Text 'Creek' To 741-741 For Crisis Support & Resources

The Muscogee Nation is increasing resources to help its members and our community who are going through crisis.

The CDC reported Native Americans are at higher risk of dying by suicide compared with other Americans.

Tyler Stone, a prevention specialist with Muscogee Nation, said the reason could be different risk factors, such as generational or historical trauma, access to care, needs and stigma.

Anyone can text the word 'Creek' to 741-741 to get resources from the Muscogee Nation Crisis Text Line.

Experts will ask about what's bothering you, whether it's relationship issues, depression or stress.

Stone said those are the three main reasons people have texted the Crisis Line.

"We thought that would be really great resource for youth because, as we know, youth typically will prefer texting over maybe calling on the phone, and really, just people in general,” explained Stone. “Some just prefer to text instead of call, especially with a heavy topic."

Stone said the tribe started the texting option in 2016.

Since then, there have been more than 2,739 conversations and 1,620 texters.

Stone said the interest has grown in the last three years.

"Really, our goal is to increase the number of people who are trained in suicide because suicide is everyone's business," said Stone.

The latest data from the CDC, collected in 2019, showed there are 130 suicides each day in the United States. Native Americans have the highest rate in our country.

The CDC also reported suicide is the second leading cause of death for Native American youth.

"Which is why we really want to make sure when we're working with youth, we're finding, 'What are those protective factors in their lives?'” explained Stone. “And we're really honing in on culture, whether it's stomp dance or art or poetry, whatever the case may be."

Stone said he and staff are also working with schools to get more free training on warning signs of suicide.

Anyone can also get free help 24/7 by calling the National Suicide Prevention lifeline at 800-273-8255.