PEMĀTESEN ATĀĒQNŌHKAKAN: A THREE-YEAR SUBSET OF THE LIFE IS SACRED PROJECT

Abstract

The science of suicidology is in its infancy empirically. While some critical risk and protective factors have been identified (Nock et al., 2020 ), the field struggles for a coherent approach to conceptualizing, evaluating, and intervening with those who present with risk for death by suicide, as death rates climb in the United States. Suicide (completion) Rates among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons are currently the highest, and disproportionately impact tribal communities and AI/AN populated urban area at an alarming rate that should call the attention of all healthcare professionals and researchers. (CDC, 2023). Presently, mainstream approaches and systems are ill prepared to curb the rates of death by suicide among most groups, and this is particularly true for AI/ANs. There are currently 574 federally recognized tribes in the US, each with its own unique culture and experiences, and varying colonization impact. In Wisconsin, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (MITW) experiences the worst health outcomes of all counties in the state (University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, 2024). This project represents a subset of a larger MITW – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee partnership to address suicide mitigation in the tribal community. Its purpose was to explore contextual risk and protective factors regarding death by suicide within the Menominee community. The qualitative theoretical framework used was the Extended Case Method, to conduct Life Reviews (also known as Psychological Autopsy) for each case of death by suicide in a three-year time span. Strengths and barriers to suicide education, intervention, and postvention are identified. Insight is offered as to how the findings’ can be utilized by both the MITW and other tribal communities. This study posed the following research questions:1. What individual risk factors were present for the individual? 2. What individual resiliencies were present for the individual? 3. What ecological assets were identified and/or utilized? 4. What ecological barriers were identified and/or present? Twelve participants were recruited for the project and completed interviews. Additional sources of data that were used to answer the research questions included coroners’ reports, law enforcement records, and mental health records. This project identified risk and resiliency factors within an ecological model congruent with Indigenous ideologies. Participants shared factors across all domains identified and provided information regarding resources needed within the community. Moreover, the participants expressed the significance of their own involvement in the project. This project offers insight into factors that impact death by suicide within this community. Further discussion of findings, implications, limitations, and future directions are considered. Keywords: American Indian/Alaska Native, suicide, qualitative