KOTA Territory NewsRosebud Sioux Tribe declares state of emergency on reservation suicides

Rosebud Sioux Tribe declares state of emergency on reservation suicides

Lela French

For nearly a decade teen suicide has been one of the biggest problems on the Rosebud Reservation.

"The belief right now is that it is at a crisis state," says Tillie Black Bear Executive Director of White Buffalo Calf Women.

But in the past two years the problem has gotten even worse.

Lino Spotted Elk is one of many fathers who had to deal with the loss of his son who committed suicide two years ago at the age of 19.

"It's really impacted myself and my family as far as of course the loss of a loved one. But also you know the way he went. You don't expect to bury your child," says Lino Spotted Elk.

But many parents have had to do just that.

Council members say in the past two years there were more than four hundred suicide attempts at least 10 of those were successful, and most were teenage boys.

Which is why tribal council members are declaring a state of emergency.

"The task force right now is attempting to bring together all the different agencies and programs on the reservation that are addressing suicide in anyway," says Black Bear.

Black bear says alcohol and drugs play a huge role in the number of suicides, but each case is different.

Social problems, depression, and poverty also contribute to the numbers.

"Many of these teens don't recognize that they're just at this place and time at this particular moment that tomorrow things could be different," says Black Bear.

Some prevention measures are already in place, but Spotted Elk says parents should just do what he regrets not doing.

"Spend more time with your children and do more things with them, you know in the prevention aspect. To help other parents prevent this from happening," says Spotted Elk.

If you are interested in helping, a benefit concert is being held in Custer at the Lutheran Fellowship Church Sunday, August 12th at 5:00PM.

For more information you can call the White Buffalo Calf Woman Society, Inc. at 605-856-2317