Season 14 • Episode 1117

Youth Suicide Prevention on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation

Oct 12, 2026

23:00

Public Health Suicide Prevention Mental Health Global Health

Episode Description

About this episode:

Suicide rates in the U.S. are highest among American Indian and Alaska Native populations and are concentrated among young people. Personal brushes with this devastation sparked members of the White Mountain Apache tribe to develop an innovative and community-centered suicide prevention program. In this episode: Novalene Alsenay Goklish and Emily Haroz of the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health discuss the impact of the Celebrating Life program and how its deep roots in the tribal community allow caseworkers and staff to connect directly with those in need.

Note: This episode includes discussions of suicidality and suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, there is 24-hour assistance in the United States available by dialing 988.

Guest:

Novalene Alsenay Goklish, DrPH, MS, is an assistant scientist with the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health.

Emily Edmunds Haroz, PhD, MHS, MA, is an associate professor of International Health and Mental Health, and a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health.

Host:

Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast, an editor for The Uptake, and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Show links and related content:

Celebrating Life—Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health
Suicide Prevention Programs for Native American Youth—Bloomberg American Health Initiative
Decreases in Suicide Deaths and Attempts Linked to the White Mountain Apache Suicide Surveillance and Prevention System, 2001–2012—American Journal of Public Health
Suicide Data and Statistics—CDC
Why the Health of Indigenous People Impacts Us All—Public Health On Call (October 2022)

Transcript information:

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