Addressing Suicide Clusters in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities E303

Course Summary

Practice Level: Intermediate

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities continue to face strikingly high suicide rates, particularly among adolescents and young adults. They are a particularly devastating phenomenon that can ripple through tight-knit AI/AN communities, compounding grief and increasing the risk of additional losses. The aim of this learning material is to provide current, evidence-based information on suicide clusters within AI/AN populations and to equip social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists with practical strategies for prevention, intervention, and postvention. This learning material builds upon SAMHSA’s foundational report, Suicide Clusters within American Indian and Alaska Native Communities: A Review of the Literature and Recommendations (2017), while incorporating recent research findings, emerging best practices, and a deeper understanding of culturally responsive approaches to suicide prevention.

This learning material provides a comprehensive review of the continuum of care, prevention, intervention, and postvention, with specific attention to the unique cultural, historical, and community contexts that shape suicide risk and resilience in AI/AN communities. It examines historical trauma and its ongoing influence, identifies both risk and protective factors specific to AI/AN populations, and highlights the central role of family and community in all phases of suicide cluster response. Second, and significantly, this learning material includes case studies that illustrate the practical application of effective strategies in real-world settings. These case examples demonstrate how communities have successfully implemented culturally responsive approaches to identify individuals at risk, provide appropriate interventions, and support healing after a loved one has died by suicide. This offering aims to strengthen the capacity of AI/AN communities by providing learners with the information needed to prevent suicide clusters, respond effectively when they occur, and promote healing and resilience in their aftermath.

Course Format

This course contains downloadable online lessons (PDF) and a practice test.

Learning Objectives

1. Define the concept of suicide clusters. 
2. Describe the effects of suicide clusters on American Indian and Alaska Native communities. 
3. Explain the influence of historical trauma on suicide prevalence in modern AI/AN communities. 
4. Identify risk and protective factors specific to the population. 
5. Describe effective culturally sensitive and community-based approaches for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. 

Course Syllabus

• Introduction 
• Suicide Clusters 
  • Suicide Clusters in Native American Communities 
  • Prevalence of Suicide and Suicide Clusters in AI/AN Communities 
  • Importance of Addressing Suicide Clusters in AI/AN Communities 
• The Role of Historical Trauma 
• Risk Factors 
  • Mental Health Diagnoses 
  • Multiple Co-Occurring Conditions 
  • Previous Suicide Attempts 
  • Recent Suicide Ideation 
  • Other Risk Considerations 
  • Warning Signs of Suicide Risk 
• Protective Factors 
• Community-Based and Culturally Responsive Strategies 
  • Prevention 
  • The Role of Family 
  • Identification of Individuals at Risk 
  • Culturally-Responsive Counseling Techniques 
  • Clinical and Cultural Significance of Thwarted Belongingness, Historical Trauma, and 
  • Self-Determination 
  • Community Prevention and Stigma 
  • Intersectionality 
• Culturally-Grounded Strategies for Intervening With Individuals at Risk 
• Culturally-Responsive Postvention 
• Summary 

Author

Geralyn Dexter, PhD, LMHC

Geralyn Dexter, PhD, LMHC (she/her/hers) is a psychology professor, researcher, writer, and licensed therapist with 15 years of experience providing clinical care. She received a PhD in Psychology from National University, a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Florida. Dr. Dexter’s recent scholarly work includes writing an encyclopedia entry on motivational enhancement therapy for the Sage Encyclopedia of Anxiety and Mood Disorders and delivering a poster presentation on clinicians’ emotional responses to working with clients who disclose suicidal thoughts and behaviors at the American Association of Suicidology’s 2024 annual conference. She will also be presenting at the 2026 Suicide Research Symposium. 

Dr. Dexter currently serves as a team lead and psychology faculty at Southern New Hampshire University. She supports individuals at risk for suicide as a clinical on-call supervisor and response services coordinator for an organization that conducts outreach to individuals expressing suicidality. Her writing on mental health and substance use have been featured in national media outlets and publications. 

Accreditation Approval Statements

CE4Less.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE4Less.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CE4Less.com, provider #1115, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/8/24-8/8/27.

Social workers completing this course receive 3 cultural competence continuing education credits.

This course has been approved by CE4Less.com, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #91345, CE4Less.com is responsible for all aspects of the programing.

We are committed to providing our learners with unbiased information. CE4Less never accepts commercial support and our authors have no significant financial or other conflicts of interest pertaining to the material.