Rep. Kristi Noem (R-South Dakota) with students from the Red Cloud School on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Photo from Instagram

Leaders and members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota spoke out about suicide in a session with members of Congress on Thursday.

According to news reports, nearly 20 young people have taken their lives since December 2014. In addition, more than 250 have attempted suicide, KEVN reported.

"Boy, it broke my heart," Rep. Kristi Noem (R-South Dakota) told KELO after the meeting. "Because a lot of those individuals attempting suicide were very young, 10, 11, 12 years old."

A task force set up by the Indian Health Service is proposing to build treatment centers to help address the issue, KOTA reported. One council member said the centers need to be located on or close to reservations

Get the Story:
Tribal Members Seek Federal Help For Suicide Rates (KELO 10/15)
Thune, Noem hear about rash of reservation suicides (KOTA 10/15)
Thune, Noem visit Pine Ridge (KEVN 10/15)

Related Stories:
Alaska Native village reels from string of suicides among youth (10/13)
Alfred Walking Bull: Let's open up about suicide in Indian Country (10/06)
Tribe in Colombia still struggling after being forced out of homeland (09/30)
Chair of Yurok Tribe shares struggle after losing son to suicide (09/14)
BIA declares Hope for Life Day to raise awareness about suicide (09/10)
Ernestine Chasing Hawk: I remember I am alive and a survivor (08/31)
Native Sun News: Oglala Sioux counselor combats youth suicide (08/31)
Student from Nooksack Tribe focused on traditions after tragedy (07/13)
Lakota Country Times: Rosebud youth hold suicide awareness walk (07/03)
Lawmakers promise to help tribes bring a halt to youth suicide (06/25)
Pine Ridge Reservation school receives $218K for youth suicide (06/23)
Tribes impacted by youth suicide to appear at Senate hearing (06/22)
David Walker: IHS fails to recognize and respond to oppression (06/22)
Senate Indian Affairs Committee sets hearing on youth suicide (06/19)
Interview: Chief Gary Batton of Choctaw Nation shares struggles (06/16)
Terese Marie Mailhot: Indian Country needs allies -- not saviors (06/01)
Summer Montileaux: Silence on sexual abuse in Indian Country (05/29)
Mary Pember: New allies in battle against Indian youth suicide (05/20)
Joe Flood: What's lurking behind suicides in Indian Country? (05/18)
Oglala Sioux Tribe struggles with high rate of suicide among youth (05/01)
Ginger Lerner-Wren: Boost IHS funding to combat youth suicide (04/28)
Lakota Country Times: Families come together to fight suicide (04/20)
WBUR: Reporter discusses youth suicide in Oglala Sioux Tribe (04/15)
Oglala Sioux Tribe struggles to address suicide among its youth (04/13)
First Lady Obama speaks to Native youth at White House session (04/08)
Dominique Alan Fenton: Racism at core of Native youth suicide (04/02)
Native Sun News: Oglala Sioux youth step up to address suicide (03/13)
Regina Brave: Let's learn to forgive ourselves for our pettiness (03/11)
Charles Trimble: A Lakota memorial for victims of youth suicide (03/10)
Ivan Star: Oglala Sioux Tribe suffers with suicide among youth (03/10)