The U.S. Surgeon General has reported that rates of co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse, especially alcohol, are higher among Native Americans, and that the suicide rate among the Native population is 50 percent higher than the national rate. Studies have found rates of depression ranging from 10 to 30 percent higher among Native people. In light of alarming disparities in suicide, incarceration rates, juvenile detention, alcoholism, etc. we have moved from a call for cultural sensitivity to a demand for cultural competency as it relates to therapeutic services in our Native American communities. Those of us in the helping profession have an ethical and moral obligation to confront individual racism, institutional racism, and white privilege. In therapy we need to explore historical, intergenerational and cultural trauma with our clients and to provide culturally informed practice. I was recently asked by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers to sit on a panel exploring successful engagement of ethnic minorities. The theory being that dominant-culture helping professionals can learn how to successfully engage ethic minority clients by providing culturally-responsive services. This request gave me opportunity to reflect on best practices for successful cross cultural engagement. What knowledge would be helpful to a practitioner to allow for a more sensitive and competent service?Get the Story:
Donna Ennis: Therapists Must Recognize and Treat Historical Trauma (Indian Country Today 6/21)
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