Audio Clip Navajo Officials Call For Emergency Funds To Address String Of Suicides

Navajo officials have called for a state of emergency following a recent string of suicides. Tribal and health officials have met this week to discuss how to address the problem.

Four Navajo people from the same community have committed suicide since mid-August — two young people and two adults.

Council Delegate Jonathan Hale, who heads the health, education and human services committee, said a state of emergency would free up more funds to address the problem.

Hale said the executive branch of the Navajo Nation, Indian Health Service and tribal contract health care providers each receive federal funding for suicide prevention.

“So they get a piece of pie but they all don’t communicate,” Hale said. “Why aren’t you entities communicating?”

Hale said the suicides have served as a wake-up call.

He said culturally, death isn’t really discussed. But if it’s approached as bullying or stress or from a different angle, Hale said maybe they can get at the cause.

American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest rate of suicide of any racial or ethnic group in the U.S.