201: Strengthening Community-Led Suicide Prevention for Future Generations
11:30-12:30pm
General Track 1
Ki Nswe’-Ki Nye;w
Mtg Rooms 3&4
Native youth in Michigan are navigating challenges that call for culturally grounded and community-led responses. According to the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth (MiPHY) data, nearly half (46.6%) of American Indian/Alaska Native high school students surveyed reported persistent sadness or hopelessness. Alarmingly, 22.1% seriously considered suicide, 28.5% made a plan, and 16% attempted suicide. These challenges often intersect with early- and high-risk substance use, with almost 20% reporting past-month cannabis use, and up to 25% reporting alcohol use before age 13. These trends underscore the urgent need for prevention models that draw on community strengths and reinforce protective relationships, such as with parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles, and coaches.
This presentation introduces PC CARES (Promoting Community Conversations About Research to End Suicide), a community-centered suicide prevention model that shares bite-sized pieces of research and encourages discussions intended to inspire local solutions to youth suicide and at-risk substance use. PC CARES was developed in partnership with Alaska Native communities and is now being implemented with participating Michigan tribal communities. The session will highlight relational learning and respect for community-driven solutions, which can strengthen communities and support prevention efforts.
This presentation aligns with the conference theme, “Sending a Message to Future Generations,” by centering what Native youth in Michigan are experiencing right now and how communities can respond with care, cultural strength, and collective responsibility. The troubling numbers from the Michigan YRBS and MiPHY reflect the everyday realities young people are facing and highlight the importance of creating environments where they feel seen, supported, and connected. PC CARES offers a way for community members to engage in peer-led Learning Circles that honor community knowledge, encourage conversation, and strengthen protective relationships. Through this process, communities can shape the messages of belonging, identity, and hope that future generations will carry forward.
Lead By:
Dr. Elizabeth Evans (Keweenaw Bay Indian Community), Research Faculty, University of Michigan-Institute for Social Research
Dr. Elizabeth Evans is a proud member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and a community-engaged researcher with more than 20 years of experience partnering with tribal communities to strengthen health, wellness, and prevention initiatives. She holds a Doctorate in Health Administration and a Master’s in Social Work. Dr. Evans is Research Faculty at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, where she leads and collaborates on projects that advance culturally grounded approaches to suicide prevention, substance use prevention, community learning, and behavioral health. Her work centers on honoring Indigenous knowledge, supporting community-driven decision-making, and building sustainable pathways that promote the well-being of future generations. She has also served as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. She brings extensive experience in program implementation, evaluation, strategic planning, and multi-sector collaboration.