Suicide Prevention Services

Program Details

The overall health and quality of life of Chickasaw citizens, families and communities is important to the Chickasaw Nation. The prevention services program works to support emotional well-being and mental wellness to reduce suicide risk through education.

Suicide prevention education and training is offered to the public upon request.

Topics include, but are not limited to:

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) — interactive two-day training. (14 hours)
Depression — "More Than the Blues" (30 minutes to one hour)
QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) — the three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. (Two hours)
SafeTALK — half-day suicide prevention training (Three hours)
Talk Saves Lives — a community-based presentation that covers the general scope of suicide, the research on prevention and what people can do to fight suicide. Learn what suicide is, who it affects, what we know about it and what can be done to prevent it. (Two hours)

Find out about risk and protective factors
Many factors contribute to suicide risk. A combination of situations could lead someone to consider suicide. Risk factors increase the possibility of suicide, but might not be direct causes. To learn more, click below.

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Risk Factors
Individual:
- Previous suicide attempt
- Mental health condition, such as depression
- Social isolation
- Criminal problems
- Financial problems
- Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
- Job problems or loss
- Legal problems
- Serious illness
- Substance use disorder
Relationship:
- Adverse childhood experiences such as child abuse and neglect
- Bullying
- Family history of suicide or mental health conditions
- Relationship problems such as a break-up, violence or loss
- Sexual violence
Community:
- Barriers to health care
- Cultural and religious beliefs such as a belief that suicide is noble resolution of a personal problem
- Suicide cluster in the community
Societal:
- Stigma associated with mental health condition or seeking help
- Easy access to lethal means (e.g., firearms, medications)
- Unsafe media portrayals of suicide
Suicide can be prevented
There are some individual and community components that may help protect people from suicidal thoughts and behavior.
Protective Factors:
- Coping and problem-solving skills
- Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide
- Connections to friends, family and community support
- Supportive relationships with care providers
- Availability of physical and mental health care
- Limited access to lethal means

Other Information

For information Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., contact Chickasaw Nation Prevention Services.

For emergency help, please call 911.

For 24/7, free and confidential assistance, call the following numbers:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - call 988
Veterans crisis line - call 988 and press 1
Crisis textline – Text Native to 741741

In addition to education, the Chickasaw Nation Department of Family Services has led the implementation of “Zero Suicide” throughout our health and mental health services system. This ensures standardized and evidence-based suicide prevention and intervention measures. See this video and fact sheet to learn more:

Video – Zero Suicide Health Care Call to Action
Fact sheet – Transforming systems

Zero Suicide is a commitment to suicide prevention in health and behavioral health care systems. It is both a concept and a practice being implemented by the Chickasaw Nation.

To learn more about the Chickasaw Nation’s Zero Suicide efforts, click the following links:
Chickasaw Nation Department of Health and Family Services - Zero Suicide
Chickasaw Nation Emergency Department Experience with Zero Suicide
Chickasaw Nation Caring Contact Cards – a free, shareable resource you can use to send someone an encouraging note in time of need.

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