Native Connections

TCRHCC Native Connections Program

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 10-24. Sometimes it feels as though your struggle is being underestimated by your age, but we hear you and help is available.

Purpose

The purpose of the Native Connections Program is to prevent and reduce suicidal behavior and substance abuse, reduce the impact of trauma, and promote mental health among youth up to the age of 24 years. Native Connections goals:

Establish and implement a community-based Native Connections plan to enhance coordination among youth-serving agencies.
Develop protocols to ensure youth at risk for suicide receive timely follow-up services to ease their transition into treatment.
Develop community “postvention” protocols for responding to suicides, suicide attempts, and suicide clusters to promote community healing and reduce the possibility of contagion.
Raise awareness of suicide prevention strategies through delivery of mental health awareness training to communities within TCRHCC’s service area.
Reduce the rate of youth substance misuse within TCRHCC’s service through prevention strategies.

Know the Risk Factors

Risk factors are characteristics that make it more likely that someone will consider, attempt, or die by suicide. They cannot cause or predict a suicide attempt, but it is important to be aware of.

Mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression, stress
Alcohol and other substance use disorder.
Hopelessness
Impulsive and/or aggressive tendencies
History of trauma or abuse
Loss or relationships
Loss of job or finance
Sense of isolation and lack of social support
Major physical illness
Previous suicide attempt(s)
Family history of suicide

Know the Warning Signs of Suicide

Some warning signs may help you determine if a loved one is at risk of suicide, especially if the behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to painful event, loss, or change. If you or some you know exhibits any of these, seek help by calling 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.