Ryan Burns

I'm a reporter for the Lost Coast Outpost, a news website serving Humboldt County, Calif. I've been working as a reporter in this county since 2007, covering a broad range of stories, from government to health care, crime, the economy, homelessness and more. Prior to my current job I spent five years as a staff writer (and occasional acting editor) for the North Coast Journal, an alt-weekly also serving Humboldt County, and almost two years at the local daily, the Times-Standard. Twitter: @RyanBurnsy Facebook: www.facebook.com/ryan.burns.76

Articles

The only paved road into and out of the remote rural community of Weitchpec in Humboldt County, Calif. (Photo by Ryan Burns)

To understand youth suicides on remote reservation, immersive reporting proves crucial

A series of seven suicides within California’s Yurok Tribe in 2015 prompted the tribe to declare a state of emergency. In reporting on the aftermath, reporter Ryan Burns found himself facing some big challenges.

Young residents of the Yurok Reservation gathered last week for a youth wellness workshop. | Photos by Ryan Burns.

Mental Health & Trauma

Community & Public Health

Yurok students receive mental health training as tribe works to prevent more youth suicides

“Who has seen a behavioral counselor?” Roughly half of the kids at the Yurok Tribe's youth wellness event stepped forward. “Who has suffered from depression or anxiety?” Three-quarters of the kids came forward.

Mental Health

State Route 96 is the only paved road into and out of the remote rural community of Weitchpec. | Photos by Ryan Burns

Health Equity & Social Justice

Mental Health & Trauma

Community & Public Health

Relying on each other: Yurok Tribe responds to youth suicide crisis

This story was produced as a project for the California Health Journalism Fellowship, a program of the Center for Health Journalism at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

Race and Equity

Mental Health

A member of the Yurok tribe pulls in a sturgeon on the Klamath River.

In isolated Native American community, a rash of suicides among young men

The Yurok, California’s largest Native American tribe, recently submitted an emergency declaration to Gov. Jerry Brown and the federal government in response to a rash of suicides among the tribe’s young men. What's driving this trend, and what can be done?

Mental Health

Reporting Topics

Reporting Topics

Reporting Topics

Reporting Topics

Reporting Topics

Ryan Burns

Articles

To understand youth suicides on remote reservation, immersive reporting proves crucial

Yurok students receive mental health training as tribe works to prevent more youth suicides

Relying on each other: Yurok Tribe responds to youth suicide crisis

In isolated Native American community, a rash of suicides among young men