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Oglala Sioux Working To Combat Youth Suicide On Reservation

KYLE, S.D. (AP) — Residents of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation are wrapping up their final day of a three-day effort to address the youth suicide epidemic on the reservation.

Since late December, five young reservation residents have killed themselves, and members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe are seeking solutions to prevent more deaths. The Rapid City Journal reports ( ) that about 80 people went to the Oglala Lakota College on Wednesday to find ways to prevent youth suicides.

Some students attributed the high number of suicides to bullying. But Mariah Bravo, a senior at Pine Ridge High School, cited a lack of attention from parents and drugs and alcohol abuse as key factors.

For the final day of the conference, attendees plan to prepare a strategy to combat youth suicides.

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Information from: Rapid City Journal,