The typical pathologist can only rule a death suicide if there is an actual suicide note and since study show that only one in five suicides leave a note this means many deaths that are possible suicide are being ruled suspicious or undetermined.

Oklahoma only has one Chief Medial Examiner, he is the only one with the authority to investigate and determine a suspicious death to be suicide. Since he is only able by himself to review less than 50% of the suspicious deaths in Oklahoma that means that over 50% of the suspicious deaths go uninvestigated.

• In Oklahoma Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death ages 10-34. Males account for 80% of suicides.
• By age, rates are highest in the 30-49 year old age group (this is not typical). [Typically in the USA it is the elderly, followed closely by teens; however in Native American communities the teens have the highest rate of suicide.]
• Oklahoma is now considered one of the leading states for Native American Indian Suicides and high-risk youth activity.
• For ages 10-24, the suicide death rate for Oklahoma’s Native Americans is 50% higher than the rate for the U.S. for all other races combined.
• Firearms are the leading cause of suicide deaths, followed by suffocation and poisoning.
• In our area we have experienced an average of one suicide death every month for the last year
• It is estimated that a high percentage of deaths ruled accidental are actually suicides
• Although, White males have the highest number of overall deaths by suicide, the Native American males ranked second to the White males and ranked higher than the African American and Hispanic Americans males, both state and nationwide. (however per capita Native Americans have the highest rate)
• Statistical findings from the C.D.C. reports that Native American males are four times more likely to commit suicide.
• Oklahoma has the second highest; population of Native American Indians in the Nation. With (39) federally recognized tribes within its boundaries
• “Suicide Clusters” are phenomena known to occur only in Indian Country, and affect entire communities.

In May we traveled to Miami Oklahoma to the Quapaw Tribe. Howard led two days of QPR training. The people that attended came from many different professions, including police officers and health care professionals. It was great to see so many interested in helping their community battle suicide. We are excited to see first responders being trained in QPR.

[Just some facts I found interesting about the Quapaw Tribe.  The name "Quapaw" is a derivative of the tribal term Ugakhpa, meaning "down stream people." These people belong to the Dhegiha subdivision of the Sioux. It is believed that this group originally resided in the Ohio Valley. The tribe left this region following the Ohio River downstream to the Mississippi River and eventually to the land which is now Arkansas. This is where the Quapaw stayed until they were pushed out by Euro-Americans several hundred years later. . They split into the tribes known today as the Quapaw, Osage, Ponca, Kansa, and Omaha when they left the Ohio Valley.
Arkansas is also named after the Quapaw. In the mid 1600's the French explores, Marquette and Joliet, when traveling down the Mississippi used the Illini Indians as their guides. The guides referred to the Quapaw tribe as "Akansea" - People of the South Wind. This was the name the Illini Indians had given them in their own language, and that was how the French had written it down on their maps.]

Howard also was invited to the Native American Methodist Conference in Oklahoma City to do the QPR Training. With the growing epidemic of suicides in Oklahoma many are recognizing the need for tools of intervention. This was one of the largest training classes Howard has had to date. The district superintendent said “this was the largest turn out they have had in quite some time for their annual continuing education course.

This group was very interested in suicide intervention and prevention methods. We were surprised at the willingness to discuss the subject and the multitude of questions that they had .It seemed their interest level was very high, we are not sure if it is because they are Pastors or because they have seen the devastating effects of suicide in their communities. One thing is for sure, Christians are not exempt from the tragedy of suicide. Several of the church leaders are interested in having their staff and lay persons participate in a QPR Training.

ASIST Training

Cedar Creek Dedication

• June 12 -19 one of our supporting Churches, Dunedin Baptist Church, from Florida is coming to serve.
• June 25-27 Broken Walls, Sing to the Mountain Native American Music Festival at Camp Y’Shua. Details on www.brokenwalls.com
• The month of June we have Mary Kate and her son from Hebron Church, in PA coming to serve for the month
• June 29-July 5 yeah! Family visit from Howard’s sister Carol and her husband Ray.