Mashantucket — For years, the American Indian/Alaska Native demographic group has seen some of the highest rates of suicide in the United States, especially among youth.

From 2012 to 2013, for example, 18- to 24-year-old members of the group saw 22.5 suicide deaths per 100,000 population. Nationwide, the rate was 12.8 per 100,000.

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation hasn’t experienced suicide attempt rates like that of other tribes, tribal member Scott Barton said. In that regard, he said, the tribe has been “blessed.”

Still, suicide remains an issue within the community. A recent University of Connecticut study shows teens in school districts surrounding the tribe attempt suicide at a rate that’s considered “average” as opposed to “lower than expected.”

It’s an issue that could get worse, too, as substance abuse — a known risk factor for suicide and one that also disproportionally affects Native Americans — worsens regionally and nationally.

With that in mind, the tribe last fall secured a five-year, approximately $980,000 grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. With it, tribal officials launched a project called Skeehch Wuyeekan, Pequot for “good medicine.”

Barton, who’s overseeing the project, said the tribe sought the grant “to put a system in place early on to protect, educate and provide intervention and prevention tools for our community in order to avoid adding to those statistics.”

Since October last year, he has been working with a host of partners — tribal elders, parents of tribal youth, mental health professionals, an independent project evaluator and agencies such as United Community and Family Services and the Arc of New London County — to figure out how best to do that. Barton has received assistance, too, from project assistant Leyanna Minnis.

Together, they’ve conducted surveys and interviews to better understand where the community stands in terms of preventative readiness. They’ve assessed what resources already exist for substance abuse and suicide prevention, too, and are in the final stages of putting together a strategic action plan.

“Our overall goal and purpose is to provide our entire community with tools so they can properly identify someone who might be contemplating suicide or have substance abuse issues, and empower them to effectively assist friends and family in getting appropriate help,” Barton explained.

Although Mashantucket Pequot tribal youth ages 7 to 24 are the target audience for the grant, Barton said the grant’s work will reach beyond that.

“In Native culture, we believe that it takes a village to raise a child,” he said. “As such, we hope to come together as a community in unity from elders to youth, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins, Native and non-native, to raise awareness about real-life issues and how to deal with them appropriately.”

Barton envisions community trainings, youth-centered events and marketing campaigns over the next four years. He knows Angela Duhaime, coordinator of Norwich’s Partnership for Success grant, is pursuing similar initiatives. He said the duo met recently to discuss how they might join resources for training on, say, opioid misuse in the future.

Barton said organizers additionally want to work toward overcoming some of the stigma regarding substance abuse and suicide throughout Native American and Alaska Native communities.

“We want our youth to know that their experiences are not where their stories end, but where their stories begin,” he said.

Most upcoming grant-funded events will reflect tribal culture and thus will be limited to members of the community, Barton said. He explained that many of the programs and resources he plans to tap into already are available to those outside the Mashantucket community — they just aren’t tailored to tribal culture as Barton’s events will be.

Barton noted that the tribe plans to continue hosting the Children's Mental Health Awareness Day event at the Mashantucket Pequot Community Center. It’s a free, family-friendly event that’s been taking place on the first Thursday in May for nearly 10 years. It’s open to anyone who wants to come.

“Most of our tribal members reside off the reservation, and many live in surrounding towns,” he said. “Because of this, it's important for us to partner with local agencies and service providers and explore ways we can help all of our communities.”

The number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1 (800) 273-8255. For more information, visit www.preventsuicidect.org.

l.boyle@theday.com