The Zuni Life Skills Development Program: a school/community-based suicide prevention intervention

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Psychology
• Indigenous Studies

Background:

• Suicide prevention among American Indian youth requires culturally relevant interventions.
• Community-initiated programs can be effective but face sustainability challenges.
• Tailoring interventions is crucial for diverse tribal populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To feature the Zuni Life Skills Development Program, a high-school-based suicide prevention intervention.
• To present the American Indian Life Skills Development Curriculum as a culturally informed, hybrid model.
• To discuss challenges in community-based participatory research for intervention development.

Main Methods:

• Development and evaluation of the Zuni Life Skills Development Program.
• Adaptation and presentation of a culturally tailored curriculum for diverse American Indian tribes.
• Reflection on collaborative community-based research processes.

Main Results:

• The Zuni program demonstrated effectiveness as a community-initiated intervention.
• A hybrid curriculum model was developed to accommodate diverse American Indian cultural beliefs.
• Program stabilization presented unique challenges in community-based research.

Conclusions:

• Culturally informed interventions are vital for American Indian youth suicide prevention.
• A hybrid approach can balance broad applicability with cultural specificity.
• Community-based research requires careful consideration of collaboration and sustainability.