I’m hearing from readers this morning who missed yesterday’s “listening session” on Alaska Native suicide and want to tell the feds their stories and suggestions.

Today we want to hear from you:

-- How has suicide changed your life or changed your village?

-- Have you seen suicide-prevention efforts that worked in your region?

-- What should the Obama administration do to reduce the staggering number of Alaskans who kill themselves each year?

Please share your ideas and stories in the comments below, or send me an e-mail at khopkins@adn.com.

Meanwhile, the feds are planning a national conference on suicide early next year. Dr. Rose Weahkee, director of the Division of Behavioral Health at the Indian Health Service, asked Alaskans who want to be part of the ongoing effort to reduce deaths among Alaska Natives and American Indians to contact her at rose.weahkee@ihs.gov.

Like many Alaskans, several of the speakers yesterday have lost family and friends to suicide. Here, James Sipary Sr. of Toksook Bay describes why he continued his volunteer efforts to reduce suicide and related problems after the death of his son:

-- Kyle Hopkins