Native Connections

If you or someone you know is in need of support, please contact the suicide prevention lifeline at 988
or call DIHFS at 303-953-6600 to schedule an appointment with our behavioral health department.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
We understand as Native people that our community experiences disproportionately high rates of suicide. It's essential that our relatives in crisis can access every possible support.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has updated their call and text phone number for people in crisis: 988. This new, easy-to-remember number went live across the country on July 16 with the goal of providing those in need with more immediately accessible care.

If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, you can now call or text 988 and be connected directly with a trained counselor who's ready to help. Services are free of charge, for all ages, and include translation services and accessibility features.

Click here to see the resources for Native callers.

Native Connections is a 5-year grant funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The purpose of this program is to prevent suicide and substance misuse, reduce the impact of trauma, and promote mental health among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth through the age of 24 years. Native Connections is intended to reduce the impact of mental and substance use disorders, foster culturally responsive models that reduce and respond to the impact of trauma in AI/AN communities, and allow AI/AN communities to facilitate collaboration among agencies to support youth as they transition into adulthood. To learn more about Native Connections click here.

CULTURE IS PREVENTION

At DIHFS, we believe that our communities, history, traditions, and culture hold a key to our overall health and well being. Protective factors such as personal wellness, positive self-image, self-efficacy, familial and non-familial connectedness, positive opportunities, positive social norms, and cultural connectedness can all help to reduce suicide and substance misuse. Implementing youth activities like culture classes and workshops that focus on topics such as beading, hand drum making, ribbon skirt making, ribbon shirt making, etc. have been shown to positively influence youth mental health.

Through the Native Connections program DIHFS will be implementing various youth activities, such as the ones identified above, on a regular basis. Activities will be held at DIHFS clinic and local partnering agencies. Take a look at the events calendar and sign up for our email list serv to stay up to date with what's going on, we hope to see you soon!