics released by the Jason Foundation indicate that suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young people of all ethnic groups in the United States, killing more individuals in this age group than cancer, AIDS, and heart disease combined.
Nationally, suicide rates are highest among whites, and second highest among the Native population, but a 2004 U.S. Centers for Disease Control report reveals that in the 15-24 age group, suicide rates are highest among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Young Native people living in some areas, particularly sections of the Great Plains, are more than 10 times more likely to commit suicide than their white counterparts.
Many hope that revisions to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, signed into effect in October 2004, will result in grants and programs to aid the Native population. Section 520 E of the federal Garrett Lee Smith Act authorizes states to create grant programs for youth suicide prevention and education programs. The bill authorizes $82 million over three years in grant funding, with $11 million available for 2005. About $5.5 million will be available for up to 14 cooperative agreements between states and Indian tribes to develop and implement youth suicide and early intervention programs. The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will administer the funding.
Garreau said that the way information, particularly information regarding funding, reaches the Indian community is also problematic. She said she was unaware of the funding available to tribal organizations under the Garrett Lee Smith Act. "We did not find out about the Garrett Lee Smith Act until the hearing. The question is, how do we get information out to an organization like us, a small, local nonprofit? Some sort of network between organizations needs to be established."
Multiple factors have been recognized by experts as causes of the American Indian youth suicide crisis, including substance abuse, lack of community resources, and dysfunctional family development. A 2003 report published by the American Psychiatric Association adds that "racial discrimination is a highly correlated factor."
"I don't know how you can draw any other conclusion than it has something to do with the history of Native Americans and their exploitation and placement in American society which leads to greater despair," Senator John McCain told Indianz.com.
"My recommendation to the committee is to look at this as a symptom of a historical situation," said Dr. Joseph Stone, who testified on behalf of the American Psychological Association, in a phone interview. "The methods through which it can be healed are a combination of Western science and innovation and the full participatory actions of tribal people. Tribal people must be full consultants in this process."
