Rez Ball Star Jessica Matten's Netflix Role Parallels Her Own Work With Native Youth

 

READ:  The Indigenous actress talks about her decades-long efforts to prevent suicide in tribal communities.

The movie tells the story of an underdog Navajo high school basketball team reeling in the aftermath of losing their star player to suicide. It reflects real life on Indian reservations across America, where tribal communities face higher suicide rates than any other demographic group as well as disproportionate poverty and addiction rates, marked health disparities, greater violence levels, and lower life expectancies.

Rez Ball is streaming on Netflix on September 27.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, you can speak with a trained listener by texting 988, the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or calling +1 (800) 273-TALK (8255).

LINK: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/for-jessica-matten-rez-ball-parallels-her-own-work-with-native-youth