Diné College Conference Blends Western and Traditional Knowledge for Suicide Prevention
TSAILE, ARIZ., Diné College successfully hosted the Sihasin Beeiiná Suicide Prevention Conference on Oct. 29, 2025, bringing together more than 200 community members, students, and professionals to explore suicide prevention through both Western and traditional Diné perspectives. The event, held at the Diné College Gymnasium, cultivated a collaborative environment to share vital information and resources.
The conference addressed the complexities of suicide prevention by integrating clinical approaches with deeply rooted cultural teachings. Travis L. Teller, Student Mental Health Coordinator at Diné College and the event’s Master of Ceremonies, emphasized the importance of this dual approach.
“The biggest thing was to get the message across of what suicide is and how to prevent suicide,” Teller said. “It was a team effort to provide all of this information to prevent suicide from happening. We set an example here at Diné College, being the first of its kind, actually, to implement a lot of that Navajo traditional philosophy.”
The day began with an invocation by Diné College Professor Dr. Avery Denny, who shared traditional perspectives on the significance of life and preventative measures found in Diné philosophy. The keynote address was delivered by Robertson Taylor of Chinle Indian Health Service (IHS) Counseling Services, who discussed the Zero Suicide Initiative.
A key feature of the conference was a panel discussion featuring representatives from the Zero Suicide Initiative, IHS Counseling Services, Native Medicine, the Division of Behavioral & Mental Health Services, and the Navajo Nation Police Department Public Safety. The panel addressed community questions about access to mental health services, including the potential for online counseling to serve remote populations.
Honorable Judge Cynthia Thompson delivered a powerful address that moved many attendees, speaking on the traumatic experiences and mental health challenges affecting children in the community. Other sessions included presentations on Diné holistic health by faculty member Lorenzo Max and discussions on resilience from a Diné perspective. The conference concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Jeremiah Barber of the Diné College Psychology Department.
The event drew attendees from across the Navajo Nation, including Chinle, Tuba City, and Kaibeto. Due to the overwhelmingly positive feedback, organizers are planning to host similar conferences at other Diné College campuses in the future.
“We got a lot of good feedback,” Teller stated. “Everyone really enjoyed how we hosted the suicide prevention conference. They want to do it again.”
Travis Teller expressed deep gratitude to everyone who contributed to the conference’s success. “I’d like to thank the Diné College faculty, staff, and students for their active participation and ongoing support,” Teller said. He also acknowledged Charlotte Hadley and her team in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Chinle Service Unit, and the Division of Behavioral & Mental Health Services for their collaboration. Additional thanks were extended to the Diné Studies and Psychology Departments, daily counseling services, Honorable Judge Cynthia Thompson, Navajo Nation Police Department, and all resource providers who shared their expertise and support. Teller added, “This event was truly a team effort, and I am grateful to each person and organization who helped us deliver vital knowledge and hope to our community.”
