Helping Communities Address Suicide and Violence: The Special Initiatives Team of the Indian Health Service

• NCJ Number: 227675
• Journal: American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: March 1988 Pages: 56-65
• Author(s): Lemyra DeBruyn Ph.D.; Karen Hymbaugh M.A.; Norma Valdez M.S.W.
• Date Published: March 1988
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article describes the Special Initiatives Team (SIT) of the Mental Health Programs Branch, Indian Health Service which provides crisis and prevention consultation to American Indian/Alaska Native communities in response to violent behaviors, including suicide.

Abstract

SIT grew out of widespread concern by American Indian/Alaska Native tribes and communities and the Indian Health Service (IHS) for suicide epidemics and suicide clusters. The recommendation responsible for the formation of the SIT called for a national crisis response team to help local communities address outbreaks of violent and self-destructive behaviors. Since June 1987, SIT has been involved in developing a number of projects and programs, including: Social Services Program for Child Abuse and Suicide Prevention, Community Violence Elimination Program, Community Suicide Prevention Program, American Indian Mental Health Videotape, and National Resource Directory. The SIT of the Mental Health Programs Branch, IHS, was formed to assist American Indian/Alaska Native communities address issues of suicide and other violent behaviors. Essential to team philosophy and operation is the encouragement of community education, data collection/development of protocols, resource development, and multidisciplinary teams. References