Mental Health Care for American Indian and Alaska Native Youths

Mental Health Care for American Indian and Alaska Native Youths

Relative to other demographic groups in the United States, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youths have higher rates of mental health symptoms, substance use disorders, criminal-legal involvement, and suicide. These inequities stem from the historical injustices of forced relocation and separation from families, forced assimilation, abuse and sexual violence, and genocide, including through the residential school system. All have contributed to intergenerational trauma and higher rates of substance use, mental disorders, and general medical problems. Further compounding these challenges, AI/AN youths experience many barriers to treatment, including mistrust, stigma, rural residence, and lack of access to culturally appropriate care. These barriers also contribute to the relative dearth of data on AI/AN youth mental health.

This Editor’s Choice Collection highlights studies examining AI/AN mental health inequities and community-centric approaches to prevention and treatment. The first group of articles describes inequities in mental health burden and treatment access among AI/AN youths. The second group highlights the importance of cultural awareness in research and care provision. The third group describes general models of care in youth mental health that are designed to reduce barriers to treatment or inequities and that may warrant further study among AI/AN youths. Few recent articles focusing on the AI/AN youth population have appeared in the journal, which may suggest the need for greater support and funding for community-led research of this population.

INEQUITIES IN MENTAL HEALTH THAT AFFECT AI/AN YOUTHS

Racial-Ethnic Differences in Psychiatric Diagnoses and Treatment Across 11 Health Care Systems in the Mental Health Research Network
Karen J. Coleman, Ph.D., Christine Stewart, Ph.D., Beth E. Waitzfelder, Ph.D., John E. Zeber, Ph.D., Leo S. Morales, M.D., Ph.D., Ameena T. Ahmed, M.D., M.P.H., Brian K. Ahmedani, Ph.D., Arne Beck, Ph.D., Laurel A. Copeland, Ph.D., Janet R. Cummings, Ph.D., Enid M. Hunkeler, M.A., Nangel M. Lindberg, Ph.D., Frances Lynch, Ph.D., Christine Y. Lu, Ph.D., Ashli A. Owen-Smith, Ph.D., Connie Mah Trinacty, Ph.D., Robin R. Whitebird, Ph.D., M.S.W., Gregory E. Simon, M.D., M.P.H.
2016, Volume 67, Issue 7, pp 749–757

An Integrative Review of Barriers and Facilitators Associated With Mental Health Help Seeking Among Indigenous Populations
Christiana J. Goetz, M.A., Christopher J. Mushquash, Ph.D., K. Amanda Maranzan, Ph.D.
2023, Volume 74, Issue 3, pp 272–281

National Overview of Medication-Assisted Treatment for American Indians and Alaska Natives With Substance Use Disorders
Traci Rieckmann, Ph.D., Laurie Moore, M.P.H., Calvin Croy, Ph.D., Gregory A. Aarons, Ph.D., Douglas K. Novins, M.D.
2017, Volume 68, Issue 11, pp 1136–1143

Racial-Ethnic Differences in Receipt of Past-Year Health Care Services Among Suicide Decedents: A Case-Control Study
Lisa R. Miller-Matero, Ph.D., Hsueh-Han Yeh, Ph.D., Anissa Maffett, Ph.D., Jan T. Mooney, Ph.D., Kelsey Sala-Hamrick, Ph.D., Cathrine B. Frank, M.D., Gregory E. Simon, M.D., Rebecca Rossom, M.D., Ashli A. Owen-Smith, Ph.D., S.M., Frances L. Lynch, Ph.D., Arne Beck, Ph.D., Stephen Waring, D.V.M., Ph.D., Yihe G. Daida, Ph.D., Christine Y. Lu, Ph.D., Brian K. Ahmedani, Ph.D.
2024, Volume 75, Issue 2, pp 124–13

Unmet Needs for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Among Northern Plains American Indian Adolescents
Douglas K. Novins, M.D., Janette Beals, Ph.D., William H. Sack, M.D., Spero M. Manson, Ph.D.
2000, Volume 51, Issue 8, pp 1045–1047

IMPORTANCE OF CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE RESEARCH, PROGRAMS, AND PROVIDERS FOR AI/AN YOUTHS

RISING SUN: Prioritized Outcomes for Suicide Prevention in the Arctic
Pamela Y. Collins, M.D., M.P.H., Roberto A. Delgado, Ph.D., Charlene Apok, M.A., Laura Baez, L.C.S.W., M.S.W., Peter Bjerregaard, M.D., Ph.D., Susan Chatwood, Ph.D., M.Sc., Cody Chipp, Ph.D., Allison Crawford, M.D., Ph.D., Alex Crosby, M.D., M.P.H., Denise Dillard, Ph.D., David Driscoll, Ph.D., Heidi Ericksen, M.D., Ph.D., Jack Hicks, Christina V. L. Larsen, Ph.D., Richard McKeon, Ph.D., M.P.H., Per Jonas Partapuoli, B.Sc., Anthony Phillips, Ph.D., Beverly Pringle, Ph.D., Stacy Rasmus, Ph.D., Sigrún Sigurðardóttir, Ph.D., Anne Silviken, Ph.D. (Cand. Psychol.), Jon Petter Stoor, M.Sc., Yury Sumarokov, M.D., Ph.D., Lisa Wexler, M.S.W., Ph.D.
2019, Volume 70, Issue 2, pp 152–155

The Role of Culture in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
Rupinder Kaur Legha, M.D. and Douglas Novins, M.D.
2012, Volume 63, Issue 7, pp 686–692

The Role of Providers in Mental Health Services Offered to American-Indian Youths
Arlene Rubin Stiffman, Ph.D., Stacey Freedenthal, Ph.D., Peter Dore, M.S., Emily Ostmann, M.P.H., Victoria Osborne, M.S.W., Hiie Silmere, M.S.W.
2006, Volume 57, Issue 8, pp 1185–1191

YOUTH-FOCUSED APPROACHES FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE

Promoting the Mental Health of Parents and Children by Strengthening Medicaid Support for Home Visiting
Elisabeth Wright Burak, M.P.P., M.S.W. and Vikki Wachino, M.P.P.
2023, Volume 74, Issue 9, pp 970–977

A Retrospective Evaluation of a Pilot Youth Community Assessment and Treatment Service
Chinar Goel, F.R.A.N.Z.C.P., M.B.B.S., Reem M. A. Shafi, M.B.B.S., B.Sc., Adrian J. Conner, M.B.B.S., Flavie Waters, Ph.D., Paul E. Croarkin, D.O., M.S., Patrick McGorry, M.D., F.R.A.N.Z.C.P.
2021, Volume 72, Issue 4, pp 415–420

Clinical Utility and Policy Implications of a Statewide Mental Health Screening Process for Juvenile Offenders
David G. Stewart, Ph.D., and Eric W. Trupin, Ph.D.
2003, Volume 54, Issue 3, pp 377–382