Home » Our Departments » Wabanaki Public Health » Our Future Generations » Our Future Generations » Kcitpahsuwet (Suicide Prevention)/Youth Leadership Development
The Kcitpahsuwet Division aims to prevent intentional and unintentional injury and reduce injury related disability and death by providing culturally appropriate and trauma informed programming within our tribal communities with a special focus on youth and their caregivers.
The Kcitpahsuwet program focuses on providing hope and opportunities for our future generations. Offering suicide prevention education and trainings for our tribal members, service providers and community partners. Our goal is to help prevent suicide by increasing awareness; provide opportunities to learn and be trained on how to identify warning signs and symptoms; provide skills in preventing and responding to suicidal behavior and crisis; while also emphasizing our culture is prevention and promoting resilience. Efforts within our Suicide Prevention Program aimed at increasing cultural belonging for prevention of suicide include community cultural activities, intertribal gatherings, elders’ teachings for youth, and creation of spiritual places for ceremony.
Our work focuses on increasing protective factors, encouraging healthy behaviors and relationships, and supporting traditional knowledge sharing opportunities within our communities for the promotion of mental health and wellbeing. Some programming and activities include, anti-bullying curriculum for youth grades k-college, information dissemination at Health Fairs and through social media campaigns, and monthly caregiver educational opportunities.
Student Success; Student Success Program goal is to promote overall intergenerational well-being of Wabanaki students, their families, and communities by overcoming barriers, training and working to close the gaps of education. Through student success Wabanaki students will gain the confidence needed to self-advocate, navigate issues, and transition effectively to ensure their success.
Our Wabanaki Veterans Program is committed to improving our Indigenous veteran’s mental health. Our programming promotes connectedness through peer programs, community engagement activities, cultural-based events, claims clinics and veteran familial supports. Using documented research and evidence-based strategies, We work with Wabanaki veterans and their families to reduce the risk of suicide and improve their mental health and overall lifestyle
