Resolution 2
Native American Mental Health Board
On April 14-16, 1993, the First National Conference on "The Journey of Native American People with Serious Mental Illness" brought together Native Americans with serious mental illness, along with their families and those who provide services to them, representatives of tribal government, Indian Health Service, State mental health agencies and Federal mental health agencies, Their goal was to create a shared vision for an effective, comprehensive service delivery system for American Indian and Alaska Native people with serious and persistent mental illness.
There were many specific finding and recommendations which will be published in a forth-coming set of proceedings. Overall, the conference participants agreed that:
- Serious mental disorder is a major concern of Native American people and their communities.
- Native American with serious mental illness and their families suffer form stigma and often do not have adequate access to culturally appropriate, effective mental health services.
- Tribal, Indian Health Service and State mental health programs do not have resources to adequately respond to the need of Native Americans with serious mental illnesses and their families.
- The approach to best meeting needs of Native American with serious mental illness is through collaborative planning and application of resources of tribes, States, and Federal agencies.
Therefore, as the next step in ensuring the continuation of the work begun at this conference, the participants recommend:
- That a National Native American Mental Health Board be established.
- That the Board be composed of Native American with serious mental illness, the families of Native American with mental illness, person who provide direct services to Native Americans with mental illness, program representatives, and State mental health agency representatives.
- That the Board's purpose to be advise the organizations represented and the executive and legislative branches of Federal, State and tribal governments as to how to best meet the need of Native American with serious mental disorders.
William Bearsheild, Tribal Official, Rose Bud Sioux South Dakota
Max Dolchok, Anchorage, Alaska, Family Representative
Ruth Griffin, National Consumer Advocate, Shoshone-Hall, Idaho, Consumer Representative |
