ABOUT THIS RESOURCE

Improving mental health care for Native people in rural areas is the focus of this 90-minute webinar presented by the National American Indian and Alaska Native MHTTC in collaboration with the Northwest MHTTC.
The disparities between urban and rural areas in mental health care are well-documented. Native populations in rural areas suffer even more from these disparities, but cultural elements can improve mental health for Native people living in rural areas. Facilitator Raymond Daw, MA, Diné (Navajo), addresses the following learning objectives:

• Provide an overview of rural mental health disparities in the United States
• Provide an overview of Native American mental health disparities
• Describe Native American cultural elements for improved rural mental health

This webinar is most relevant to those who:

• currently work with Native/Tribal communities OR
• work some with Native/Tribal clients OR
• want to learn more about Native/Tribal issues

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Presentation and Summary

• Presentation slides
• Highlights and Key Concepts summary document - coming soon!

Bibliography & Resources Cited in Presentation

• What is Rural America? - The United States Census Bureau
• The Future of Rural Behavioral Health, a policy brief by the National Rural Health Association
• Urban Indian Health Program: Fact Sheets
• Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), CDC: Suicide Trends Among and Within Urbanization Levels by Sex, Race/Ethnicity, Age Group, and Mechanism of Death — United States, 2001–2015 Surveillance Summaries / October 6, 2017 / 66(18); 1-16.  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6618a1
• Honoring Children, Mending the Circle. Childhood Trauma in Indian Country. Presentation by Dolores Subia Bigfoot, PhD, Presidential Professor, director of the Indian Country Child Trauma Center within the Center on Child Abuse and Neglect at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
• Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences, from the Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health, a project of the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI)
• Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIP) 61: Behavioral Health Services for American Indians and Alaska Natives, a SAMHSA publication
• Integrating Spirituality into Treatment: Resources for Practitioners by William R. Miller, PhD, Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of New Mexico

Decolonizing Mental Health 

• Decolonizing Mental Health. This series examines the transformative work of therapists and individuals of color, and calls for a redefining how we define psychiatric illness and health. Through 20 profiles, the digital series discusses what a more responsive mental health care system should look like.

Historical Trauma

• Dr. Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart: Historical Trauma in Native American Populations (video)
• Indian Health Service webinar archives; topics include historical trauma

Prevention

• Culture-Based Prevention Resources Good Medicine Bundle, from Operation Prevention. Use the wisdom of Native practices of wellness combined with the insights of modern science to help Native and non-Native students avoid the dangers of substance misuse.
• Tribal Opioid Response Resources, from the National American Indian & Alaska Native Prevention Technology Transfer Center.

Suicide Prevention

• Native and Strong. Native and Strong is designed to inform and educate tribal communities about suicide prevention. This campaign is funded by the Washington State Department of Health. For 24/7 support, call (800) 273-8255 or text NATIVE to 741741.
• Transforming Tribal Communities: Indigenous Perspectives on Suicide Prevention, from Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC).

Organizations

• The Native Center for Behavioral Health is a research center at the University of Iowa College of Public Health committed to developing programs to support the behavioral health workforce in Native American and Alaska Native communities across the country.
• The National American Indian and Alaska Native MHTTC works with organizations and treatment practitioners involved in the delivery of mental health services to American Indian and Alaska Native individuals, families, and tribal and urban Indian communities to strengthen their capacity to deliver effective evidence-based and experience-based practices. This includes the full continuum of services spanning mental illness, prevention, treatment, and recovery support.
• The National American Indian and Alaska Native ATTC provides education and training opportunities for individuals and groups involved in providing substance abuse treatment and counseling, including health professionals in primary prevention and treatment for substance abuse. The center offers services nationwide for consulting, technical assistance, and continuing education seminars.
• The National American Indian & Alaska Native Prevention Technology Transfer Center provides training and technical assistance services to the substance abuse prevention field including professionals, para-professionals, organizations and others in the prevention community focused on American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

FACILITATOR

Raymond Daw, MA, Navajo Nation

Mr. Daw is a member of the Navajo Nation and is bilingual in Navajo and English. He is a trainer and web designer for the Takini Institute on the historical trauma intervention model, and he formerly worked as the Administrator of Behavioral Health at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Healthcare Corporation in Bethel, Alaska. During his tenure as Executive Director of Na’nizhoozhi Center, Inc. (NCI), he participated in research with the NIDA Clinical Trials Network through the University of New Mexico. NCI was recognized as a model and innovative program for AI/AN substance abuse treatment.