Mescalero schools get suicide prevention funds

MESCALERO, N.M. (AP) – The Mescalero Apache Schools will receive $48,000 from the U.S. Department of Education to fund services to help prevent suicide among teens and young adults.

The Mescaleros experienced at least four suicides by young tribal members during a two-month period last fall. The federal grant funds emergency services to schools that experience a “traumatic event that disrupts the learning environment.”

Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., says teen suicide is tearing apart too many Native American families. He says the Mescalero funding will help young people manage difficult emotional times by offering support in their schools and communities.

Udall says he is working to combat an epidemic of teen suicides in Indian Country.