"Native American youth suicide is plaguing our communities. The effects of youth suicide are caused by a combination of community issues such as living conditions, lack of opportunity, unemployment, and drug and alcohol abuse.

I was inspired by an article I read in All Business, “Senate eyes suicide rates of Indians,” which a young man from the Mescalero Apache Tribe testified pleading for help for his community. His community has had five youth suicides in a six month period, all of whom were his close friends.

Native American youth suicides are 70 percent higher than the general population and on some reservations youth suicides are 10 times higher than the national average. The question is simple, why aren’t tribal leaders doing more to prevent youth suicides in their communities?"

Get the Story:
Marc Martin-Keka: Youth suicide an urgent matter (Indian Country Today 11/19)