Youth Mental Health

Native Connections is a grant from Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration in the amount of $250,000 per year for five years. The purpose of the grant is Native Youth Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Services. The grant program helps American Indian and Alaska Native communities identify and address the behavioral health needs of Native youth.

The Native Connections grant program supports grantees in:

  • Reducing suicidal behavior and substance use among Native youth up to age 24

  • Easing the impacts of substance use, mental illness, and trauma in tribal communities

  • Supporting youth as they transition into adulthood

The overarching goal of Native Connections is to utilize culturally-relevant strategies to build the capacity of UMUT personnel to staff a behavioral health center focusing on preventing and reducing suicidal behavior and substance use, reducing the impact of trauma, and promoting mental health among UMUT youth through the age of 24 years.

Goals and objectives

In achieving these goal and related objectives, Native Connections will close a devastating service gap that became apparent through a comprehensive community analysis.

  • Conduct a Community System Analysis by the end of year one, that addresses suicide prevention, substance use prevention, and mental health disorders.

  • Develop policies and procedures by the end of year three to promote coordination among youth-serving agencies on the UMUT Reservation.

  • Develop and/or revise protocols by the end of year three to ensure that UMUT youth at risk for suicide, including those who attempt suicide and use substances, receive follow-up services to ease their transition into treatment.

  • Develop culturally-appropriate “postvention” protocols by the end of year three for responding to suicides, suicide attempts, and suicide clusters to promote community healing and reduce the possibility of contagion (i.e., suicides following and connected to an initial suicide).

  • Develop and implement a culturally-appropriate Action Plan by the end of year three that addresses Tier 1 and Tier 2 of prevention and intervention strategies.

  • Deploy at least one new culturally-relevant evidence-based practice (EBP) annually, in collaboration with external service providers, focused on preventing and reducing suicidal behavior and substance use, reducing the impact of trauma, and promoting mental health among UMUT youth through the age of 24 years.

When deployed, Native Connections will establish a comprehensive web of safety for our universally high-risk population. The initiative will bring first-of-its-kind services to the rural and geographically remote UMUT reservation lands. 

The comprehensive project plan will ensure that a safety net is built within the UMUT community, overcoming the stigmatism of suicide and addiction in a culturally-responsive way. Traditional taboo expectations must be overcome, to protect our youth. 

The initiative will enable our community to become active contributors to the prevention process. Outreach and public campaigns will raise awareness, overcoming the stagnant acceptance of the belief that suicide and addiction “are an unavoidable part of life.” 

The initiative will leverage the power of the UMUT community, training members to recognize warning signs and act during times of crisis. Efforts will ensure there are formal referral networks in place to ensure those in need are able to access immediate crisis services. Ongoing case management services will support those most vulnerable.