TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2020//
TI  - A Pilot Evaluation of Culture Camps to Increase Alaska Native Youth Wellness
JO  - Health promotion practice
A1  - Barnett, Jodi D.
A1  - Schmidt, Tara C.
A1  - Trainor, Bridie
A1  - Wexler, Lisa
SP  - 363
EP  - 371
VL  - 21
IS  - 3
N2  - Suicide is a significant health disparity among Alaska Native youth, which is linked to cultural disruptions brought about by colonialism and historical trauma. Many Indigenous suicide prevention efforts center on revitalizing and connecting youth to their culture to promote mental health and resilience. A common cultural approach to improve psychosocial outcomes is youth culture camps, but there has been little evaluation research to test this association. Here, we conduct a pilot evaluation of a 5-day culture camp developed in two remote regions of Alaska. The camps bring together Alaska Native youth from villages in these regions to take part in subsistence activities, develop new relationships, develop life skills, and learn traditional knowledge and values. This pilot evaluation of the culture camps uses a quantitative pre/post design to examine the outcomes of self-esteem, emotional states, belongingness, mattering to others, and coping skills among participants. <br><br>RESULTS indicate that culture camps can significantly increase positive mood, feelings of belongingness, and perceived coping of participants. Culture camps are a common suicide prevention effort in Indigenous circumpolar communities, and although limited in scope and design, this pilot evaluation offers some evidence to support culture camps as a health promotion intervention that can reduce suicide risk.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1524-8399
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1524839918824078
ID  - ref1
ER  -