Diversity Fellow Project, Tori Standing Cloud
Suicide Prevention Resources Safe & Confidential Support
I was inspired to provide awareness on suicide prevention because I am very passionate about suicide prevention and helping the youth. Suicide is on the rise and I want to encourage others to be educated on this topic and to learn about resources that others can use if they or someone they know are at-risk of suicide. I feel that it is important to increase awareness about suicide on the Rosebud Reservation because among Native Americans, ages 15 to 24, suicide rates are the highest compared to other groups (Racine, 2016). “A study of suicide rates from 1999 to 2014 revealed that Native Americans have the largest suicide rate increase among all groups, and that national suicide rates are the highest in thirty years,” (Racine, 2016, para., 3).
I gathered resources, which consists of various texting options as well as phone numbers, available 24 hours a day/7 days a week, people can call for help or if feeling suicidal from my community as well as resources used statewide. I placed the information on a flyer, along with cards, to disperse throughout my community. I distributed the flyers and cards in the local hospital, health clinic, grocery store, Subway, restaurant, laundromat, the boys and girls club, and schools. I also held a community-awareness meeting at Sinte Gleska University to inform members of Rosebud Sioux tribe about the availability of these resources, and encouraged them to distribute the cards and flyers.
The purpose of my project is to provide a more-up to-date, “youth focused” approach to dealing with youth and suicide. By providing these resources, the youth are encouraged to text, call, email, or instant message with trained professionals. With youth being so involved with technology, these options are a great way to allow a person to express how they feel and reach out for help in an undisclosed manner. The community can find my flyers and cards in schools, local businesses, and clinics around the Rosebud Reservation, which is located in south central, South Dakota. References Racine, E. (2016, May 5). “Native Americans facing highest suicide rates,”Lakota’s People’s Law Project. Retrieved from https://www.lakotalaw.org/news/2016-05-12/native-americans-facing-highest-suicide-rates.
Suicide Prevention Resources Safe & Confidential Support (small card) [download]Suicide Prevention Resources Safe & Confidential Support (poster) [download]
Project Narrative
1. Please describe your activities during your Fellowship experience. Describe your final capstone project(s).
During my Fellowship experience I was able to attend various clinics, conferences and trainings. I attended a lot of mental health-focused activities such as suicide and crisis prevention, PTSD awareness, and mental health and first aid training. For my project I plan on bringing awareness to the resources both on and off our reservation for suicide prevention. My plan for disseminating these resources will be done through flyers, cards, and eventually a poster. On these flyers and cards will be resources from the Rosebud reservation as well as resources statewide.
My goal for this project is to provide a more up to date, “youth focused” approach to dealing with youth and suicide. By providing these resources, the youth are encouraged to text, call, email, or instant message with trained professionals. With youth being so involved with technology, these options are a great way to allow a person to express how they feel and reach out for help in an undisclosed manner. I gathered resources, which consists of various texting options as well as phone numbers, available 24 hours a day/7 days a week, people can call for help or if feeling suicidal from my community as well as resources used statewide.
I placed the information on a flyer, along with cards, to disperse throughout my community. I distributed the flyers and cards in the local hospital, health clinic, grocery store, Subway, restaurant, laundromat, the boys and girls club, and schools. I also held a community-awareness meeting at Sinte Gleska University to inform members of Rosebud Sioux tribe about the availability of these resources, and encouraged them to distribute the cards and flyers.
2. Who did your project inform, help, influence or impact? (UCEDD, individual, community, state) How?
My project is directed towards the youth in my area, as well as educators, and family members. I want to help the youth, simply because in it is known that Native Americans have higher rates of suicide than any other ethnicity. I hope to impact the community and help others reach out for help. By providing various different resources both on and off the reservation, it gives an individual the options to choose how they want to reach out. Whether it be by calling, texting, email, or different apps that they can download on a smart phone.
3. Why did you choose to work on that project(s)?
I was inspired to provide awareness on suicide prevention because I am very passionate about suicide prevention and helping the youth. Suicide is on the rise, and I want to encourage others to be educated on this topic and learn about resources that others can use if they or someone they know are at-risk of suicide. I also chose this project to provide my area with resources from all over the state of South Dakota. I feel that it is important to increase awareness about suicide on the Rosebud Reservation because among Native Americans, ages 15 to 24, suicide rates are the highest compared to other groups
4. What did you gain from being a Diversity Fellow?
By being a Diversity Fellow I gained a great amount of knowledge and experience. I also gained a lot of insight as to what obstacles people face when trying to help, not only their children, but helping other people’s children in their struggles. Whether it was through Autism clinics, FASD clinics, or various types of mental health disorders I observed through the opportunities in the program, I gained deeper insights and many contacts from these experiences. I met lots of people who were interested in helping me and who want to help me succeed.
5. How will this experience impact your education or career decisions?
This experience has impacted my education by allowing me to become more knowledgeable about certain topics. Especially when it comes to people with disabilities. It has allowed me to learn more about what I can do to bring awareness to help others. For my career decisions, this experience has allowed me to seek employment in a field that I did not see myself doing at first. I hope to continue to gain knowledge and experience and one day be able to return to my reservation to be able to provide services where needed.
6. What are your future goals? Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
My future goals are to continue my schooling and to pursue a career working with youth, more specifically, Native American youth. In five years I hope to continue being successful and making a difference in people’s lives. 7. What recommendations do you have for other Fellows? I would recommend to others to take advantage of all the opportunities presented to you. I would also recommend to gain as much knowledge as you can, as well as presenting yourself to others and making those connections. You never know who you will meet and who can help change your life.