Background: Alaska Native communities have supported young people to thrive since time immemorial. Colonial trauma and ongoing structural racism have contributed to acute health inequities in Alaska Native communities. The Alaska Native Collaborative Hub for Research on Resilience is an initiative led by community-based partners and researchers, including students, to understand community and cultural strengths that prevent suicide risk.

Methods: The authors encouraged young people in three communities identified as highly protective to create digital stories on ways their communities support young people. The project resulted in 26 youth-produced digital stories and 18 photovoice projects. The involved young people were each invited to be part of a research interview. Interview notes were independently coded by the authors, compared for consensus, and analyzed for common themes. The youth digital stories were then shared within their communities. Viewers were invited to complete surveys on how the stories contributed to community understanding of ways to protect youth from suicide.

Results: In the interviews, youth discussed how their well-being was promoted by being connected to the land, their culture, and their communities. We will share the digital storytelling process, highlights from the stories, common themes shared by young people during their interviews, as well as community responses to the digital stories as a research dissemination strategy.

Conclusions: This approach to suicide prevention focused on community strengths, youth voices, and the power of story. Communities can learn from their young people about how to prevent youth suicide.