“The primary mental health issue is our identity, and it is the root cause of addiction and other problems.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide rates among Indigenous people and Alaskan native people consistently surpass those of all other racial and ethnic groups.
Studies also show that the community has high rates of serious psychological distress, post-traumatic stress, and high rates of substance use disorders.
Unique challenges faced by the community include racial bias, discrimination, and past trauma of forced removal from communities. Resources are limited in rural communities.
According to Melissa Leonard, DEAI chair of the Erie County Historical Commission, mental health stigma can result from intergenerational trauma. It’s important to invite more people into a conversation about stigma and mental health.
Leonard says that the mistrust of institutions is the biggest barrier to getting help through therapy or social work.
“The primary mental health issue is our identity, and it is the root cause of addiction and other problems,” she said.
Everyone’s experience varies. “Some grew up on territory, some grew up in the city,” Leonard said. “Some kids have a lot of experience with culture, some don’t have any, so the view of seeking help varies.”
The Anti-Stigma Coalition hosted a Facebook Live on October 22— The State of Stigma: A Discussion of Mental Health in the Indigenous Community.
Panelists spoke about how history impacts health among Indigenous people and how storytelling helps reduce stigma. Panelists were Pete Hill, director of special initiatives at Native American Community Services of Erie and Niagara Counties Inc., Melissa Leonard, DEAI Committee chair of Erie County Historical Commission and Samantha L. Nephew, M.A from the Buffalo Center for Health Equity.
Madison Tighe, program manager, Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Promotion, Native American Community Services, says that Indigenous people often have two-eyed seeing, meaning that they span the traditional /cultural world and the Western world.
“The health statistics are bad; people try to meet in the middle of holistic and westernized medicine,” Tighe said.
According to Tighe, connections are important, so people know that they are not alone.
If you missed the discussion, watch it here.
