海角大神

鈥淲e need you here.鈥�

Those words ache for anyone who has had a loved one consider suicide or self-harm, but especially so for native American tribes, where rates of teen suicide are . Whereas 16 percent of American teens have considered suicide in the past year, the same number of native youth , causing even further suffering in communities that are already among the country鈥檚 most marginalized and impoverished.

On Friday, the Associated Press reported from Hooper Bay, Alaska, where a bevy of mental health groups rushed to treat a native community reeling from , with one young man鈥檚 death seemingly inspiring the next suicide, and then another.

Researchers and counselors are increasingly focused on suicide clusters, as they鈥檙e called, representing a shift in thinking on prevention and treatment. The image of a person at risk for self-harm is often the loner, the isolated teen who feels alone and misunderstood, but social networks and relationships can play a huge role in teens鈥� life-or-death decisions. 听

As Stacy Teicher Khadaroo has reported for 海角大神, suicide is now recognized as 鈥渃ontagious鈥�: even two years afterwards, friends of a teen who killed himself are considered dangerously likely to make the same choice. The good news: 鈥淧revention is contagious, too.鈥�听

That鈥檚 why native communities are turning to social media campaigns like , trying to raise awareness that the pain experienced at the death of a loved one, especially the confusion and guilt survivors may feel when friends or siblings take their own lives, is not forever. .听

But standard prevention efforts may not be enough for teens whose daily lives are shaped by an overwhelming history of discrimination and isolation: According to the Aspen Institute, which has to support native youth, roughly one quarter of native Americans live in poverty, and only half of teens complete high school 鈥� a drop-out rate double the national average. Health crises, from alcoholism to tuberculosis, are far more rampant on reservations than elsewhere.听

Native youth are twice as likely to be abused, or die before 24, Tulalip Tribal Court (WA State) Judge Theresa M. Pouley told The Washington Post in 2014, adding 鈥淭heir experience with post-traumatic stress disorder from Afghanistan.鈥�

Until the 1970s, tens of thousands of native children were removed from home and educated in boarding schools that taught cultural assimilation as much as an academic curriculum, instilling shame and confusion about which identities they should embrace. But today鈥檚 suicide prevention activists are intent on restoring a sense of cultural belonging and pride that they say is key to teens鈥� well-being.

, a web resource touching on all aspects of teen health, is leading the way. Simply breaking the silence on an often-taboo topic is a step forward: Survivors step forward to share their experiences in videos like 听

鈥淚 draw strength from my heritage,鈥� one young woman tells the camera. We R Native鈥檚 prevention ambassador Jo-E-Dee also encourages teens dealing with suicide in their community to : Canoe journeys and pow-wows were part of her own journey back to health after her brother鈥檚 death.听

The community emphasis is unmistakable: one campaign poster assures teens. 鈥淢y story has just begun,鈥� one teen鈥檚 sign says, while next to her, a man鈥檚 poster reminds them, 鈥淵ou are a gift from the creator. You will pass on our traditions.鈥�

Research backs up a culturally relevant approach, combining standard mental health care with solutions tailored to each tribe. A for native communities, published by the US Department of Health and Human Services, tells counselors that 鈥渢he need to honor and respect Native culture ... cannot be overemphasized.鈥�

It鈥檚 the approach experts plan to in Alaska this week. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about relationships,鈥� coordinator James Gallanos told the Associated Press.