According to the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council, Alaska had 1,369 suicides between 2000 and 2009, an average of 136 per year. That gives Alaska the highest rate of suicide per capita in the country. Mike Williams Sr. of Akiak is one of the organizers. He says suicide is devastating Alaska, particularly the Native villages. “And my hope is that we are going to be identifying the underlying causes that is affecting the devastation in our communities, especially in these last 20 years,” Williams says. Alaska Native men between the ages of 15 and 24 have the highest rate.Get the Story:
Mike Williams Sr. To Help Lead Suicide Prevention Summit (Alaska Public Radio Network 8/20)
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