About 200 people attended the Honoring Life Conference at a high school on the Navajo Nation on Wednesday.

Tribal youth, educators and health specialists spoke about the need to prevent suicide. So far this year, Navajo communities in western New Mexico and in the Four Corners have seen 26 suicide attempts, half of which were fatal.

"I know quite a few people that've tried," Audra Benally, a senior at Farmington High School, said at the forum, The Farmington Daily Times reported.

Prevention specialist Raymond Keeswood led the event. He said the Indian Health Service is unable to provide mental health services to those who need it.

They have piles and piles of cases and not enough help," Keeswood said, the paper reported.

Get the Story:
Shiprock talks suicide in community forum (The Farmington Daily Times 7/14)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Youth suicide puts focus on Navajo Nation community (7/8)
Navajo community moves to address suicide among its youth (6/28)
Navajo chapter in New Mexico suffers another youth suicide (5/17)
Indian school in New Mexico reels from string of suicides (4/29)