Alaska Native Community
Resilience Study (ANCRS)
Promoting Community and Cultural Strengths as Suicide Prevention for Youth Living in Rural Alaska

All communities have strengths.
Every community has been impacted by suicide. 

The ANCRS Research Study builds on long-term collaborations with researchers working with Alaska Native communities to develop interventions to reduce suicide risk through strengths-based and culturally-centered models of protection and health promotion.

ANCRS will ask:
 — What makes Alaska Native communities strong?
— How are Alaska Native communities drawing on their strengths to support youth wellness and resilience and reduce the burden of suicide?

ANCRS includes 64 communities in three regions:
— Yukon Kuskokwim
— Northwest Arctic
— Bering Strait

ANCRS will explore the relationship between community protective factors and youth suicide risk and resilience.

 ANCRS Ultimate Goal 
ANCRS’ ultimate goal is to develop a tool for communities to strategically map and build their resilience and resources for youth wellness and prevention of risk for suicide.

The Research Steering Committee (RSC)
The Research Steering Committee (RSC) provides oversight and direction for ANCRS. The RSC is made up of members from the three regions participating in the study and broadly represent the rural communities, tribal organizations and other local and regional health, social services and educational programs and agencies. 


Alaska Native
Community Resilience
& Protective Factors

Cultural Continuity
  • Cultural practices 
  • Subsistence activities 
  • Alaska Native language fluency and instruction 
Self-Determination/Local Control
  • Active tribal government
  •  Local community input
Effective Services
  • Culturally responsive services
    and schools 
Community Development
  •  Community opportunities & support Positive community relationships 
Spirituality and Religion
  • Strong churches 
  • Strong traditional spirituality