Mental Health

Topics include informal and formal child care placements, cultural and traditional child rearing practices, impact of historical trauma, mental health needs, educational issues, challenges and benefits of grandparent caregiving, and policy implications. Chapter from American Indian and Alaska Native Children and Mental Health: Development, Context, Prevention and Treatment edited by : Michelle C. Sarche, Paul Spicer, Patricia Farrell, Hiram E. Fitzgerald.

Chapter in book: Mental Health Care Issues in America: An Encyclopedia (Vol.1) edited by Michael Shally-Jensen. Presents historical overview and key mental health issues.

Presents review of mental health disparities: identifies and defines American Indian/Alaskan Natives, summarizes mental health disparities, looks at available psychosocial interventions and alternatives to fixing mental health problems.

Explores the psychological and physical effects of substance abuse and interrelationship with other mental health issues.

Educational Psychology Thesis (M.A.)--The University of Texas, 2012.

Analysis of responses from 295 individuals gathered during the course of the Experiences of Adopted and Fostered Individuals Project. Results showed that Native Americans were more likely to report problems such as alcohol addiction and recovery, drug recovery, both self-assessed and diagnosed eating disorders, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Arizona State University, 2003.

Describes the concept and outlines the legacy that perpetuates the trauma intergenerationally.

Synopsis of results of study to determine whether positive emotions such as hope and optimism mitigate thoughts of suicide. Used group of college students from Oklahoma as sample.

Explains issues related to Native American ethnic and cultural identities.

Interviews American Indian mental health services clients to see how cultural identity affects their health care experiences.

Sidebar for Chapter 15: Mental Health in the Realm of Primary Prevention in book Prevention is Primary: Strategies for Community Well Being (2nd Edition) edited by Larry Cohen, Vivian Chazeg and Sana Chehimi. Conversation with Traveling Thunder at Fort Belknap reservation.

Chapter 12 from book: Culturally Diverse Mental Health; the Challenges of Research and Resistance edited by S. Mio and G.Y. Iwamasa. Addresses the dilemma of conventional mental health services versus alternative interventions.

Author offers advice to individual counsellors from Veteran Centers in terms of establishing contact with Vietnam veterans who are dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, but not utilizing available programs.

[Counseling Student Personnel Psychology] Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Minnesota, 2008.

Examines the underlying issues of mental health for Native American women, such as gender roles and drug abuse.

Presents findings of a study on Indigenous youth's experiences of physical and psychological abuse.

Results from a study that recruited 12 United States Aboriginals and 12 non-Aboriginal participants to play simulated slot machines in order to measure how sensation seeking and payback percentages affect gambling behaviours.

Findings show socioeconomic characteristics, substance abuse, barriers to mental health services and acculturation play a role in the occurrence of suicide in Native American Indian communities.

Studies the limited access to needed services.

Studied client characteristics, drug use patterns, and treatment needs in an urban treatment centre and the South Central Plains Tribal program. Compares data between clients.

Psychology (Clinical Psychology) Thesis (Ph.D.)--Fielding Graduate University, 2009.

Author recalls troubled childhood family life and how she overcame these challenges to have a fulfilling life.

General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada. Restorative approach to justice.

Asserts that spirituality is central to Aboriginal approaches to social work and discusses four aspects of the relevance of other-than-human animals in spirituality: as part of kinship systems, sources of wisdom and protection, ceremonial significance and historical importance. Considers the Judeo-Christian focus of most scholarship on spirituality in social work and calls for a more decolonial, anti-oppressive practice.

Links to a short video in which the narrator speaks about his experience with mainstream education and mental health institutions, and his more positive experience with culturally-based healing practices. Animkee Duration: 2:35

Book review of Anishinaabe Ways of Knowing and Being by Lawrence W. Gross.

Lists scholarly literature dealing with historical and contemporary issues affecting First Nations mental health, as well as treatment initiatives.

Study which compared prevalence of depression in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women in two out-reach programmes found Aboriginal women experienced more self-harm thoughts; also found link between exercise and reduction of depression.

Examines the prevalence of antenatal depression amongst Indigenous women in Canada.

Community Health and Epidemiology Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Saskatchewan, 2007.

Discusses methodology of the study and usage rates compared to the overall population.

Study found higher levels of anxiety in women who smoked during pregnancy, or had anemia or bottle-fed their nine-month-old infants.

Reviews relevant literature focused on anxiety and Aboriginal peoples. Includes interventions, preventions and treatment programs.

Study found anxiety symptoms were predominant in emotional distress as measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and more prevalent in younger, non-partnered and Aboriginal women.

Comments on the historic apology by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, on June 11, 2008, to former students of Indian Residential Schools asking for their forgiveness on behalf of the government and all other Canadians. Article located on page 1 and by scrolling to page 12.

Comments on the health disparities faced by Aboriginal Peoples' and the social remedies required. Appendix from A Healthy, Productive Canada: A Determinant of Health Approach by the Senate Subcommittee on Population Health chaired by Wilbert Joseph Keon and Lucie Pépin.

Advocates culturally relevant programming, which can be more effective for a specific community or group.

Describes how aboriginal cultural ethics of non-interference have negatively impacted the Aboriginal experience in the criminal justice system.

Compares adult children of off-spring IRS survivors to Aboriginal adults of family not directly affected by Indian Residential Schools.

Foreign Languages Thesis (M.A.)--University of Bergen, 2018 Abstract in Norwegian, thesis in English.

Discusses the importance of education in identity formation and ego development and how this reduces adolescent suicide rates.

Arsene Fontaine reminiscences.

Darren Sugar is a teenager who is interested in art and becoming an artist.