PC CARES was co-created through strong and trusting partnerships with researchers and communities and local leadership. The process led to nine learning circles, which we hosted by trained local facilitators in 12 remote Alaskan villages over the course for 3 years. Drawing on decades of suicide prevention research in Arctic Indigenous communities, the nine learning circles give research evidence a community platform in order for Alaskans to decide what’s next in their local efforts to end suicide.
By the end of the pilot study, the results were very promising. From 2015-17, local facilitators hosted 64 PC CARES learning circles in their villages, with 376 people attending. In surveys, PC CARES participants said they:
• learned useful information and skills for prevention,
• developed new ways of working with others in their community for wellness, and
• took actions for prevention and health in their villages.
These results show how PC CARES can increase community wellness, which can save lives.
The program was designed with and for communities in rural, Inupiaq Northwestern Alaska, then adapted to improve on the pilot and expand to a new region of Northwest Alaska. The total number of learning circles was reduced from 9 to 5, keeping what was most important, relevant, and potentially effective.
Now, PC CARES hosts school (virtually) and community learning circles that offer new ideas for suicide prevention and wellness, so people can have thoughtful conversations about that works for their communities and lives and how they can take action in meaningful ways within their social and geographic context. PC CARES at Home supplements and reminds people of their learning through care packages and social media engagement.