Native American Trauma

When their parents are never there for their child, it makes the child feel lonely. Another reason why suicidal thoughts may occur for Native Americans is because they are feeling lonely and lost. Based on the text, “Statistics released from the state of Washington show that suicides among native youth from 10 to 24 years old were more than double the rate of any other ethnic group”(Newsela). This shows that stress is beating the Native Americans. Obviously the problems the Native Americans are facing are too hard for them to cope with, based on these numbers. They may struggle with their money, as well. The people who live on the reservations have financial problems. All in all when a teen is trying to overcome depression, it doesn’t help not having someone there to help them with their

What is the impact of historical trauma on a particular client population? How can Trauma Informed principals be used to reduce the impact of historical trauma on specific clients?

Domestic violence has a relationship with same social determinants of health mentioned in “Bad Sugar”, which shows how oppression and hopelessness affects the American Indian community in more than one way. American Indians are already oppressed by American society with having

It is no secret that the Native American and Alaska Native (NA/AN) population is one of the most (if not, the most) overlooked and underserved communities in America. Perhaps because of their small numbers, rural habitats, or general neglect and antagonism by the part of the United States government (or a combination of all of these), extreme disparities in health exist among NA/AN communities. The detrimental effects that colonial settling and industrialization have had on the NA/AN lifestyle are obvious and well-documented. So too, are the physical health disparities that plague NA/ANs (diabetes, tuberculosis, obesity, etc). However, less data is readily available on the mental health challenges that NA/AN populations face. Furthermore, even

They were asked to give a one-word response to the word reservation and many of them became very emotional. They said words like small, weak, sick, alcoholism, forced-agreement, and prison. Even to this day Native’s are still suffering from what was forced upon them over a hundred years. Today there Many stereotypes that surround the current living Native Americans. They are thought to be alcoholics who have issues with drug abuse.

It is no secret that the Native American and Alaska Native (NA/AN) population is one of the most overlooked and underserved communities in America. The physical health disparities that plague NA/ANs (diabetes, tuberculosis, obesity, etc) are well-documented.1 However, less data is readily available on the mental health challenges that NA/AN populations face. Recent news has highlighted the pressing need to study these issues, especially in light of the spike in suicides among youth occurring on NA/AN reservations.2 Furthermore, even less information is available with regards to NA/AN children and the mental health disparities they face, although more literature has been published in the last two decades that provide new insights into this issue.3

As with many races and ethnicities, Native Americans have had the front row seat in social injustices related to gender and race from the social institutions in the United States. Native Americans faced much discrimination along with other groups when it came to educational institutions and businesses. In education, many young children had lower math and writing skills leading to fewer high school diplomas (Sarche & Spicer, 2008). In labor, Native Americans had high unemployment rates and a lower labor force than the rest of the demographic population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006). They also have problems with poverty since more than twenty-five percent of this group live below the poverty line (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006). Additionally, there are high rates of violent victimization and contributing factors such as childhood trauma that lead to overall high deaths. A major contributing factor to these deaths is alcoholism which exceeds the US rates by seven times (Sarche & Spicer, 2008). Many of these statistics indicate great injustice. Furthermore, according to the Indian Health Services, American Indians have lower health and life expectancy when compared to the rest of America (2015). These staggering statistics point out some prevalent inequalities in modern social institutions that exist with Native Americans.

Similar to Eve Tuck, Ramone McBride, a Pine Ridge author that wrote, “Our Native Children Are Not Poverty Porn: If One Succeeds, a Hundred Are Coming After,” aims to re-educate people on the way indigenous accomplishments are viewed. He states, “no longer should the public solely believe that Native kids are victims and that they don’t have a chance”. Instead, the public needs to reconsider the idea that hardship is the main part of the indigenous story and realize that there is also “beauty, hope and spirituality” in the mix (2). While McBride isn’t trying to force the idea that there is no dysfunction on tribal lands, he is trying to get the point across that the Native are powerful people who are able to retain hope and resilience even in the toughest of times. Instead of focusing on feeling sorry for the Native youth, the public instead needs to take time and use it to help cultivate the indigenous people’s talents and prepare them for the world and their future. The rest of this paper is going to address various questions through the strength-based lens of Eve Tuck and Ramone McBride in order to analyze and hopefully bring about change in regards to the way

Native American communities experience high rates of poverty, substance abuse, suicide, and violent crime. Nearly one quarter of the Native American population lives under the national poverty level. These numbers are over ten percent higher than the national average for all populations which is 14%. The BIA and other government agencies are committed to ensuring Indian communities have a culturally appropriate education that will prepare them to be productive citizens and leaders in their communities and the building blocks needed to build more prosperous Indian communities and economies.

Poverty and addiction damage the Native American's mental health as they suffer from abuse, addiction, and high self-harm; because they experience abuse, they develop addictions and unfortunately have to cope with self-harm and suicide. High rates of self-harming is an outcome for the Native American’s because of the poverty and addiction that they are forced to cope with. The poverty Native Americans struggle with determines their emotions; they lack self-esteem and therefore believe they are “stupid and ugly” (Alexie 22). This lack of self-esteem affects their motivation, which then limits their ability to earn money, making them even more poverty-stricken. One source claims that many Native Americans start “cutting themselves at the age

Kuis, S., Ayers, S., & Baker, T. (2015). Parenting in Two Worlds: Pilot results From A Culturally Adapted Parenting Program For Urban American Indians. Journal of Primary Prevention , 65 - 70.

The American Indian/Alaskan Native people have a heritage that is rich in culture and history rich in conflict, strife, and triumph (Indians.org, n.d.). The American Indian/Alaskan Native have come a long way compared to their ancestors, however, the culture continues to struggle today with disparities such as poverty, poor health, demographic and social challenges, and a severely limited health care system due in part by lack of funding for health

In certain groups, the suicide rate among Native American peoples is up to three times that of other races in the United States (Herne, Bartholomew and Weahkee 1). From 1999 to 2010, the CDC reports that the suicide rate increased 65.2% in Native American populations (2). This increase is the largest compared to other races (2). Native American youths under the age of 24 are over 3% more likely to take their own lives than their white counterparts (5). A chief judge of the Tulalip Tribal Court states that Native

In addition to the healthcare available to all Americans, Native Americans have been provided health care through the division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services called the Indian Health Service (IHS) (Indian Health, n.d.). The IHS was created for American Indians and Alaskan Natives to aid in the lack of access to care and to offer health care services and oversee various medical programs for their direct needs (Indian Health, n.d.). However, research shows health disparities persist for American Indians and Native Americans compared to other ethnic and racial groups in the U.S. (Grossman, et al 2002).

Our culture, gender and ethnicity have a significant amount of influences that has begun to shape our mental health from the trauma that affects us due to crime and violence. Due to cultural, gender and ethnicity the response to our trauma can range from endless variations.