FACTS SHEETS

The Pinoleville Pomo Nation Healing Native Youth Minds Project is funded by the Indian Health Services under The Substance Abuse & Suicide Prevention Initiative (SASP).

• According to the national research data, Native teens experience the highest rate of suicide in any population groups in the United States.
• Suicide in the second leading cause of death and 2.5 times the national rate for American Indian/Alaskan Natives youth in the 15-24 age group.
• Adolescent AI/NA have death rates 2 to 5 times the rate of whites in the same age group, resulting from  higher levels of suicide and risky behavior.
• According to the most recent data provided by the PPN Wellness Recovery Program, 19% of Youth in Mendocino ages 15-24 reported methamphetamine usage.
• Only 1 out of 8 of American Indians/Native Alaskans adults in need of alcohol or illicit drug use treatment in the past year received treatment at a specialty facility

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF Healing Native Youth Minds Project?

The Pinoleville Pomo Nation Healing Native Youth Minds Project will primarily serve Native American Youth ages 8-24 in our area to promote early intervention strategies and implement positive youth development programming to reduce risk factors for methamphetamine usage & suicide behavior. The project will also engage Native American families to reduce both of these risk factors.

The first step is to call our office at (707) 462-7801 or call the:

North Bay Suicide Prevention 24 hour Hotline of Mendocino County
1 (855) 587-6373
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1 (800) 273-8255

What are some of the Services we Provide?

The Pinoleville Pomo Nation Healing Native Youth Minds Project will be providing the following services to youth ages 8-24.

• Youth Basketball League
• Youth Talking Circles
• Family Cultural Camp Out
• Youth Camp Out
• School Prevention Activities
• Gathering of Native American Event
• Youth Leadership
• Train Adults and Youth in Question, Persuade and Referral (QPR) and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASSIST).
• Community Prevention Education Workshop
• Award Ceremonies

What are some of the Warning Signs ?
Reach out if someone is:

• Feeling like a burden to others
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
• Talking about feelings of hopelessness
• Searching for methods online
• Talking about wanting to die
• Withdrawing or feeling isolated
• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain

How Can I Help?
If someone you know is exhibiting any of the warning signs listed above, here are some things you can do to help.

• Ask directly if your friend is thinking about suicide.
• Be willing to listen. Allow their expressions of feelings, and accept those feelings.

Be non-judgmental. Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or whether feelings are good or bad. Don’t lecture on the value of life. Focus on being present with their feelings.

• Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support.
• Check in with your friend regularly. Schedule times to talk for the next week when you will both be available, to see how they are doing.
• Don’t act shocked. This will put distance between you. Be patient with yourself and the situation.
• Don’t be sworn to secrecy. Seek support.
• Offer hope that alternatives are available but do not offer superficial reassurance.
• Take action. Remove means, such as guns or stockpiled pills or get help from agencies specializing in  crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
• Encourage (and offer to accompany) your friend to seek help and support from a crisis specialist,  therapist, doctor and/or prevention specialist.
• Show them the safety or “crisis coping plan” on the Lifeline web site, and talk together about your friend  can use this to help him/her to cope in these difficult moments.