Community-Based Surveillance and Case Management for Suicide Prevention: An American Indian Tribally Initiated System

Authors:
  • ABAllison Barlow
    Allison Barlow
  • NGNovalene Goklish
    Novalene Goklish
  • FLFrancene Larzelere-Hinton
    Francene Larzelere-Hinton
  • LTLauren Tingey
    Lauren Tingey
  • MCMariddie Craig
    Mariddie Craig
  • RLRonnie Lupe
    Ronnie Lupe
  • JWJohn Walkup
    John Walkup
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Abstract
The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention highlights the importance of improving the timeliness, usefulness, and quality of national suicide surveillance systems, and expanding local capacity to collect relevant data. This article describes the background, methods, process data, and implications from the first-of-its-kind community-based surveillance system for suicidal and self-injurious behavior developed by the White Mountain Apache Tribe with assistance from Johns Hopkins University. The system enables local, detailed, and real-time data collection beyond clinical settings, with in-person follow-up to facilitate connections to care. Total reporting and the proportion of individuals seeking treatment have increased over time, suggesting that this innovative surveillance system is feasible, useful, and serves as a model for other communities and the field of suicide prevention.

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