A public health approach: Documenting the risk and protective factors of suicide ideation in one American Indian community.

Suicide is the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States, and between 1999 and 2009 the greatest increases in suicide were among American Indians and Alaska Natives. The present study highlights the efforts of 1 American Indian community to prevent suicide using the public health approach as a framework. A survey was developed and administered by the community between March 2014 and July 2014 at various community events. The sample included 100 participants with a mean age of 15.62 years. Questions related to stress, suicide ideation, anxiety, self-esteem, and antisocial behaviors. Results from this study indicate that depression and stressful life events are the strongest predictors of suicide ideation among tribal youth. (PsycINFO Database Record