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Chrstine Faris, Psy.D., is a 2024 graduate of the PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, Santa Barbara

Committee:

  • Brett Kia-Keating, EdD, Chairperson
  • Stephen Southern, EdD, Committee Member
  • Michael Pines, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

suicide, American Indian/Alaska Native, historical trauma, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, prevention, intervention

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

Suicide is a significant public health concern across the world. It is the second leading cause of death for children and young adults ages 10-34 (CDC, 2016). In 2021, suicide rates were highest among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons, and AI/AN youths had the highest rates of suicide compared to their same-aged peers from other racial and ethnic groups (Stone, Mack, & Qualters, 2021). Historical trauma, or unresolved trauma caused by colonization that gets passed down from generation to generation, has been used as a framework for understanding the high rates of social problems and suicide that plague AI/AN communities. Treating suicide and trauma-related symptoms requires an awareness of the historical factors that contribute to contemporary psychosocial problems. This paper will review the research on suicide risk and protective factors, suicide prevention strategies, and therapeutic interventions. This writer proposes a culturally-tailored trauma-informed treatment program specific to AI/AN youth who are impacted by intergenerational trauma and suicide. The program will build on Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), a treatment that has demonstrated effectiveness with children and adolescents who are struggling with trauma symptoms. AI/AN traditional cultural beliefs and practices will be incorporated into the model, with an emphasis on cultural identity and spirituality. This twelve-week group treatment program will be developed for AI/AN adolescents and their families, and the interventions will focus on psychoeducation, skill building, trauma narration, trauma processing, safety planning, and strengthening family relationships. Unique elements of the program include interventions that are specifically focused on preventing suicidality and processing historical trauma. The hope is that this approach to treatment will serve as a guideline for addressing historical trauma related symptoms and suicidality in AI/AN community mental health settings. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA, https://aura.antioch.edu/ and OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu.

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ORCID: 0009-0009-9821-7489

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