The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing on youth suicide in Indian Country on Thursday.

The committee heard from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada), who lost his father to suicide. He called on the federal government to provide more resources to help tribes address high suicide rates.

"But we still need to do more, and we need to focus on populations that are particularly at risk, especially Native Americans and Native American youth," Reid said in his testimony.

Also testifying was Dana Jetty, a 16-year-old high school student from the Spirit Lake Dakotah Nation of North Dakota who lost her sister to suicide last November. Her sister was 14.

"I don't understand why my sister felt that she had to do this and I don't know why didn't ask me for help or tell me what she was thinking," said Jetty, whose family turned to traditional ceremonies and has spoken out about the suicide.

Get the Story:
Dorgan heads committee to discuss Indian youth suicides (WDAY Radio News 2/27)
Indian Suicides Higher (The Albuquerque Journal 2/27)
More resources needed to save Native youth (University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service 2/27)

Committee Hearing:
OVERSIGHT HEARING on Youth Suicide in Indian Country (February 26, 2009)