Who Are the Helpers? Patterns of Social Support in Rural Alaska Native Communities.

This article focuses on suicide prevention efforts within Alaska Native (AN) communities in remote Alaska by examining the supportive actions community members report engaging in to reduce suicide risk and promote mental wellness. Using baseline data from a 2019 study of 363 AN individuals aged 15 to 93, the research found widespread participation in various suicide prevention, postvention, and interpersonal support actions, with family and friends being the primary coactors rather than service providers. Women reported more interpersonal support activities than men, and younger AN people tended to engage more with peers while older individuals engaged more with family. The study underscores the importance of leveraging existing Indigenous social support networks and strengthening intergenerational connections as culturally responsive strategies for suicide prevention in these communities.