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Building from resources within rural and Alaska Native and American Indian communities, schools and families, Wexler’s participatory research identifies strengths, practical systems and protective factors to prevent suicide and reduce harms from substance use. Instead of orienting primarily toward professional solutions as many suicide prevention and behavioral health programs do, her work strengthens social care and relationships. This orientation creates hopeful opportunities for all people to contribute to social and mental health, reduce suicide risk and prevent crises through everyday actions.
Research Interests
suicide prevention, substance use, community change, participatory research, American Indian and Alaska Native communities
Contact Information
Education
- 2005 PhD Community EducationUniversity of Minnesota
- 1996 MSW Social WorkFlorida State University
- 1991 BAUniversity of West Florida
News
April 6, 2022
September 28, 2020
Activities
Websites
Publications
White, L. A., Markowski, K., Schmidt, T., Rataj, S., Schutz, K., Habecker, P., & Wexler, L. (in press). "Who Are the Helpers? Patterns of Social Support in Rural Alaska Native Communities".
Wexler, L., White, L., Ginn, J., Schmidt, T., Rataj, S., Wells, C. C., Schultz, K., Kapoulea, E. A., McEachern, D., Halbecker, P., & Laws, H.. (2025). Developing self-efficacy and ‘communities of practice’ between community and institutional partners to prevent suicide and increase mental health in under-resourced communities: expanding the research constructs for upstream prevention. BMC Public Health, 25, 1323-1335.
Kennedy, J., Wexler, L., Schmidt, T., Rataj, S., Garnie, J., Moto, R. Tao, Z., White, L., & McEachern, D. (2025). Care packages to promote universal suicide prevention for remote Alaska Native communities: What worked? The Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70032.
Rasmus, S., Wexler, L., & Allen, J. (2024). Examining community-level social determinants of Alaska Native suicide risk and protection: an Indigenous knowledge-informed extension of the legacy of Michael Chandler. Transcultural Psychiatry, 1-18.
Honors and Awards
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2022-present | Principle Research Scientist, Institute of Arctic Biology, Center for Alaska Native Health Research |
| 2022 | Keynote address for the National Academies Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) SuicidePrevention in Indigenous Communities, June 10, 2022 |
| 2018-present | Canadian Institutes of Health Research College of Reviewers |
| 2015-2018 | Arctic Mental and Behavioral Health Working Group, United States Arctic Research Commission |
| 2015-2016 | Canadian Fulbright Research Chair in Society and Culture, Dalhousie University |
| 2015-2016 | Engaged Community Research Award, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2015-2016. |
| 2014-2018 | President’s Professor, Center of Alaska Native Health Research (CANHR), University of AlaskaFairbanks |
| 2013-2015 | NIH’s Scientific Advisory Group for Reducing the Incidence of Suicide in Indigenous Groups –Strengths United through Networks (RISING-SUN) |
| 2011-2012 | Center for Research and Education in Women’s Health Scholar, Center for Research & Education inWomen’s Health, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2011-2012 |
| 2010 | National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s American Indian/Alaska Native Suicide PreventionTaskforce, Research Subcommittee Co-Chair and invited member |
| 2009-2012 | Chancellor’s Junior Faculty Fellowship, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2009-2012 |
| 2008-2017 | Nominated: School of Public Health and Health Sciences University of Massachusetts AmherstOutstanding Teacher Award, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017 |
Presentations
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Wexler, L. (May, 2025) Invited Keynote Society for Research in Child Development, Minneapolis, MN |
| 2025 | Wexler, L., White, L. A. & Skahan, B.. (April, 2025) Intensive Workshop to Adapt PC CARES for Yakama Nation, Yakima, WA. |
| 2025 | Peter, E.T., Apok, C. A., Wexler, L. Allen, J., Rasmus, S.. (March, 2025) Final Statewide Collaborative Hub for the Alaska Native Collaborative Hub for Research on Resilience |
| 2025 | Wexler, L. (January, 2025) Creating a Community of Practice to Prevent Suicide. Kevin’s Song Conference on Suicide: Creating and Supporting Lives Worth Living. Plymouth, MI |
| 2025 | Wexler, L. & White, L.A. (January, 2025) Introduction and Experiencing PC CARES with a focus on suicide prevention. Yakama Nation, Yakima, WA. |