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Mental Illness Among Native and Indigenous Communities in The U.S. Part 4

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting Indigenous communities to a disproportionate degree. The purpose of this article is to bring into focus some of the mental health effects and challenges that Indigenous people face as a result of the pandemic.

Some states lump “American Indian/Alaska Native”, “Native Hawaiian” and “Other Pacific Islanders” into one group when recording data on the people. This is a confusing way of reporting. In addition to this problem, the federal government does not collect data on all ethnicities and races equally across the country. This makes it difficult to calculate with precision the impact that the virus is having on Indigenous communities in the U.S.

In New Mexico Indigenous Americans make up only 8.8% of the population but account for over 60% of the deaths. The Indigenous people who live in New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah are the Navajo Nation. They have the highest infection rates per capita, compared with any U.S. state.

COVID-19 is having a tremendous impact on the mental health of the people. The virus is worsening the already high rates of the occurrence of mental illness among them.

There is multi-generational trauma due to the physical, mental, and sexual abuse of the people in times past. The land that their ancestors owned was taken away from them. Their children were put into boarding schools which endeavored to strip them of their culture, language, and religion and to Europeanize them. As a result of all of these atrocities mentioned, today’s indigenous people have high rates of substance abuse, alcoholism, depression, PTSD, and suicide.

Limited access to healthcare, overcrowded and multi-generational housing, high rates of poverty, chronic diseases, limited access to clean water and grocery stores, are only some of the social determinants of physical health in these communities during the pandemic.

The existence of mental health resources would be especially useful now that we are in the pandemic. However, large gatherings of tribal communities are prohibited now due to the spread of COVID-19. For example, large traditional gatherings among tribes in the Great Plains region have been canceled after the source of the Navajo Nation outbreak was traced to a similar event.

Indigenous leaders in the U.S. are offering advice on how to stop the spread of COVID-19 among their people. Navajo Nation Vice-President Myron Lizer asked people to, “Please stay connected with relatives and neighbors by phone or video chat and remind them that they have support.” “If you are feeling stress or anxious, take time to take a deep breath, stretch or pray. Exercise by working out or by doing household chores and avoid unhealthy foods and drinks. We must protect ourselves and others.”

Glorinda Segay, a healthcare provider at the Navajo Department of Health, spoke of the importance of self-forgiveness and self-love during the crisis.

The following is a list of resources for Indigenous people:

• The National Indian Health Board’s COVID-19 Tribal Resource Center- [email protected]
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/tribal/index.html.  800-232-4636
• Navajo Regional Behavioral Health Center- (505) 368 1438 or (505) 368-1467   8a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday (MDT)
• Behavioral Health Crisis Line:  877-756-4090
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline 800-273-8255 or text “hello” to 741741
• Navajo Department of Health- https://www.ndo.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19/COVID-19-Resources
• (928) 871 6350
• RESOURCES
• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/the-effects-of-covid-19-on-the-mental-health-of-indigenous-communities

Signed: Renee D. Warring Founder of Uniquely and Wonderfully Made Ministries