Building Communities of Hope

An official with the Navajo Nation talks about suicide at the kick off for the Building Communities of Hope tour. Submitted photo

An official with the Navajo Nation talks about suicide at the kick off for the Building Communities of Hope tour. Submitted photo

THOREAU, N.M. - The Building Communities of Hope tour, an initiative by the Navajo Nation executive branch, kicked off a six-day tour Dec. 14 at Thoreau High School to bring suicide awareness to schools and communities across the Navajo Nation.

As suicide rates remain high across Indian country and the Navajo Nation, the Office of the President and Vice President (OPVP) has taken measure to address the epidemic through the Building Communities of Hope tour.

"Our youth will lead us into the future," said Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye. "We must do everything we can to let them know they are special and they are loved. We need to protect our youth and continue to instill positivity and self-confidence in them."

As the tour got underway at Thoreau High School, Vice President Jonathan Nez said, "In this six-day tour, we are hitting the road to show the Navajo people that we mean business. One life taken is one life too many in our eyes."

Jessie McKenzie and TJ Anderson, both from the Department of Behavioral Health Service (DBHS), led the program with a presentation addressing questions and answers about suicide prevention and awareness.

McKenzie posed a direct question, "Are you thinking about hurting yourself or killing yourself?"

She went told students that if they are hurting, they really need to voice their pain and talk with someone they trust or feel they can confide in.

"Don't be afraid to ask questions," she said. "Speak up, reach out and know that you are not alone. Seek help from an adult you trust and don't give up. Keep asking until someone helps you."

Both McKenzie and Anderson recommended that affected youth should speak with teachers, school counselors, nurses, parents or friends. In critical situations, those who are considering suicide, and those who know someone who might be considering suicide, should call the nearest Navajo Nation Police Department dispatch and provide adequate information.

Echohawk Lefthand, a motivational speaker from Red Mesa, said that suicide has been a big problem in the area where he comes from. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem, he told the students.

"We all go through problems and we all face difficult situations in our lives," he said. "When we take difficult situations and turn them into positive things, we are able to grow through them."

Lefthand shared that within the last two months, he lost one of his best friends to suicide. His friend was a positive person who had great charisma. He wasn't someone who seemed like he would consider suicide.

"He told me that he had been thinking about suicide and I couldn't believe it," he said. "I asked him, 'How can you think like this?'"

Ultimately, Lefthand's friend took his own life, which in turn caused Lefthand to fall into depression. The impacts of suicide among the victim's family and friends can be lingering, deep-rooted and traumatic.

The tour's presentation included support and counseling services for those who have lost loved ones. Lefthand talked about his need to seek counseling in dealing with the grief he was feeling. Resources are available and were part of the topics discussed.

"The only way to get over depression is to go through it. You're going to cry but you have to go through it," he said.

Dominic Romero, head principal at Thoreau High School, said the Building Communities of Hope tour was of critical importance because it let the students know that the Navajo Nation cares about them and that their lives are truly special.

"This is huge and it's important because we don't know what a lot of these kids go through with their families," he said. "Even though they might not be suicidal, possibly someone in their family has been affected by suicide. Bringing in the Navajo Nation and other Native Americans to talk about it is a huge part of awareness. Being able to have a child come in and talk with somebody is vital and it will save a life."

Organizer of the tour and executive assistant with OPVP, Yvonne Billison said the numbers of suicides on the Navajo Nation are high and the OPVP hopes to affect these numbers by bringing them down.

"We are going to need everyone's help to do this," she said. "This is a really tough subject and it impacts all of us. However, we all have choices and through outreach and available resources, we can make everything better for ourselves."

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