Congressional Bill Would Address Suicide, Second Leading Cause Of Death Among Native American Young Adults

Published: Wednesday, March 27, 2019 - 12:46pm
Updated: Wednesday, March 27, 2019 - 2:53pm
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Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva is among a bipartisan group of representatives and senators sponsoring a bill called the Native American Suicide Prevention Act, but it's not the first time the bill has been introduced in Congress.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Native Americans between the ages of 15-24, and the suicide rate among Native populations is over double the national average, according to Erik Stegman.

Stegman is the executive director of the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute, he joined The Show to discuss the issue.

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (En Español: 1-888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889) or the Crisis Text Line by texting 741741.   

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