BIA starts talking about teen suicide prevention

Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement is breaking the code of silence and talking about one of the leading causes of death among American Indian youths.

The agency has partnered with the Jason Foundation, a national teen suicide prevention and awareness organization. The partnership hopes to bring its programs to Indian Country in a manner that is culturally appropriate and sensitive.

John Oliveira has dealt first-hand with youth suicide during his law enforcement career with the BIA, but Oliveira and his counterparts have not spoken much about it.

'Let it lie'

"We tend to just let it lie dormant," he said.

Not anymore.

On Wednesday the BIA kicked off its partnership with the Jason Foundation during a conference in Billings. The conference, Family Violence and Teen Suicide Prevention, was attended by more than 50 tribal and social services leaders from Montana and Wyoming.

After Oliveira heard Clark Flatt, the CEO of the Jason Foundation, speak last fall the men quickly agreed to try to bring the foundation's work to Indian Country. Oliveira is BIA law enforcement's National Child Abuse Coordinator and works in the Region Five headquarters office in Billings. Region Five includes Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Idaho and Alaska.

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http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/04/08/build/state/30-bia-suicide-prevention.inc

I saw an article the other day about that. Just asking them if they had ever thought about suicide can reduce the incidence. It just goes hand in hand with the sex education "controversy". There are some who believe giving kids accurate information regarding sex, pregnancy and STD's makes them want to experiment. But if you want to lower disease and pregnancy rates, information is the answer. If some kids are thinking about suicide, bringing the topic out in the open gives them a sense of balance,a reality check if you will.

I did spell check and the first alternative for STD's is studs. Go figure. :eyes:

on edit: Colorado has a high rate for teen suicide.